Charles Ellicott Commentary 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, and had smitten every male in Edom" — 1 Kings 11:15 (ASV)

The war described here is briefly noted, with some differences of detail, in 2 Samuel 8:12–14, 1 Chronicles 18:11–13, and Psalm 60:0 (title and 1 Kings 11:8). It is there closely connected with the great struggle with the Syrians, and the victory is ascribed in one record to Joab, in the other to Abishai.

Here David himself is described as taking part in the war—perhaps completing the conquest, as in the war with Ammon, after it had been successfully begun by Joab (2 Samuel 12:26–31). (Instead of “David was in Edom,” the Septuagint and other versions read “David destroyed Edom,” by a slight variation of the Hebrew text.)

The war was evidently one of ruthless extermination of every male, except those who fled the country, or found refuge in its rocky fastnesses, and was carried on by systematic ravage under the command of Joab. How it was provoked we do not know; for we have no previous notice of Edom since the time of the Exodus, except a reference to war against it in the days of Saul (1 Samuel 14:47).