The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 19

On the genealogical tables of the first sim chapte1·s of the First Book of Olironicles. It is worth while to read these long lists of names. It is like standing on a river-bank and watching the flow of time. Solemn thoughts of transiency of life, of fame, of importance, are suggested by them. Solemn thoughts of responsibility are started by them, and appeals to act worthily of the past rise from them. 'l'hey deepen our respect for our grand old world, the nurse of heroes and of saints- " Where half the soil has trod the rest In poets, heroes, martyrs, sages.'• They reconcile us, to some extent, to inevitable evils in the present, showing that wars and conflicts have been the order of the day from the beginning. Observe more particularly- !. How broadly the writer of this book lays THE BASIS OF HUMAN BROTHERHOOD. He is intensely devoted to the Jewish priesthood-almost certainly one of them. Some, therefore, would expect only narrowness from him. Priest, presbyter, or pastor are all supposed to have more contracted views than neighbours. Ilut he commences his genealogies, not with Moses, nor Jacob, nor Abraham, but with Adam; recognizing at the outset that mankind is of one blood, one essential nature, one need, one capacity. This is one of the grand differences between the Bible religion and all other ancient religions. It recognized a common brotherhood of mankind beneath the common fatherhood of God. Let us learn this lesson, and go back a little further than the Commonwealth or the Conquest, and remember the English race is not made of different clay from the rest of mankind. All had the same origin, and all, therefore, are capable of the same elevation. II. Observe, secondly, IT BECOMES us TO llECOGNIZE OUR INDEBTEDNESS TO THE PAST. No Jew could read these records without feeling it. If possessing fertile land, they owed it to others-to the Simeonites, five hundred, who occupied Mount Seir (eh. iv. 39-43); to the men of Reuben, extirpating Arab tribes and dwelling in their place for centnries; to Caleb, for possessing Hebron; to Machir and to Jair, and to many 1mch. If enjoying the arts of life, they should remember how much of these were inherited. '!'hey would recall with advantage "Joab, the father of the valley of craftsmen" (eh. iv. 14); those who" wrought fine linen of the house of Ashbea" (ver. 21); and "the potters" and "those that dwelt among plants and hedges" (ver. 23). If they rejoice in their exquisite poetry, and their music probably m:i.tching it in worth, they should remember David and Heman (eh. vi. 33), Asaph (ver. 39), and Merari (ver. 44). It is well to remember the debt we owe to the past. Science did no~ begin in the nineteenth century, nor good Jaws, nor philanthropy, nor even statesman- ship. 1Ve stand on the shoulders of the past. Some are too confident and presumptuous, as if what we possess had been achieved and not inherited. See that we do somethin;; for posterity, and transmit in finer volume the advantages we have enjoyed. III. Observe THE LONG BLESSING THAT FOLLOWS THE GODLY. 'l'he priestly line of Aaron is traced through a thousand years of eminence down to the time of the Cap- tivity, and then it is still strong. The royal line of David is traced down to tho Captivity, the crown resting on some member of his family through seventeen genera- tions, and traced subsequently in the eminence of Zerubbabcl, who is one of the leaders of the retnrn. Blessing of long lines of progeny, inheriting parents' success, are seen in many other cases, e.g. Caleb's. A grandson of the prophet f:amuel (Heman) inherits hi~ podic fire. Evil exten<ls i1s traces and its curse to the third or fourth generation of those tba i hate God ; good carries its blessin~ to "thousands of generations" of tlio,o Oil, I, 1-54.) THE FIIlST BOOK OF THE CHIWNICLES. 9