be made armour-beo.rer was a sign of honour preposition here translated "with" appears and attachment (1 Sam. xvi. 21 ; 2 Sam. thus, l~Jn, and will naturally translate xviii. 15). "and in addition to him." As he was a Ver. 40.-The lthrite. One of the families captain, this addendum may probably refer of Kirjath-jearim (eh. ii. 53). Other similar to those over whom be was captain, and colonists from Kirjath-jearim, and descended whom be brought in his train, and who from Shobal, were the Puthite, the Shuma- were possibly themselves officers. As the thite, and the Izrahite. With this verse writer of Chronicles indicates no difference, we count up, including the dropped-out nor any sense of a change of persons enume- Elilra, the names of "thirty mighty men." rated, when be baa reached (ver. 41) Uriah And we may understand Samuel's thirty- the Hittite, it would all the rather be con- se-ven to consist of these, increased by sistent with his own superscription wheu UrUJh and the two parties of three each. (ver. 26) be proposes to set forth simply Ver. 41-47.-'fhese verses are assisted •• the valiant men of the armies" without by no parallel, either in the Book of Samuel confining their number to the" thirty." or elsewhere. Of the sixteen names which Ver. 44.-?he Ashterathite. Ashteroth they contain, not a few are to be found else- was in East Mana.,,seh (eh. vi. 71). The where, yet not as designating the same Aroerite. Aroer lay east of the Jordan persons. Also, while the Reubenite and the (Josh. xiii. 16, 25). Gentile nouns Ashterathite and Aroerite are Ver. 46. -The Me.ha.vite. It has been at once recognized, the Mithnite, Tizite, suggested that this word may stand for Mahavite, and Mesobaite are not traceable Mabanite, from Mahanaim. elsewhere, the plural form of the last but Ver. 47.-The Mesobaite. This name is one being an additional source of obscurity. entirely unknown, unlesa it may be the Ver. 42.-Thirty with him. The Hebrew same as Mezobah,
HOMILETICS. Ver. 2.-The vicarious aspects of human life twofold-toward man and towa,.d God. In this verse two leading and very important phases of human life are brought to our remembrance. They may seem of unequal importance, the second being of higher character than the first. Yet, perhaps, they are more closely connected ancl even interwoven with one another than first thoughts might suppose. And so far- reaching and widespread are the issues of both, that it is needless to insist on much comparison between them to the prejudice of the former. 'l.'he lesson, also, of both of them, charged though it is with serious responsibility, is, on the whole, of a cheerful, elevating kind. We might do well to separate them sometimes in our private medita- tion, simply in order to fix a. more specific attention upon each. But it is not without valuable suggestion that they stand together here, nor shall they be divorced in the present consideration of them. They remind us- I. OF THE VI0ARlOUS PRINCIPLE THAT ENTERS BO LARGELY INTO HUMAN LIFE, PER- VADING IT, ALMOST LEAVENING IT, IN :r,arn's MUTUAL RELATIONS. In the illustration ot' it now before us, it shows itself in the shape and the fact of one enjoying royal name and place, wealth and ease and dignity, while another incurs the risk and does the work-without pay-of that pince. 'l'he life that was lived as between Saul and David would no doubt produce many instances and forms of this, but the one men- tioned in this verse, and mentioned as it would appear by many consenlient voices at the same time, is enough to tell the tale. Those instances commenced from the timo that David challenged, defied, and successfully overcame Goliath, tho l'hilistino champion. But as time went on, they became systematized and almost the rule, rather than merely matter of frequent occurrence. The genera.I fact is pa.tent. It grows in the structure, it runs throughout and across the texture of human life and society. It is a phenomenon, often merely as such inviting, often provoking, the deep thoughtful study of those who are but onlookers at any time. But again, it is as a personal keen experience that it most commonly opens the eyes and wakens the 11.ching inquiry of those who have first suffered many a pang and rasping mortification. The real inventor is often a very different man from the nominal one, the real work- man another than he who carries off the praise. 'l'he hand of one takes the gain of what was wrought by the brain of another; and the smile of one has for its correlative the bleeding heart of another. 'l'he temples of the fortune and wealth 150 'l'IIE FIRS'l' :nooK or 'l'Htt ClIRONicLES. [cu. :lt. 1-47.