The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 327

I. DIBTINOTION BASED ON BODILY PECULIARITY IS OF LITTLE WORTH. Great stature makes its possessor conspicuous among his fellows, if that be a desirable thincr; great muscular strength serves in good stead on those rare occasions when a man° has to resist by physical force. Unusual beauty of countenance attracts the eye and wins the admiration of the opposite sex. But these visible specialities have their drawback.9, if not their evils. 'l'he first of these often secures a most undesirable and even painful notoriety; the second tempts to acts of violence which are regrettable; the last exposes to peculiar perils of its own. And how speedily they perish! In this war with the Philis- tines these giants "were subdued" (ver. 4). Lahmi's great spear did not save him from the skill of Elhanan (ver. 5); nor the immense stature of the giant with twenty-four fingers and toes, from the courage and capacity of Jonathan (vers. 6, 7). "They fell by the hand . . . of David's servants" (ver. 8). Mere size of body, mere power of muscle, mere skill of fence, e.nd even beauty of face and charm of manner,-all these are either overmatched with something that is stronger, or they soon fade and fall under the resistless ravages of time. And when they pass, how soon they are forgotten! We hardly recognize some of these names; or, if we remember them, we associate them with other men who bore them, but were distinguished by other and nobler features. The next generation will care little for those who have nothing better to claim than great strength, or commanding stature, or some other bodily peculiarity. On the other hand, we feel that- H. DISTINCTION BASED ON SPIRITUAL WORTH IS A DESIRABLE EXCELLENCY. 1. Mental strength, when gained by diligent self-culture and devoted to useful ends, enjovs a more lasting honour and effects a far greater good. 2. But spiritual worth is the most valuable acquisition ; that is the true greatness of man. (1) It raises him highest in the scale of being. (2) It renders nobler and truer service. (3) It yields a finer fragrance in grateful recollection (Prov. x. 7). ( 4) It lives on to distant genera- tions in benignant influence. The "good men do" is not "interred with their bones;" it lives and blossoms, and bears precious fruit in the hearts and lives of men.-C. Vers. 1-8.-The wasting of the Ammonites, and David's wars with the giants. The outrage inflicted on the Hebrew ambassadors was still further to be avenged by David. ,Toab was sent out with the power of the army to waste the country of the Ammonites. The former campaign had been disastrous because of the hired auxili:uies of the Ammonites. Now the full strength of David's army was to be led forth to complete the ruin both of the people and their land. "At the time that kings go out to battle," i.e. spring-time, the expedition set out. Having besieged the capital, Rahba.h, and having after a protracted siege taken the lower town, or " city of waters," and knowing that the royal city would soon fall, Joab invited King David to come in person and have the honour of taking it himself (see 2 Sam. xii. 26). We are thus enabled to reconcile tbe two statements, that "David tarried at Jerusalem" (ver. l),and" David and a.II the people returned to Jerusalem" (ver. 3). David took the king's crown, and it was set on David's head. This crown weighed a talent, or one hundred e.nd fourteen pounds' weight of gold. The crowns of Eastern kings were not usually worn on the head (and coultl not have been in this case), but were suspended by chains of gold over the throne. We again notice the cruelties of war and especially of that time (vcr. 3). 'l'hese a.re recorded, not for example, but to deepen our sense of gratitude for the blessings which Christianity has brought in introducing a humane mode of warfare. It may also make us long for the time when "nations shall learn war no more," and when " righteousness shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." \Ve see hero David's victories over the giants. The "stripling" in God's hand has overthrown kingdoms and slain the giants of wickedness. In God's hand" the worm Ja.cob shall thrnsh the mountains." As we review David's rise from the "stripling" of the wilderness to the highest place in the land, we may say," What ha.th God wrought I" "Not by miaht, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." To the outward eye ~f sense a man may be a "stripling," and in his own eyes " a dead dog" and" a flea;" but it is such instruments God ever uses to accomplish his mighty works and to advance his kingdom in the world. Gidcon's "lamps and pitchers,'' Naaman's "little maid," the widow's "pot of oil," Jonah's "worm'' and "gourd," and Sam- son's "jawbone of an ass,"-these God uses for in these he can be glorified. Man's  326 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [oH. xx.1-8.