The 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 uniformly named Zion, xxix. 14; ii. 23). The highest service to though from the time of Constantine it has which it was promoted may be said to be been used for the name of the western hill, reached, however, in Eph. v. 30. the site of Jerusalem. There is but little Ver. 2.-Thon shalt feed my people Israel doubt of the identity of the hill of Moriah (so 2 Sam. v. 2; vii. 7; Ps. lxxviii. 71). with the hill of Zion, though no individual Thus to the servant is condescendingly passage of Scripture asserts it. The passage vouchsafed the same description as the before us, however, with its parallel, tells us Master takes through the Spirit for himself plainly enough that the city of David, and -to the under-shepherd the same as the that which became the sacred hill of Zion Chief Shepherd acknowledges; note same are one; and many passages in the Psalms psalm, ver. 72; Pa. xxiii. 1-4; e. 3; l Pet. and the prophets both confirm this and \', 4. point out the difference between Zion and Ver. 3.-Made a covenant .. , before the Jerusalem. Lord. A forcible use of this phrase occurs Ver. 6.-The name and fresh glory of in Judg. xi. ll. It implies that the engage- Joab, as given here, are not given in 2 Sam. ment was ratified in the presence of a holy v. 3-10; and we could suppose that they place, a holy vessel of the sanctuary, or a were purposely withheld there. It is true holy person (1 Sam. xxi. 6, 7; Josh. xv iii. that J oab already held high office, probably 8; Lev. i. 5). Whether the tabernacle was the first place as captain of David's men, now at Hebron is doubtful, but the two but Bertheau's objection to the statements priests, Abiathar and Zadok, were. They of this verse on such grounds easily yields anointed David. The first time of David's to the considerations-first, that there can being anointed (1 Sam. xvi. 1, 13) Samuel be no doubt Joab had fallen into disfavour the prophet officiated. 'l'he second time with David and others, upon his slaying of (2 Sam. ii. 4) was when the "men of Abner (2 Sam. iii. 26-29, 36, 37); and Judah" anointed him king over" the house further, that this was a great occasion, of Judah." This third time when David exceedingly favourable for evoking any very was anointed king over the united people, special ability of younger or unknown men, it was at all events at the special instance at present lost under the shadow of larger of "all the elders of Israel," although who growths. The advantage which Joab officiated on these two last occasions is not gained now was one that confirmed his mentioned. According to the word of the position and increased largely his influence; Lord by Samuel. The sentence marks the and an indication that he was not slow to complete fulfilment of what had been fore- avail himself of it is probably to be traced shadowed in 1 Sam. xvi. 12, 13; and it may in the eighth verse, where it is said while probably have been the more carefully "David built . , . even from Mille round introduced by the compiler of Chronicles, about, . . . Joab repaired the rest of the in consideration of the absence from his city." own work of previous details and of the Ver. 8.-Millo. There is great uncertainty previous a.nointings of David. us to the derivation o.nd the meaning of Ver. 4.-Jernsalem, which is Jebns. This this word. It is probably not really of ancient name of Jerusalem, of Co.naanitish Hebrew extraction, but or the oldest date, is found only once beside, viz. in Cauaanitish origin. In the Hebrew it is Judg. xiL 10, 11; the Gentile form of the always used with the article, and would noun, however, Jebusi, is of more frequent presumably come from the Hebrew root occurrence, and sometimes it is found even "to fill." Josephus seems to use, o.s as the name of the city (Jo8h. xv. 8, 63; synonymous expression for "David's wall xviii. 16, 28). The derivation and meaning round Milla," this, viz. " buildings round of the word lll'e una.scertained. Gesenius about the lower city" (' J ud. Ant.,' iii. 2, explains it to mean "a place dry or down- compared with 5; • Wars,' vi. 1, where he trodden like a threshing-floor." identifies those" buildings," etc., with Acm). Ver. 5 -Thon shalt not oome hither. As the name of a family, it is mentioned in The inhabitants of Jebns added something connection with Shechem, known specio.lly beside (2 Sam. v. 6). They had said, as a place of the Canaanites (Judg. ix. 6, "Except tbou take a.way the blind and the 20). Tho Septuagint represents it by the lame, tliou shalt not come in hither: think- word .;, &1<pa. In the remarkable passage, ing, David canuot come in hither." The 2 Kings xii. 20, the word " Silla" is even castle of Zion. This fort became the site a greater enigma, which, however, may of the temple. It is the Acra of Josephus, designate the "steps from the city of 1<nd is dift'erent from the modern Zion. It David" (Neh. iii. 15), or "the causeu:1111 of OH, XI, 1-47.] THE FIRST IlOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 145