The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 12

FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. EXPOSITION. CHAPTER I. give all the intervening generations from the first to Shem, it may not be so; nor be Vera. 1-4.-A. LIST OF GENERATJON9 intended to convey that impression. It is FROM ADAM TON OAH. These verses contain a held by some that names are omitted, and line of genealogical descents, ten in number, with them of course the years which be- from Adam to Noah, adding mention of the longed to them. There can be no doubt three sons of the latter. The stride from that this theory would go far to remove Adam to Seth, and the genealogy's entire several great difficulties, and that some obliviousness of Cain and Abel, are full of analogies might be invoked in support of it, suggestion. A II of these thirteen names in from the important genealogies of the New the Hebrew and in the Septuagint Version, Testament. The altogether abrupt opening though not those in the Authorized Version, of this book-a succession of proper names are fac-similes of those which occur in Gen. v, without any verb or predication-cannot be They are not accompanied, however, here, considered as even partially compensated as they are there, by any chronological by the first sentence of eh. ix.," So all Israel attempt. Probably the main reason of this were reckoned by genealogies; and behold, is that any references of the kind were they are written in the book of the kings quite beside the objects which the compiler of Israel and Judah." This verse applies of this work had in view. It is, however, directly to the genealogies of Israel an<l the possible that other reasons for this chrono- tribes, beginning eh. ii. 1, while under nny logical silence may have existed. The circnmstances, we must look on the first uncertainties attaching to the chronology portion of this book as a series of tables, found in Genesis, as regards this table, m11y here and there slightly annotated, and sud- have been suspected or evident-uncertain- denly suspended before the eyes. ties which afterwards proclaim themselves Vars. 5-7.-B. LIST OF SO:-IS AND GRL'rn- BO loudly in the differences observable BONB OF JAPBE'.1'11. After the mention of between the Hebrew, Samaritan, and Sep- Noah's three sons, in the order of their age tuagint versions. Thus the Hebrew text (though some on slender ground think H11m exhibits the total aggregate of years from the youngest), this order, as in Gen. x. 2, is Adam to the birth of Noah, RB amounting to reversed; and the compiler, beginning with one thousand and fifty-six; the Samaritan J"apheth, the youngest, apparently with the version to seven hundred and seven only; and view of disposing of what bis purpose may the Septuagint to as many as sixteen hundred not so particularly require, gives the names and sixty-two; nevertheless, all three agree of seven sons and seven gmndsons, viz. in adding five hundred years onward to the three through Gomer, the eldest son, and birth of Shem, and another hundred years four through J"avan, the fourth son. '.t:hese to the coming of the Flood. It must be re- fourteen names are identical in the Autho- marked of this first genealogical table, rized Version with. the list of Gen. x. 2-4. whether occurring here or in Genesis, that, The Septuagint, though not identical in tho n~twithstanding its finished appearance, not- spelling of the four names Madai, Tire.a, withstanding the impression it undoubtedly Tarehish, and Xittim, shows no material first makes on the reader, that it purports to differences in the two places. In the lie• I, CHRONICLES. B  2 THE FIRST BOOK OF 'l'HE CIIHONICLES. [urr. 1. 1-54,