PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles
Philip Chapman Barker [d.1904] · 415,586 words · 458 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 121
Ver. 34-.-Poor Mephibosheth ! The name Merib-baal, or Mephiboslteth, recalls the story of one who was '11,nfort'IJ,nate from his birth to his grave; one on whom the burdens and disabilities of life pressed very heavily. And it reminds us that we find similar cases within the sphere of our personal experiences. '!'here …
1,067 wordsSECTION 122The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 122
EXPOSITION. CHAPTER IX. this expression describes inhabitants of the land before the Captivity or subsequent to Ver. 1.-So all llll'ael were reckoned by it. Almost all the oldor authorities, nod genealogies. The Hebrew verb (1eir:i;,i:i) Keil amongst those of more modern date, is sufficiently satisfied by the rend…
327 wordsSECTION 123The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 123
men of the temple (Numb. viii. 18, 19; selected some of the names of the whole xxxi. 47; Ezra ii. 40--48; viii. 17, 20). line of genealogy, and another others, Not before the time of the return does the though in each several case according to name Nethinim seem to hu.ve crystallized reasons often unknown by ns. Thus, …
979 wordsSECTION 124The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 124
the description son of Xore,eto. The pedigree is, tho.t they should scrupulously number here_ given enables us to identify the per- them. son mtended as Shelemiah or Meshelemiah. Vers. 29, 80.-The vessels o.nd other (oomp. eh. vi. 23, 27; xxvi. I, 14). Keepers thin~s required for the daily ao.orificinl of the gates of …
859 wordsSECTION 125The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 125
WISDOM, 'l'his is suggested by the word "ruler." "Order is Heaven's first law," and this law is certainly not violated in his most precious and beloved work. God's own wisdom is displayed in his own temple. Ill. GoD'B OWN SoN IS THE RULER IN HIS OWN HOUSE. No earthly sovereirn or ecclesiastical. po'!-tiff is tJ:te hea…
764 wordsSECTION 126The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 126
TIIE CmJRCH OF THE LIVING AND DIVINE CHRIST. 1. There are "diversities of gifts .. and trusts and services. According to the ability and opportunity is the occupation, 2. Beneath all these diversities there is an admirable unity. It is " the one Spirit" who qualifies and appoints all. There is one body, one temple, one…
805 wordsSECTION 127The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 127
receive the benefit of such ability honour the human while they bless the Divine .Author of it. 3. That His a gift for the use of which its possessors should feel a lar;:;e measure of responsibility. Who shall measure the vastness of the influence for good or evil which one man of great ability may exert, if we take in…
1,161 wordsSECTION 128The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 128
Vers. 1-44.-Geneal-Ogy of the returned exiles. This chapter records the genealogies of Israel when, as exiles, they had returned from Dabylon. Almost all tho names recur in Nehemiah (xL). God':. people may be scattered and downtrodden and degraded in strange lands, but he bas his eye on each, and their names are in …
557 wordsSECTION 129The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 129
for restoration whon tho providential time ea.me; and of the historical circumstances wbich led up to their release. For the~o topics valuable help may be gained from Stanley's 'Jewish Church,' vol. iii. We only note one or two points which might be mi~sed or under-estimated. 1. The work of the prophets of the Captivit…
811 wordsSECTION 130The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 130
Ver. 13.-Strong for God's service. Of certain men, otherwise unknown, this is the permanent historical record, "They were very able men for the work of the service of the hou,se of God." It is a description full of interest, and reminds us that- I. Goo GIVES TO MEN THE NEEDED GIFTS FOR BIS WORK. For all his work in …
842 wordsSECTION 131The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 131
religious life the same is true. Of most of us God asks that we will do little things for him well. What a ~racious lesson in doing cheerfully lowly work our Lord uave us when he laid aside his garments, took a towel, girded himself, and began to w~sh the disciples' feet I "He that would be greatest among you let him h…
846 wordsSECTION 132The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 132
human life is a difficult, nearly an impossible thing, seeing that we have not the whole before us, nor can we fairly judge the relative value of the parts. Full estimate11 of human lives must be left to God and the future. It is full of instructive signifi- cance that, as the generations pass, wholly different esti…
1,051 wordsSECTION 133The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 133
Vera. 28-32.-Every man to his own office. The distribution of gifts is constantly recognized, and on this we have much apostolic teaching. Dnt the answering distri- bution of offices requires to be more fully apprehended. 'l'he power and the place are diviuely fitted together; and in the economy of the Divine administr…
535 wordsSECTION 134The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 134
or sources. It is not possible to suppose range of ten miles long, 11bont six hundred !;hat the writer of Chronicles merely copied feet high, and mentioned only in the mel11n- /rom the Book of Samuel. The differences choly connection of this history. The flight 11,ro ,ery slight, but they are such as pro- of the men…
990 wordsSECTION 135The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 135
ture are remarkably scanty on this subject. literally that the whole, including every T!Je sword is the earliest mentioned in member, of that family had perished. Scripture, carried in a sheath (1 Sam. xvii. Ver. 7.-In the valley. In place of these 51 • 2 Sam. xx. 8; eh. :ni. 27) ; tbough the words, the pa.re.lie! (1 S…
1,074 wordsSECTION 136The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 136
others suppose corruption in our text, or, as against Nahath the Ammonite, of which Thenius !\nd Ewald, the loss of a sentence kimlncss they are now mindful, show that to our text. After all said, the omission in rarest of virtues, gmtitude to a fallen Samuel of the fate of the head would seem monarch, nnd are further …
930 wordsSECTION 137The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 137
On the contrRry, they were born in these and abound in them. Saul and his career were remarkably differenced from anything which could be called commonplace. And while t~e world continues, they _must needs st_and among th_e foremost examples for impressiveness, of grand opportumty and splendid prospects grievously miss…
894 wordsSECTION 138The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 138
band of men, whose hearts God had touched," also I Could there have been a more striking, a fuller, a richer beginning of a new religious life, and one shaped to hi"'hest ends? Who could ever lose the memory, the impressions, the force of hall~wod re~olutions belonging to such a time? lll. 'l'ITE FACT OF THE GRE.!.…
876 wordsSECTION 139The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 139
now wrecked. It was succeeded by fault after fault of wayward" rebellion," and of wilful "stubbornness" (1 Sam. xv. 23), of alleged "fear of the people" and craving to be" honoured" before them (1 Sam. xv. 24, 30), till the ominous knell is heard, and bis conversion "by the Spirit of the Lord" is reversed, when "the Sp…
844 wordsSECTION 140The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 140
raised his people to independence and to power. But he was disobedient to the voice of the seer, he was unfaithful to the cause of the God who raised him to eminence and invested him with theocratic authority; and he reaped the bitter harvest of disobe- dience and unfaithfulness. To some position, with some vocation th…
865 wordsSECTION 141The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 141
gilded chariot; what insatiable hatred or inappeasable remorse sits down to the sump- tuous meal? Who knows in what black clouds of calamity the sun of human c,reatness will set? Who can tell whether the end will not, like Saul's, be such an end that a.II the brightness and the excellency that went before will be utter…
975 wordsSECTION 142The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 142
Ver.14 (with ver. 4).-Divine and human agency. In the last verse of this chapter 1hat event is ascribed to tbe hand of God which, in the fourth verse, is accounted for by the act of Saul. "He [the Lord] slew him" (ver. 14). "So Saul took a sword," etc. (ver. 4). As both statements are true, there must be a consisten…
733 wordsSECTION 143The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 143
I. THIS MIGHT-HAVE-BEEN, If ever a life had fair opening and opportunity, it was Saul's. 1. Every personal advantage that C()'IJ,ld be desired was his. Good looks above all in Israel; immense strength of bodily frame; mental qualities to match ; wisdom and courage suitable for a king ;-qualities that gained for him the…
872 wordsSECTION 144The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 144
Samuel : "God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, ... therefore I ho.ve called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do." Something touching in way in which, to the end, he believes in Samuel, and longs to heo.r o.gain something from his lips, and prefers to bear his doom from him if he has …
885 wordsSECTION 145The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 145
Saul, immediately on his accession to the kingdom, that it was saved from the cruel fate which Nahash the Ammonite intended and seemed able to inflict. When shame, grief, a tender memory of the service rendered by Saul in the days of his youth rise up within them, they resolve that, whatever risk has to be faced, whate…
858 wordsSECTION 146The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 146
good; a sort of mirror, in which we find the face we bring to it. With this difference, however, that God working on the side of all that is good, the reward of any goodness is always vastly larger than the retribution of any ill. Covet the beautiful rewards of kiudness. Scores of years after they have been rendered th…
873 wordsSECTION 147The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 147
it was somewhat fashionable, in which it might even seem to be a means of grace, furnishing some proof of the existence of the soul after death to a gainsaying an<l materi&listic age. I would make two or three preliminary observations. 1. That in the nature of things one would expect a great deal of deception to be pra…
910 wordsSECTION 148The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 148
wil\ be safer f~r you to travel the unknown road by God's moonlight or starlight, than to have a blazing gleam thrown round you, which comes you know not whence and leads you know not whither. III. THERE IS MANIFOLD INJURY m HAVING RECOURSE TO SUCH, 1. There is injury to the bo1Y· ~here are few whose nervous systems…
1,079 wordsSECTION 149The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 149
Ver. 13.-Saul's sin. What was Saul's sin for which he was slain? He followed God just so far as suited his convenience; when it interfered in any way with his own interests he cast him off. He destroyed the Amalekites-so far he obeyed God's word, because he had no interest in doing otherwise; but he saved Agag and part…
667 wordsSECTION 150The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 150
with others. Saul's sin must also be official-the iniquity of the representative person, the king; and relational-the iniquity of the fathe1·, the bead of a family. So far as 11, man's siu starts a train of consequences, he cannot limit the disabilities to bis own sntlering, and be may not wonder if the resultant cal…
830 wordsSECTION 151The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 151
man knows himself until he has borne the stress of middle life, and its responsibilities, testings, and temptations. II. 'l'HE PERIL OF THE OVEn-DEVELOPED BODY. For this he was chosen and admired; in accordance with the admiration of physical size and strength which is common to all people who retain tribal notions. B…
942 wordsSECTION 152The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 152
Ver. 14.-Judgments come thi'ough men, but they are from the Lord. This topic is suggested by the expression, "Therefore he slew him." This passage gives the reason for the death of Saul, as viewed from a later standpoint; a moral is pointed from it that might serve as a warning to the returned captives of Babylon. Saul…
753 wordsSECTION 153The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 153
EXPOSITION. "that David inquired of the Lord, saying, OHAPTER XI. Shall I go up into any of the cities of Ver. 1.-Upon the death of Saul, Abner, Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go for a while espousing the cause of Ishbo- up. And David said, Whither shall I go shetb, the only surviving son of Saul, up? And he sai…
886 wordsSECTION 154The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 154
arc thy bone and thy :flesh. This is a was the eastern hill in the dty, was the figuratirn expression, the pedigree and second highest elcvatiou in the city, and up Ii ne.1gc, of ~-hich it is interesting to note to the time of the destruction of the city (s<'e :l Sam. xix. 12; Judg. ix. 2; Gen. of Jerusalem was unifor…
970 wordsSECTION 155The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 155
going up n to the west of the temple (eh. Josh. viii. 31; Pa. xli. 9; lxxiv. 5; Isa. ii. xxii. 16). The likeliest view of Millo is 4; Ezek. xxvi. 28.) tbo.t it was a very strong point of forti.6- Ver. l~.-Elea~e.r. Perhaps the same a.a co.tion in the surrounding defences of the Aze.reel rn the list e.t eh. xii. 6, in w…
1,082 wordsSECTION 156The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 156
purchase prioe of the adulteress (Hos. iii. intrinsic difficulty adheres seems evidence of 2). Its derivation in the Hebrew from aver- injured manuscripts rather the.n of o.nythia"' ba I root signifying " to bristle " is in notice- else. To the rook to David. This is th~ able analogy with the Le.tin hord,eum, from r…
1,058 wordsSECTION 157The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 157
should mark an encloBed one. Rephnim viii. 18; xx. 23; l Kings i. 38; eh. xviii.17). means "giants." Hence our Authorized His fidelity e.nd influence remained into Version, "The valley of Hinnom westward, Solomon's time (1 Kings i. 8, 10, 32, 38, 41; which is at the end of the valley of the ii. 35; iv. 4). giants north…
1,001 wordsSECTION 158The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 158
1,Hblurr, in Chronicles, resist identification the article, which would not subsist with with those that should (from position) cor- the proper name Guni. Were it not that respond with them in the list of Samuel and the word ~l:ii is found in both passages all with any others. And the same thing may difficulty would…
954 wordsSECTION 159The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 159
be made armour-beo.rer was a sign of honour preposition here translated "with" appears and attachment (1 Sam. xvi. 21 ; 2 Sam. thus, l~Jn, and will naturally translate xviii. 15). "and in addition to him." As he was a Ver. 40.-The lthrite. One of the families captain, this addendum may probably refer of Kirjath-jearim…
821 wordsSECTION 160The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 160
and splendour of the very few are built on the excessive toil and wrecked health of rnst numbers. And even in the natural order of things, the fame of the great rests on the substructure of millions of lives of the bumble obscure, whose industry, honesty, endurance, are the staple and the strength of the whole communit…
912 wordsSECTION 161The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 161
o drudgery peculio.r to itself, but that it is dignified by being called to similar work with that of Christ. 'l'be power, the wisdom, the Jove, the very thought of that work must first come from heavenly source, and be sustained by streams from the heavenly source; but then these should often betray their heavenly ori…
901 wordsSECTION 162The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 162
and invested with a special honour the principle that was to last and to gain in signifi- ca°:ce when the outer sh.ell of cust.om or form was withered to nothing. The ceremony which set forth the makmg of a kmg of Israel was that of anointincr. '!'his was the th!rd time_ J?avid had been anoint~d. ~ut these _su~cessi…
917 wordsSECTION 163The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 163
such thing as actual irrespon~ibility between man and man. None is so strong as to be able to boast him~elf independent of the help, the love, the good opinion of his fellow-men. Conscience only can claim for itself the prerogative of freedom to do and speak as though irresponsible to man, but even these noblest displa…
868 wordsSECTION 164The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 164
II. TrrE CONDUCT OF DAVID. And we note that it is marked: I. By a mistalce oj tlte tongue. We may allow that there was everything that there could be under the circumstances to palliate the mistake of a great man and a good man. But for that Yery reason let it be the more closely scanned. The facts were simply these…
1,123 wordsSECTION 165The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 165
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 2.-A true leader. David's life was made up of several successive stagt:s; and, as we read his biography and so trace his course, we see clearly-what at the time he could not see-how one position, one experience, prepared for the next. His youth was a preparation for his manhood, his c…
611 wordsSECTION 166The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 166
position._ For such God in his providence has assuredly a work to do. It is for them quiet!:!'. and patiently to await the indications of Divine providence, in the persuasion tl_1~t_fa1thful~ess and diligenc~ in prese~t duty are the best preparation for futul'e responsi- b1htJcs. It 1s God's prerogative to tram the …
808 wordsSECTION 167The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 167
JI. THE STRUCTURE OJ' DAVID'S REGAL MAGNIFICENCE AND WARLIKE STRATEGY, Probably before this time it was nothing but a primitive fortress, strongly placed upon rocky heights. But David" built the city round about," and" Joab repaired the rest of the city." Henceforth "Jerusalem was a city compact together." III. THE SC…
1,189 wordsSECTION 168The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 168
Ver. 14.-.A great deliverance. David, by the force of his character and the prowess of his arms, gathered around him many able, valiant men, who were a strength to him- self and a protection to his kingdom. Of the thirty heroes most famous and mighty, some are recorded to have wrought great and meruorable exploits. The…
1,171 wordsSECTION 169The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 169
boUDd him to royal fidelity with a solemn pledge: they met the king in Hebron and "he m_ade a covenant with them .. _. before the Lord" (ver. 3). This was most ,~ise; they did not then know for a certarnty what manner of monarch David would prove. lt would have been blind and foolish on their part, in the last degre…
896 wordsSECTION 170The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 170
Vers. 10-14, 20-47.-The moral of the mighty men, We may learn from this record of gallant exploits and of the names of David's mighty men- I. THAT NO MAN, HOWEVER GREAT AND WISE, CAN DISPENSE WITH THE CO-OPERA· TION OF OTHERS, David's elevation to the throne was largely due to his own character and to his own deeds. T…
782 wordsSECTION 171The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 171
should have borne it in silence rnther than have uttered his wish for water. He should have remembered that the wish of a sovereign would probably be interpreted as a command, or be seized upon as an occasion for distinction or a means of securing a large reward. To such default all men are liable. It requires unceasin…
866 wordsSECTION 172The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 172
havo concluded that the fulfilment of this promise was utterly outside the reach of all possibility! Look at the arguments of despair with which Satan could assail him. 1. There was already a monarch established in his throne. The choice of the whole people. And a~ the time the promise was made to David everything indi…
892 wordsSECTION 173The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 173
II. THE COMPLETE AND BLESSED FULFILMENT OF ALL GoD's PROMISES. Consider how many things go to this. 1. There is the opportunity for making himself known to all Jsrael. 2. Then, by marvellous providential deliverances and by restraints on the heart of Saul, every effort to destroy David is frustrate. 3. 'l'hen God saves…
873 wordsSECTION 174The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 174
find better and wiser than yourself, and, sitting at his feet, you will, in the practice of obedience, learn the secret of command. David not only attracts, however but elevates. Beneath the kindling inspiration of his valour all hearts grow brave. C~urage seems so easy and fear so shameful that, with him as leader, ea…
898 wordsSECTION 175The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 175
llressing or straining anything, we have the fact clear that the manliness of the tribe of the Levites was one reason of its selection for the priesthood, or at least one charac- teristic of it. There is a vulgar manliness, loud, blatant, coarse, unfamiliar with any of the finer questionings or feelings of the soul. Fa…
880 wordsSECTION 176The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 176
to fight against Egyptians and Moabites, and then give in and let some lion destroy the power so valuable-power which might have done such splendid service. To say" No" to our own weaknesses, to protect the interests of others, to oppose whatever by its falsehood, sin, or mischief threatens the true well-being of our f…
1,069 wordsSECTION 177The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 177
Vers. 4-9.-Capture of Jerusal,em. David and all Israel with him went to Jerusa- lem, then called Jebus, and in the possession of the Jebusites. But they would have none of him. David, however, took the castle of Zion, and Joab subsequently captured the city, and was rewarded for his bravery by promotion to the chief mi…
685 wordsSECTION 178The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 178
Joa.b, is merely described a.s one of the valiant men. 1'his "great host" ha.cl gathereu to David in the cave of Adulla.m, situate within a. few miles of Bethlehem. Drawn thither by personal attachment to himself, they preferred rejection and danger a.nu every hardship of life. Let us learn a. few spiritual lessons fro…
942 wordsSECTION 179The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 179
their heads on account of guilt and sin. They are "bitter of soul;" for sin has wounded them, the world has wounded them, Satan has pierced them through and throucrh, They had "no hope, and were without God in the world." 'l'hey were "hateful a°nd hatina one another." They were "dead in trespasses and sins." Drawn to …
849 wordsSECTION 180The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 180
seize the full kingdom. It may be urged that this was 11:ood policy, but it was really something far deeper-it was that true piety, which finds its best expression in waiting on God and waiting for him. A common Christian sin is saying we trust God, yet taking life into our own hands. IV. GOD MAKES HIS PROVIDENOEB EVE…
972 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.