1 Kings 11:15

KJV

For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;

KJV (with Strong's)

For it came to pass, when David {H1732} was in Edom {H123}, and Joab {H3097} the captain {H8269} of the host {H6635} was gone up {H5927} to bury {H6912} the slain {H2491}, after he had smitten {H5221} every male {H2145} in Edom {H123};

Complete Jewish Bible

Back when David had been in Edom, and Yo'av the commander of the army had gone up to bury the dead, having killed every male in Edom

Berean Standard Bible

Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab the commander of the army had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom.

American Standard Version

For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, and had smitten every male in Edom

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 11:15 serves as a crucial historical flashback, elucidating the origins of Hadad the Edomite's lifelong animosity toward Israel, a figure God raised as an adversary against King Solomon. This verse details the brutal conquest of Edom during King David's reign, specifically highlighting the extensive military campaign led by Joab, David's commander, who remained in Edom for six months to systematically eliminate the male population, thereby ensuring complete subjugation and preventing future rebellion. This severe act of war directly explains Hadad's flight to Egypt as a young boy and his subsequent return to trouble Solomon's kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows [1 Kings 11:14](/1_kings/11-14 "1 Kings 11:14 - Hadad the Edomite Introduced"), which introduces Hadad the Edomite as the first of three adversaries God raised against Solomon due to the king's widespread idolatry and disobedience (as detailed in [1 Kings 11:1-13](/1_kings/11 "1 Kings 11 - Solomon's Apostasy and God's Judgment")). Verse 15 functions as an explanatory parenthetical, providing the necessary historical background for Hadad's deep-seated enmity. It clarifies *why* Hadad, a member of the Edomite royal family, would have fled to Egypt and *why* he harbored such a strong desire to trouble Israel. The narrative then returns to Hadad's story in [1 Kings 11:16](/1_kings/11-16 "1 Kings 11:16 - Hadad's Flight to Egypt"). This flashback technique underscores the long-term consequences of past actions and sets the stage for God's judgment unfolding in Solomon's reign.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events described in 1 Kings 11:15 refer to David's conquest of Edom, a campaign recounted in [2 Samuel 8:13-14](/2_samuel/8-13 "2 Samuel 8:13-14 - David's Victory Over Edom") and [1 Chronicles 18:12-13](/1_chronicles/18-12 "1 Chronicles 18:12-13 - Joab's Conquest of Edom"). Edom, located southeast of the Dead Sea, was a long-standing rival and often an enemy of Israel, descended from Esau. David's conquest of Edom was a significant step in establishing his empire, fulfilling prophecies about Israel's dominion over its neighbors. The phrase "smitten every male" reflects the brutal reality of ancient Near Eastern warfare, where the elimination of the male population (especially those of fighting age or royal lineage) was a common, albeit horrific, tactic to prevent future insurrections and secure complete subjugation. Joab's six-month stay "to bury the slain" indicates not only the scale of the slaughter but also the meticulousness of the campaign, ensuring no potential male heirs or warriors remained to challenge Israelite rule. This act of burying the dead also served a practical purpose, preventing disease and demonstrating complete control over the territory.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several key themes within 1 Kings and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it highlights the **consequences of sin and divine judgment**, showing how God uses existing historical grievances and even seemingly unrelated past events (David's conquest) as instruments of discipline against a disobedient king like Solomon, as explicitly stated in [1 Kings 11:11](/1_kings/11-11 "1 Kings 11:11 - God's Judgment on Solomon"). Secondly, it underscores **divine sovereignty**, demonstrating God's ability to orchestrate events and raise up adversaries, even from the ashes of past conflicts, to fulfill His purposes. Hadad's survival and subsequent rise were not accidental but part of God's disciplinary plan. Thirdly, it vividly portrays the **brutality and totality of ancient warfare**, particularly the ruthless tactics employed to achieve complete conquest and suppress future resistance, illustrating the harsh realities of the world in which these narratives unfold.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Smitten (Hebrew, _nakah_):** This verb, נָכָה (_nakah_), carries a broad semantic range including "to strike, smite, beat, wound, kill, destroy." In this context, particularly when paired with "every male," it signifies a decisive and devastating military action, implying a widespread slaughter or massacre. It conveys the totality of the Israelite victory and the extreme measures taken to eliminate any potential for future Edomite resistance, especially from those who could lead or father future generations of warriors.
* **Male (Hebrew, _zakhar_):** The Hebrew word זָכָר (_zakhar_) specifically denotes a "male" human or animal. Its use here emphasizes the deliberate targeting of the male population, which in ancient societies constituted the primary fighting force and the lineage bearers. This detail highlights the intent behind Joab's actions: to utterly dismantle Edomite society's ability to reproduce its military strength or royal line, thus securing Israel's dominion over the land.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For it came to pass, when David was in Edom,":** This introductory clause sets the scene for the flashback, placing the events squarely within the reign of King David and specifically during his military campaign in Edom. It immediately signals to the reader that the following information is historical background for Hadad's emergence.
* **"and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain,":** This part of the verse details Joab's specific mission and the duration of his stay. "Gone up" likely refers to his military expedition into the mountainous territory of Edom. The phrase "to bury the slain" indicates that the battle was over, and the grim task of dealing with the casualties—both Israelite and Edomite—was underway. This task, often protracted, implies a significant number of dead and a period of consolidation after the initial conquest, confirming the thoroughness of the campaign. The subsequent verse ([1 Kings 11:16](/1_kings/11-16 "1 Kings 11:16 - Hadad's Flight to Egypt")) clarifies Joab remained for six months, underscoring the scale of the operation.
* **"after he had smitten every male in Edom;":** This final clause reveals the brutal extent of Joab's campaign. The phrase "smitten every male" indicates a systematic and comprehensive elimination of the male population, particularly those capable of bearing arms or continuing the royal line. This extreme measure was designed to ensure no future threat could arise from Edom and directly explains why Hadad, a young royal male, had to flee for his life.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 1 Kings 11:15 is **Flashback**. The narrative momentarily pauses its focus on Solomon's reign and the immediate introduction of Hadad in [1 Kings 11:14](/1_kings/11-14 "1 Kings 11:14 - Hadad the Edomite Introduced") to provide crucial historical context from David's time. This flashback explains the deep-seated enmity that would drive Hadad's actions against Solomon. The verse also employs **Foreshadowing**, as the brutal conquest of Edom, while a past event, sets the stage for the future troubles Solomon will face. The severity of Joab's actions against Edom also serves as a stark example of the **Brutality of Ancient Warfare**, a recurring motif in Old Testament historical narratives.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 11:15 powerfully illustrates the principle of sowing and reaping, demonstrating how actions, even those from a previous generation, can have profound and lasting consequences that ripple through history. While David's conquest of Edom was part of God's plan to establish Israel's dominion, the extreme brutality of the campaign sowed seeds of deep resentment and provided the very conditions for Hadad's survival and subsequent emergence as an adversary. This highlights God's sovereign hand, not only in raising up kings but also in orchestrating historical events and even using the consequences of human actions (or divine judgments from a prior era) to fulfill His purposes, particularly in disciplining His people when they stray from His covenant. Hadad's survival and return are thus presented as a direct consequence of Solomon's idolatry, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His word of judgment.

* [Deuteronomy 28:48](/deuteronomy/28-48 "Deuteronomy 28:48 - Consequences of Disobedience")
* [Isaiah 10:5-6](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5-6 - God Uses Assyria as a Rod of Judgment")
* [Amos 1:11-12](/amos/1-11 "Amos 1:11-12 - Judgment Against Edom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Kings 11:15 invites us to consider the long-term repercussions of our actions, both individually and corporately. David's decisive victory over Edom, while seemingly a triumph for Israel, inadvertently created the very adversary who would trouble his son's kingdom decades later. This reminds us that even actions taken with good intentions or seemingly for God's purposes can have complex, unforeseen consequences that manifest in future generations. For believers, this underscores the importance of not only seeking God's will in our immediate decisions but also considering the potential ripple effects on those who come after us. It also reinforces the truth of God's sovereignty: He can use any circumstance, even the survival of a vengeful foe from a past conflict, to bring about His divine purposes, whether for discipline, refinement, or the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Understanding this historical depth can deepen our trust in God's overarching control, even amidst challenging circumstances that seem to be the result of past grievances.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do the actions of previous generations, both positive and negative, continue to impact our present circumstances or communities?**
* **In what ways might God be using seemingly adverse situations in our lives (or the lives of our nations) as a form of divine discipline or to reveal a deeper purpose?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the nature of ancient warfare and the lengths to which nations would go to secure their dominance? How does this contrast with or illuminate our understanding of conflict today?**
* **Considering Hadad's story, how can we discern God's sovereign hand at work even in events that appear to be purely human or even malevolent in origin?**

### FAQ
**Why was Edom targeted so brutally by David and Joab?**

Answer: Edom was a traditional enemy of Israel, descended from Esau, Jacob's brother. Throughout their history, there was often conflict and animosity between the two nations. David's campaign against Edom, detailed in [2 Samuel 8:13-14](/2_samuel/8-13 "2 Samuel 8:13-14 - David's Victory Over Edom") and [1 Chronicles 18:12-13](/1_chronicles/18-12 "1 Chronicles 18:12-13 - Joab's Conquest of Edom"), was part of his broader effort to consolidate his kingdom and establish Israel's regional dominance, fulfilling ancient prophecies regarding Israel's dominion over its neighbors. The brutality, specifically "smitten every male," was a common, albeit harsh, military tactic in the ancient Near East to completely subjugate a conquered people, eliminate future resistance, and prevent any potential heirs from challenging the new rule. It was a means of total conquest and control.

**What is the significance of Joab staying "to bury the slain"?**

Answer: The phrase "to bury the slain" indicates that Joab remained in Edom for an extended period (six months, as clarified in [1 Kings 11:16](/1_kings/11-16 "1 Kings 11:16 - Hadad's Flight to Egypt")) not just for the immediate battle, but for the aftermath. This task would involve not only burying the Israelite dead but also dealing with the numerous Edomite casualties. From a practical standpoint, burying the dead was essential to prevent disease. From a military perspective, it signifies the thoroughness and completeness of the conquest. Joab was ensuring that the Edomite fighting force was utterly neutralized and that the land was fully pacified, leaving no potential for an immediate counter-rebellion. It underscores the scale and severity of the military operation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Kings 11:15, with its account of a past brutal conquest giving rise to a future adversary, points to the profound reality of sin's lasting consequences and God's sovereign use of historical events to bring about His purposes. While David’s conquest established an earthly kingdom, it could not ultimately bring lasting peace or eradicate all enmity, as Hadad's return to trouble Solomon demonstrates. This narrative foreshadows the need for a greater King and a more complete victory. Jesus Christ is the true King who establishes an eternal kingdom of peace, not through the brutal smiting of every male, but through His own self-sacrifice. He is the ultimate "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Where earthly kings like David and Solomon could only achieve temporary subjugation and often inadvertently sowed seeds of future conflict, Christ's victory on the cross definitively defeats sin, death, and the true adversary ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrebs/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Defeat of Death")). He reconciles enemies, not by annihilation, but by grace ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace")). The "adversaries" God raised against Solomon ultimately highlight the fragility of human kingship and the desperate need for the perfect, eternal reign of Christ, who truly brings peace and justice to all who believe, fulfilling the deepest longings for a kingdom without end or internal strife ([Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - The Prince of Peace")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.