---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 130 of 927
url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/130/
cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 130. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/130/"
---

# Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

*Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown*

The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation.

## 130. 1 Chronicles · 4 of 10

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/130/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/130/#p-N

[¶0] 34. Merib-baal--that is, Mephibosheth.

[¶1] 36. Jehoadah--or, Jara ([1Ch 9:42]).

[¶2] 40. mighty men of valour, archers--(see on [Jud 20:16]). Great strength as well as skill was requisite in ancient archery, as the bow, which was of steel, was bent by treading with the feet, and pulling the string with both hands.

### Chapter 9

[¶4] [1Ch 9:1-26]. Original Registers of Israel and Judah's Genealogies.

[¶5] 1. all Israel were reckoned by genealogies--From the beginning of the Hebrew nation, public records were kept, containing a registration of the name of every individual, as well as the tribe and family to which he belonged. "The book of the kings of Israel and Judah" does not refer to the two canonical books that are known in Scripture by that name, but to authenticated copies of those registers, placed under the official care of the sovereigns; and as a great number of the Israelites ([1Ch 9:3]) took refuge in Judah during the invasion of Shalmaneser, they carried the public records along with them. The genealogies given in the preceding chapters were drawn from the public records in the archives both of Israel and Judah; and those given in this chapter relate to the period subsequent to the restoration; whence it appears (compare [1Ch 3:17-24]) that the genealogical registers were kept during the captivity in Babylon. These genealogical tables, then, are of the highest authority for truth and correctness, the earlier portion being extracted from the authenticated records of the nation; and as to those which belong to the time of the captivity, they were drawn up by a contemporary writer, who, besides enjoying the best sources of information, and being of the strictest integrity, was guided and preserved from all error by divine inspiration.

[¶6] 2. the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions--This chapter relates wholly to the first returned exiles. Almost all the names recur in Nehemiah ([Ne 11:1-36]), although there are differences which will be explained there. The same division of the people into four classes was continued after, as before the captivity; namely, the priests, Levites, natives, who now were called by the common name of Israelites, and the Nethinims ([Jos 9:27]; [Ezr 2:43]; ). When the historian speaks of "the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions," he implies that there were others who afterwards returned and settled in possessions not occupied by the first. Accordingly, we read of a great number returning successively under Ezra, Nehemiah, and at a later period. And some of those who returned to the ancient inheritance of their fathers, had lived before the time of the captivity ([Ezr 3:12]; [Hag 2:4], ).

[¶7] 18. the king's gate--The king had a gate from his palace into the temple ([2Ki 16:18]), which doubtless was kept constantly closed except for the monarch's use; and although there was no king in Israel on the return from the captivity, yet the old ceremonial was kept up, probably in the hope that the scepter would, ere long, be restored to the house of David. It is an honor by which Eastern kings are distinguished, to have a gate exclusively devoted to their own special use, and which is kept constantly closed, except when he goes out or returns ([Eze 44:2]). There being no king then in Israel, this gate would be always shut.

### Chapter 10

[¶9] [1Ch 10:1-7]. Saul's Overthrow and Death.

[¶10] 1. Now the Philistines fought against Israel--The details of this chapter have no relation to the preceding genealogies and seem to be inserted solely to introduce the narrative of David's elevation to the throne of the whole kingdom. The parallel between the books of Samuel and Chronicles commences with this chapter, which relates the issue of the fatal battle of Gilboa almost in the very same words as [1Sa 31:1-13].

[¶11] 3. the battle went sore against Saul; and the archers hit him, and he was wounded--The Hebrew words may be thus rendered: "The archers found (attacked) him, and he feared the archers." He was not wounded, at least not dangerously, when he resolved on committing suicide. The deed was the effect of sudden terror and overwhelming depression of spirits [Calmet].

[¶12] 4. his armour-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid--He was, of course, placed in the same perilous condition as Saul. But it is probable that the feelings that restrained him from complying with Saul's wish were a profound respect for royalty, mingled with apprehension of the shock which such a catastrophe would give to the national feelings and interests.

[¶13] 6. Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house--his sons and courtiers who were there engaged in the battle. But it appears that Ish-bosheth and Mephibosheth were kept at Gibeah on account of their youth.

[¶14] [1Ch 10:8-14]. The Philistines Triumph over Him.

[¶15] 10. put his armour in the house of their gods--It was common among the heathen to vow to a national or favorite deity, that, in the event of a victory, the armor of the enemy's king, or of some eminent leader, should be dedicated to him as an offering of gratitude. Such trophies were usually suspended on the pillars of the temple.

[¶16] fastened his head in the temple of Dagon--while the trunk or headless corpse was affixed to the wall of Beth-shan ([1Sa 31:10]).

[¶17] 13. Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord--in having spared the king of the Amalekites and taken the flocks of the people as spoils [1Sa 15:9], as well as in having consulted a pythoness [1Sa 28:7]. Both of these acts were great sins--the first as a violation of God's express and positive command [1Sa 15:3], and the second as contrary to a well-known statute of the kingdom ([Le 19:31]).

[¶18] 14. And inquired not of the Lord--He had done so in form ([1Sa 28:6]), but not in the spirit of a humble penitent, nor with the believing confidence of a sincere worshipper. His enquiry was, in fact, a mere mockery, and his total want of all right religious impressions was manifested by his rushing from God to a wretched impostor in the service of the devil [1Sa 28:7].

### Chapter 11

[¶20] [1Ch 11:1-3]. David Made King.

[¶21] 1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron--This event happened on the death of Ish-bosheth (see on [2Sa 5:1]). The convention of the estates of the kingdom, the public and solemn homage of the representatives of the people, and the repeated anointing of the new king in their presence and by their direction, seem to have been necessary to the general acknowledgment of the sovereign on the part of the nation (compare [1Sa 11:15]).

[¶22] [1Ch 11:4-9]. He Wins the Castle of Zion from the Jebusites by Joab's Valor.

[¶23] 4. David and all Israel went to ... Jebus--(See on [2Sa 5:6]).

[¶24] 8. Joab repaired the rest of the city--David built a new town to the north of the old one on Mount Zion; but Joab was charged with a commission to restore the part that had been occupied by the ancient Jebus, to repair the breaches made during the siege, to rebuild the houses which had been demolished or burned in the sacking of the town, and to preserve all that had escaped the violence of the soldiery. This work of reconstruction is not noticed elsewhere [Calmet].

[¶25] [1Ch 11:10-47]. A Catalogue of His Worthies.

[¶26] 10. These ... are the chief of the mighty men--(See on [2Sa 23:8]). They are here described as those who held strongly with him (Margin) to make him king, &c. In these words the sacred historian assigns a reason for introducing the list of their names, immediately after his account of the election of David as king, and the conquest of Jerusalem; namely, that they assisted in making David king. In the original form of the list, and the connection in which it occurs in Samuel, there is no reference to the choice of a king; and even in this passage it is only in the clause introduced into the superscription that such a reference occurs [Keil].

[¶27] 11-13. Jashobeam, an Hachmonite--or, "son of Hachmoni." He is called also son of Zabdiel ([1Ch 27:2]), so that, strictly speaking, he was the grandson of Hachmoni (compare [1Ch 27:32]).

[¶28] lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time--The feat is said ([2Sa 23:8]) to have been a slaughter of eight hundred in one day. Some endeavor to reconcile the statements in that passage and in this by supposing that he slew eight hundred on one occasion and three hundred on another; while others conjecture that he attacked a body of eight hundred, and, having slain three hundred of them, the rest fled [Lightfoot].

[¶29] 15-19. David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink ... of the well of Beth-lehem--(See on [2Sa 23:15]). This chivalrous act evinces the enthusiastic devotion of David's men, that they were ready to gratify his smallest wish at the risk of their lives. It is probable that, when uttering the wish, David had no recollection of the military posted at Beth-lehem. It is generally taken for granted that those who fought a way to the well of Beth-lehem were the three champions just mentioned [see on 1Ch 11:13]. But this is far from being clear. On the contrary, it would seem that three different heroes are referred to, for Abishai ([1Ch 11:20]) was one of them. The camp of the Philistines was in the valley of Rephaim ([1Ch 11:15]), which lay on the west of Jerusalem, but an outpost was stationed at Beth-lehem ([1Ch 11:16]), and through this garrison they had to force a passage.

[¶30] 21. howbeit he attained not to the first three--(See on [2Sa 23:19]).

[¶31] 22. Benaiah ... of Kabzeel--a town in the south of Judah ([Jos 15:21]; [Ne 11:25]). It is said that "he had done many acts," though three only are mentioned as specimens of his daring energy and fearless courage.

[¶32] slew two lionlike men of Moab--literally, "lions of God," that is, great lions or champions. This gallant feat was probably achieved in David's hostile invasion of Moab ([2Sa 8:2]).

[¶33] also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day--probably a cave into which Benaiah had taken refuge from the snowstorm, and in which he encountered a savage lion which had its lair there. In a spacious cave the achievement would be far greater than if the monster had been previously snared or cabined in a pit.

[¶34] 23. he went down--the ordinary phraseology for expressing an engagement in battle. The encounter of Benaiah with this gigantic Egyptian reminds us, in some respects, of David's combat with Goliath. At least, the height of this giant, which was about eight feet, and his armor, resembled his of Gath.

[¶35] with a staff--that is, having no other weapon in his hand than his walking stick.

[¶36] 25. David set him over his guard--the Cherethites and Pelethites that composed the small bodyguard in immediate attendance on the king.

[¶37] 26. Also the valiant men of the armies--This was the third degree of military rank, and Asahel was their chief; the names of few of those mentioned are historically known.

[¶38] 27. Shammoth--Between this name and Hebez, that of Elikah has evidently fallen out, as we may see ([2Sa 23:25], ) [Bertheau].

[¶39] 30. Maharai--chief of the detachment of the guards who attended on the king in the tenth month, January ([1Ch 27:13]; [2Sa 23:28]).

[¶40] 39. Naharai--armorbearer to Joab ([2Sa 23:37]). The non-occurrence of Joab's name in any of the three catalogues is most probably to be accounted for by the circumstance that his office as commander-in-chief raised him to a position superior to all these orders of military knighthood.

[¶41] 41. Uriah the Hittite--The enrolment of this name in such a list, attesting, as it does, his distinguished merits as a brave and devoted officer, aggravates the criminality of David's outrage on his life and honor. The number of the names at [1Ch 11:26-41] (exclusive of Asahel and Uriah, who were dead) is thirty, and at [1Ch 11:41-47] is sixteen--making together forty-eight (see on [1Ch 27:1-34]). Of those mentioned ([1Ch 11:26-41]), the greater part belonged to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; the sixteen names ([1Ch 11:41-47]) are all associated with places unknown, or with cities and districts on the east of the Jordan. The northern tribes do not appear to have furnished any leaders [Bertheau].

### Chapter 12

[¶43] [1Ch 12:1-22]. The Companies That Came to David at Ziklag.

[¶44] 1-7. Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag--There are three lists given in this chapter, arranged, apparently, according to the order of time when the parties joined the standard of David.