(16-19) The last effort of the Arameans. They are defeated, and become vassals to David.

(16) They sent messengers.--Samuel, "Hadarezer sent and drew forth" (literally, made to come out: i.e., to war, 1Chronicles 20:1). The name "Hadarezer" (Hadadezer) is important, as helping us to identify this campaign with that of 1Chronicles 18:3-8.

Beyond the river.--The Euphrates, called Purat, Puratu, by the Babylonians and Assyrians, Furat by the Arabs, and Ufratus by the ancient Persians. The name is derived from the Accadian Pura-nunu (great river). The Assyrian Purat, Hebrew P?rath, is simply the word Pura with a feminine ending; so that this well-known name means "The River par excellence. (Comp. Genesis 15:18; Isaiah 8:7.)

The use of this phrase, "beyond the river," to denote the position of the Eastern Aramaeans, shows that the narrative here borrowed by the chronicler was originally written in Palestine. The Syriac and Arabic add here, "and they came to Hilam." (So Samuel; see next verse.)

Shophach.--Samuel, "Shobach." The letters p and b are much alike in Hebrew. The Syriac has Sh'b-k. Shophach may be compared with the Arabic safaka, "to shed blood" (saffak, a shedder of blood).

Went before them.--Commanded them. It thus appears that the suzerainty of Hadadezer was recognised by some Aramaean States lying east of the Euphrates.

Verse 16. - Beyond the river; i.e. the river Euphrates. Shophach. In the parallel place spelt Shobach. Of him nothing else is known except his death, as recorded in ver. 18 and in 2 Samuel 10:18.

19:1-19 David's wars. - The history is here repeated which we read 2Sa 10. The only safety of sinners consists in submitting to the Lord, seeking peace with him, and becoming his servants. Let us assist each other in a good cause; but let us fear lest, while made instruments of good to others, we should come short of salvation, through unbelief and sin.See Chapter Introduction