A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles

Philip Chapman Barker [d.1904] · 415,586 words · 458 reading sections

SECTION 361

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 361

the King of kings. But when this was not the case, they developed rapidly and disastrouRly, It is nevertheleBs abundantly plain that, when the authority and voice of the good king sounded most absolute, the facts of human life and character were not disregarded, Full account was made of them, and the nature of human…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 362

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 5.-P,·eparation for the temple. A site having been secured for the house oi the Lord, the next thing to be done was to make what preparations were possible in view of the great undertaking. David's forethought and liberality, as described in this p~ssage, are deserving of our admirati…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 363

position, or office have special influence over others have also special responsibilities. '£his is true, not only of political, but also of social and educational influence. 3. Reverent regard to God's will. Solomon's strength was in "keeping the Law of tho Lord," in "taking heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments w…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 364

inhabitants of the land, and from the heathen tribes and nations around. It is a ble~sing for any nation to be at peace. II. CoNSIDER THE MEANS BY WHICH THIS REST WAS SECURED. The reign of Davirl had been, on the whole, one of strife and warfare. Such a condition of things was not desirable on its own account, for its…

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SECTION 365

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 365

there may be something about one of these which makes it unsuitable for us and desirable for some one else to do the work which is requirerl to be done. III. MAINTAINING PERSONAL INTEGRITY. (Vers. 11-13.) "Prosper thou, and build the house . . . that thou mayest keep the Law of the Lord thy God. Then shalt thou prospe…

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SECTION 366

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 366

Vers. 1-5, 14.-David's preparatioo.for building the temple. David was now in the last years of his reign, and these were spent in making preparation for the building of the temple. In order to procure the necessary workmen, he commanded to gather together the strangers in the land of Israel or the descendants of the Ca…

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SECTION 367

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 367

Vers. 17-19.-David's charge to the princes of Israd. After charging so solemnly his son, David turned to the princes of Israel, giving them an equally solemn charge to help his son Solomon in his great work. Every line of this charge to the princes is replete with spiritual instruction. The first line is a precious one…

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SECTION 368

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 368

It dJes not appear that the Israelites, as a people, have ever displayed mechanical or constructive skill. Their bias has been towards agriculture and trade. It, is often somewhat anxiously questioned whether sanctuary help---aid in church-bnildin"', and maintenance of Christian worship and work--can properly be rec…

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SECTION 369

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 369

Ver. 5.-Right ideas concerning God's eartlily sanctuaries. David's language in this verse is striking and suggestive, and it expresses a right feeling in relation to God's worship, and the places in which his worship is offered. He says, "The house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fam…

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SECTION 370

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 370

Vers. 7, 8.-The grounds of Divine refusals. God would not permit David to build his temple, and he was graciously pleased to signify to him the grounds on which this refusal was made: "Because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight." For illustrations of the bloody character of David's wars, see 2 Sam. …

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SECTION 371

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 371

plGUon the work of the former. Yet whe.t seem to us to be contrasts rnav seem to God to be relations, the one becoming e.n actual preparation for the other. 'There are times when the work of God in the world needs the men of battle-the Davids and the W ellingtons; e.nd there a.re other times when God needs the men of r…

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SECTION 372

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 372

all-including conception of God, 'l\·hich is at once the foundation of theology and of faith. In this, as in so much else, the Old Testament prepared for the New. In review- ing Old Testament references to God as a Father, we notice- I. THE TEACHING OF THE PATRIARCHAL RELIGION. It ha.s not been sufficiently con- sider…

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SECTION 373

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 373

Vers. 14-16.-0ne man's work for God fits into, and follows on, another man's. David was the preparer for Solomon the builder, and it is not for us to say which part of the work was the more important. Both together went to the execution of the Divine purpose. So, in every age," one aoweth and another reapeth," but th…

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SECTION 374

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 374

CHA..l'Th:R xxm. key-note of whu.t rewe.ins in this book. De.vid made his son king, as he himself This chapter is the first of fonr employed acknowledges (eh. xxvili. 5), under the on the subject of the Levites e.nd the ser- superintending direction of God, The vices distributed among them. The twenty• me.nner in whi…

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SECTION 375

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 375

three sons of Shimei, but not the Shimei of (Exod. xxviii. I, 38, 43 : xxix. 1, 35, 45, ver. 7, but of a descendant of Laadan. This xxx. 7-10; Numb. vi. 22-27). is made cle9:r, not only by the remaining Ver. 14.-M:oses the man of God. This clause of this verse, which says, "These title is distinguished by the presence …

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SECTION 376

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 376

were sons. This and the following verse bearers, though the burdens they bore were must be compared particularly with eh. xxiv. of the most sacred character. 26:-29; the Jaaziak of which passage was Ver. 27.-The ... words of David. Al- evidently no son of Mer11ri, on e. par with thou~h there are many instances of the e…

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SECTION 377

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HOMILETICS. Ver. 13.-The threefoldfuncttons of the priest. In the words of this verse the com- piler of th~ Chr?nicles sums the char~~ristic functi?ns of the priest. It was now nearly five centuries smce these bad been distmctly prescribed by heavenly legislation for the religious observance of a nation, and for the r…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 378

something more specific, as e.g. prayer alone, or that form of prayer called intercession, aud so understood, to be regarded as typical of the intercession of the great Intercessor; it spoke some proffered approach of the sinful creature to the. condescendin"' Creator, fit to be set forth by the priest himself, and by …

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 379

rest. "Oh th&t I had wings like a dove I for then would I fly away, and be at rest~ (Ps. Iv. 6); '' Rest in the Lord" (Ps. xxxvii. 7); "Return to thy rest, O my soul" (Ps. cxvi. 7). The crisis is not one when passion must have its way, when stern measures must be taken, when all things must be left to drift or else …

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SECTION 380

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 380

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 14.-" The man of God." This designation was not peculiar to Moses, In the storical books of the Old Testament, we find prophets sent with a Divine message to their fellow-mortals described as men of God. In the New Testament we meet with the expression in Paul's Epistles, where the i…

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SECTION 381

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 381

Vers. 1, 2.-0ur hold upon thsfuture. When" David was old, and full of days" ho contemplated his own death and what should then ensue-who should succeed him on the throne, and wha.t should be the work and history of the nation he had governed. We arc reminded of- I. Ou& DESIRE TO KEEP A ROLD UPON THE FUTURE. .As the…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 382

leaves us all behind. We need some better solace in the declinin" hour than the expectation that the kingdom will go to our sons, and thus be retai~ed by ourselves. And we have a better one in- IV. THE CHRISTIAN ASPIBATION, There are two worthy and honourable ambitions we may cherish respecting the future. 1. To live …

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SECTION 383

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 383

V ers. 1-32.-Enumeration and arrangement of the Levites for thefr service. The four chapters with which this commences give a connected view of the condition of the Levites towards t.he end, that is, the fortieth year of David's reign, and of the sections into wh_ich t~ey we!e divided according ~ their various servi…

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SECTION 384

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 384

i!eparated from the new races coming from Noah. Abraham is separated from the idolatrous Chaldeans, Isaac is separated as the sole heir of the covenant. Jacob, Judah, and Ephraim are separated by Divine interference with the right of eldest sons. The nation of Israel is separated from all nations to be the repository o…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 385

"living sacrifice." Make the burdcu of address a serious and earnest plea that strong men should give the strength of their manhood to holy service for God in the Church and the world. It is the weakness of so many Christian institutions and enterprises- as it so notably is of our Sunday school system-that the experien…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 386

Ver. 13.-Separation and consecration. Aaron was separated in order that he might be consecrated to the" sanctifying of the most holy things" (see Exod. xxviii.). Al! of us should be consecrated, but some of us may be also called and separated unto some special service. Expressing the consecrated separateness of Christi…

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SECTION 387

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 387

EXPOSITION. in their servioe (cn,::iJ)_ll). And the evident CHAPTER XXIV. purport of it is that \lie-three, David, Zadok, Vere. 1-19.-The twenty-four cl.assea of and Ahimclech, conjointly made the ammgc- priests. ments. 'fhis is virtually repeated in vers. 6, Ver. 1.-The Hebrew of this verse reads, 31 (see also eh.…

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the one bo.nd, and " the princes of God " on the return of some of the descende.n ts of the other, is not very clear. One instance of this family, see Ezre. ii. 36; Neh. vii. ll9; the former expression is found in Isa. xliii. comp. also Neh. xii. 6, 7, 19, 21.) 28. Keil supposes there may be no dis- Yer. 8.-Xarim (s…

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SECTION 389

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 389

altered form, Bilgai, in Neh. x. 8. The Vers. 20-81.-The distribution of the latter is the name of a family J..11own al- other Levites. ready (eh. ix. 12), and which became Ver. 20.-The rest of the sons of Levi much better ln1own (Ezra ii. 37; x. 20; designated here are exploined sufficiently Neh. iii. 29; '\"ii. 4…

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SECTION 390

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 390

Vere. 26-29.-We now pass from the twenty-five of the present text. On the ICohath familv to that of Merari. For the other hand, Bertheau retains the present oft-repeated Mahli and Mnshi, they belonged reading, and accepts Ja.aziah as a thircl to the time of Mosca (Exod. vi. 19; Numb. branch of the family of Merari. If …

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SECTION 391

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 391

Ver. 19.-The will of the Lord. "As the Lord God of Israel had commanded him." These words may be said to constitute the key-note of the whole Law (Exod. xxxix. 42; Lev. x.xvii. 34; Numb. x.xxvi. 13; Deut. xxxiv. 9). Just as Israel should pay heed to this commandment of Jehovah, so it would flourish and rejoice; in prop…

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SECTION 392

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 392

Ver. 2.-The abiding warning of the wilful, The narrative of Nadab and Abilrn which is here recalled is given in Lev. x. 1-5, 'l'he wording of the verse is taken from Numb. iii. 4. It is a story which we find it difficult to understand, Probably its explanation depends on e.n intimate acquaintance with the Jewish system…

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SECTION 393

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 393

requires attention. All forms for the expression of principles tend to exhaust their capacity for expressing truth. Like vessels, or pipes, that get encrusted with use, they have to be taken away, and replaced by other and larger forms. All we have to care for, from the most conservative standpoint, is that the old lif…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 394

ing to the order of. The Hebrew words are go with the latter pntt of the verae, while " to the hnnd of" and " to the hands of." the conjunction (vau) in 11;)'.l opens it. The Between the signification of these two possible order may be, .A.U these sons were to forms, the one expressed in the singular Heman, the king's…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 395

Septuagint tro.nelo.tee n::19~ ni~)ll by the of Bertheau, too artificial by far to be words 1<lvl1povs it/J11µ.ep,wv. defensible except as a theory that would Vers. 9-31.-List of the choirs in the indeed work out the result. He suggests order in which their lots came. The formula, that the modus operandi was by two ur…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 396

Ver. 8.-" Small and great, teacher and scholar." We have here an enumera• tion of the several courses of the Levites, appointed by lot to minister in due order. In the words which precede the enumeration, we have summarized the variety of ages and classes, all of whom were employed and accepted by the Lord in his se…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 397

II. FOUR FEATURES DY WIIIVH IT SHOULD BE CHARACTERIZED. 1. Order. The whole chapter is an argument for this; the division into choirs, with their respective leaders, and the arrangement as to their turn of service, speak of careful orderliness. The beau Ly of holiness in which we should worship requires that there be n…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 398

Ver. 7.- Consecrated song. "Instructed in the son11:s of the Lord, even all that were cunning." The general subject of the consecration of song to the Lord's service ha@ been dealt with in previous homilies. Here two points gain prominence. Men who serve with song must be (1) men with a gift; and (2) men with the gift …

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 399

God blessed him, with its present evident Ver. 12.-Tre.nslate, To these divisions o1 ell us ion, see eh. xiii. 14 ; 2 Sam. vi. 11. To the porters, as regards the chief men, be- this passage, the expression of eh. xxv. 5, longed the charge together with their bre- "to lift up the horn," is prob11bly analogous, thren …

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 400

eYer, defined here, 9.8 by the oa.useway through Laa.dan, previously called Lilmi of tbe going up, and would seem to ren- (eh. Yi. 17; also Exod. vi. 17; Numb. iii, der such an interpretation less likely. Ao- 18). The sons named as heads of houses <Jording to GroYe (in Smith's • Bible Dic- are three, viz. J"ehieli (eh.…

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SECTION 401

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 401

hundreds (10 see Exod, xviii. 21/ 25; the Lord, is probably no mere reminiscence Numb. xxxi. 14, etc.; Deut, i. 15; 1 Se.m, of the temple or semi-sacred business (such viii. 12, etc.). Captains of the host (so as the gathering of the tithes, etc.), but Deut. xx, 9; Josh. v. 14, 15; Judg. iv, 2; rather the recognitio…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 402

Ver. 20.-Temple treasures. Only very thoughtless persons can suppose that reliofon and money can be dissociated. ln this world things material and spiritual ar; so blended that we have not to ask-Must the cause of God have anything to do with wealth and property? but-What are the proper and scriptural relations betw…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 403

II. IT 1B LAWFUL FOR RELIGIOUS MEN TO SERVE IN THE BTATE. Just as labour, trade, navigation, etc., are all lawful, and are sanctified by the Word of God an,l by prayer, BO is it with the office of the magistrate, the servant of the state. III. IT 18 FOR THE ADVANTAGE OF ALL PARTIES THAT RELIGIOUS 'HEN IHOULD TAKE CIVI…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 404

of a conntry where the laws of the land are directly at variance with the will of God. But it is also true--- 11. THAT THEY ARE COMMONLY FOUND TO JIE CONSISTENT ONE WITH THE OTHER, Happily it is not often the case now that a man bas to choose whether he will "love the one and hate the other,'' etc. Usually both may…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 405

moral aud spiritual characters of men by his putting them in trust, pressin110 them under the sense of responsibility. I. MEN PUT IN TRUST. Life is full of these trusts from its beginning to its close. The Divine idea for all men is exhibited in the two great heads of the race. The first Adam was put in Eden, and trus…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 406

Ver. 20.-On dedicating things. The general idea seems to be that Christians must dedicate them.~elves to God; and though this is most true, it may be presented so as to hide away the fact that God requires the Christian to dedicate to him all he has, as well as all he is. Still, as in the older times, God is to be s…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 407

also all those offloers who served the king supply" Eleazar the son of," on the authority in any relation to these courses-the oouraes of cti. xi. 12; 2 Sam. xxiii. 9. The allusion were twelve, and ea.oh course we.a numbered to Mikloth ( of the tribe of Benjamin, accoru- twenty-four thousand. Meantime, when we ing to e…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 408

Judah, see eh. xi. 30; 2 Sam. xxiii. 28. The ea.Fe lhose who represented the tribe e.o- Netophathite. Though the name of the town cording to lineal descent in David's time. Netophah happens to occur only after the Though Gad and Asher are left out the Ce.ptivity (e.g. Ezra ii. 22; Neh. vii. 26), thirteen are filled …

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e_tc. (1 K~nge iiv. 26; xv. 18), more par- it designated etretcl.Jed from CRrmel to ticularly 1n the first clanee, and grain fruit Joppa (Stanley's' Sinai and Palestine,' edit. etc. (2 IJhron. xi. 11), in the latter for th~ ~866, pp. 485, 260, 264). The valleys here word h1111 disti~ctly th!e double application. mte…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 410

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 23.-The increase of Israel. A devout mind will ever acknowledae that not only individual, but also national, prosperity is from God. It was a conviction with all the pious Hebrews that their nation had been selected by a special decree and appointed to a special purpose. This convicti…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 411

When the creature is abused, the Creator is dishonoured ; but a just and temperate use of material wealth is improving to man and honourable to God. IV. THE POSSESSOR 011' MATERIAL WEALTH SHOULD CONSECRATE ALL TO THE GIVER. Christians especially, who are "not their own," are bound to regard ancl to use all their prope…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 412

Ver. 23.-God's promises checking man's wilfulness. The impulse on David leading him to number Israel has never been adequately explained. Probably there were some peculiar national conditions which a.re not detailed. 'l'he connection of the reference to the "numbering," which is made in this verse, intimates that it…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 413

EXPOSITION. Otherwise the former of these expressions CHAPTER XXVIII. may be of an entirely generic kind, and The contents of thie chapter may be said apply to all that succeeds. There arc, to form one scene with those of tho next up secondly, the princes of the twelve military oompaniea , , . by oourse of the mont…

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SECTION 414

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 414

to urge so strennously on Solomon tho thereof; i.e. not of the p<irch, bnt of the enterprise of building the temple o.nd of whole building; 1•1;1~; Septuagint, Tow ofo,,., carrying it to completion, With abundance llln-oii. The word " houses" in this place of means e.nd prepare.tions so le.rge e.lree.dy designntes the"…

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SECTION 415

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 415

tiuue the subject of the "chambers round been covered goblets, is only found here and a.bout" " for the treasures of the house of in Ezra. i. 10; viii. 27. God," eto., Rlso for the convenience" of the Ver. 18.-By the oha.riot of the oherubima, courses of the priests," eto., Rnd "for all is of oourso not meant that the …

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 416

In a scene of an exceptional character, with much of just importance in it, and of essential impressiveness, let UB pause to note the main features. I. THE ASSEMBLY ITSELF WAS ONE OF A DIGNIFIED CHABACTEB. And the dignity of it was a true dignity. The assembly represented a nation. It represented the worth and the …

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 417

all the rest of bis father's family, and be carries it down to the designation of his favourite son Solomon,as successor to his throne. "Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before :ill the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he bath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 418

Ee.eh in 0. large number sh11ll sometimes sufficiently feel that the address is to himself. In the brief language of David much is contained. Its sententiousness is tellincr and emphatic. The great throng of human witnesses is instanced. The supreme omnii~'cient Witnesser is pointed to, is well held up to view. "In the…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 419

own minds herein is of the condescension of the Spirit, yet we need not p!ISs over the consideration, that this is in keeping with an analogy that we might expect would be observed. As St. Paul teaches us iorcibly, in the first chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, that they are to be adjudged worthy of the severest c…

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The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 420

and even d~ring en_terprise. And yet it is the ol':1, man who is pressing on the youn~ man, appealing to him as though he would rouse him to an all but forlorn hope, instead of to a wise, prudent, and good work. Ill. WE ARE ARRESTED BY HEAnING IN THE MIDST OF THESE URGEST AND IMPASSIONED TONES PROMISES OF THE HIGHEST …

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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.