1 Kings 11:15

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;

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};

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

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.

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

Context of 1 Kings 11:15

This verse serves as a historical flashback, explaining the background of Hadad the Edomite, one of the adversaries God raised up against King Solomon. The preceding verse, 1 Kings 11:14, introduces Hadad as an Edomite royal who fled to Egypt. Verse 15 elaborates on *why* Hadad fled: during King David's reign, Israel waged a devastating war against Edom.

King David had conquered Edom, fulfilling ancient prophecies regarding Israel's dominion over its neighbors. His military commander, Joab, was responsible for executing a severe campaign against the Edomites. This particular verse highlights the extreme brutality of that conquest, where Joab remained in Edom for an extended period to ensure the complete subjugation of the land, specifically targeting the male population. This historical event, documented in 2 Samuel 8:13-14 and 1 Chronicles 18:12-13, set the stage for Hadad's lifelong enmity towards Israel, which later became a direct challenge to Solomon's kingdom as a consequence of Solomon's disobedience to God's commands (see 1 Kings 11:9-13).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Consequences of Past Actions: The verse illustrates how events from one reign (David's conquest) can have lasting repercussions on the next (Solomon's reign), particularly when intertwined with divine judgment.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: While Joab's actions were human, the larger narrative of 1 Kings 11 reveals God's hand in raising up adversaries against Solomon due to his unfaithfulness and idolatry (1 Kings 11:11). Hadad's survival and subsequent rise were part of God's disciplinary plan.
  • Brutality of Ancient Warfare: The phrase "smitten every male" underscores the harsh realities and complete devastation often associated with ancient Near Eastern warfare, where total annihilation of the enemy's fighting force and potential future generations was a common, albeit brutal, tactic.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "smitten every male" translates from the Hebrew verb Χ ΦΈΧ›ΦΈΧ” (*nakah*), which means "to strike, smite, beat, wound, kill." In this context, it signifies a complete and decisive defeat, often involving slaughter. The severity of the action taken by Joab and the Israelite army against the Edomite males was intended to eliminate any future resistance or claim to the throne, as male heirs were typically the ones to continue a lineage. This near-total eradication explains why Hadad, a young royal, had to flee for his life.

Practical Application

1 Kings 11:15 reminds us that actions have ripple effects, often extending beyond our immediate perception. The brutal conquest of Edom under David, though successful at the time, sowed seeds of resentment that would later manifest as an adversary to Solomon. This highlights the principle that even necessary or divinely sanctioned actions can have complex, long-term consequences. For believers, it underscores the importance of understanding the historical context of God's dealings with nations and individuals. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty; He can use historical events and even the survival of an individual like Hadad to fulfill His purposes, whether in judgment or in the outworking of His divine plan for a nation.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 8:14 (8 votes)

    And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

  • 1 Chronicles 18:12 (6 votes)

    Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

  • 1 Chronicles 18:13 (6 votes)

    And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

  • Deuteronomy 20:13 (4 votes)

    And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

  • Numbers 31:17 (2 votes)

    Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

  • Genesis 27:40 (2 votes)

    And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

  • Genesis 25:23 (2 votes)

    And the LORD said unto her, Two nations [are] in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and [the one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people; and the elder shall serve the younger.