The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 113

Vere. 1-19.-" The old order changeth." It is a significant fact that, in this enumera- tion of names and these references to ancient times, the only complimentary epithets used relate to military affairs. "Their brethren among all the families or Issachar were valiant men or might" (ver. 5); "'l'he sons of Bela . . . mighty men of valour" (ver. 7); "'l'he sons of Becher . . . mighty men of valour" (vers. 8, 9; see ver. 11). We have here an illustration of the fact- I. THAT MILITARY VALOUR FORMED A LARGE PART OF AN0IBNT VIRTUE, Tho history of the ancient peoples, Egyptians, Assyrians, Greek, Romans, etc., proves this statement with only too monotonous a repetition. The history of tho Jews, the ancient people of God, adds one more note of confirmation. We might have supposed it would bo otherwise; we might have judged that they would coustitute the ono exception to the rule. But, so doing, wo should have erred. War involves certain most painful incidents, but it is not absolutely and intrinsically wrong. The simple fact that God sanctioned it in many instances, that ho commanded his people to engage in it, nnd that ho desired to be inquired of and supplicated in regard to it, distinctly settles that point. 1. It has to be remembered that war does call out the heroic virtues of (1) patient endurance, (2) implicit trust in a faithful leader, (3) courageous daring of utmost danger, and consequent (4) readiness to resign that which is most precious at the call of duty, on behalf of country or in obedience to what seems to be tho will of God. 2. It has to be remembered that men have engaged in it without any conscious departure from the obligations they were under to their kind; therefore without any sense of its evil, and therefore without any injury to their conscieuco and character. The idea that all warfare is positively wrong is a modem sentiment. \Vith quite _as clear a conscience armies ha,e gone out to battle as merchants have left homo to tra01e, or_travellers to explore, or even missionaries to evangelize. Other thou::;ht~ arc in 0111' nund~, other feelin"'s in our hearts, because we have lcarnt- lI. THAT UUMA; L:U,"E IS NOW TO DE l\EGARDED Aij A VERY BACn~:D TllINO. At ti,e 104 'l'HE FIHS'l' BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [en. vu, 1-40,