173 lines
13 KiB
XML
173 lines
13 KiB
XML
<div2 id="iCh.ix" n="ix" next="iCh.x" prev="iCh.viii" progress="74.81%" title="Chapter VIII">
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<h2 id="iCh.ix-p0.1">F I R S T C H R O N I C L E
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S</h2>
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<h3 id="iCh.ix-p0.2">CHAP. VIII.</h3>
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<p class="intro" id="iCh.ix-p1">We had some account given us of Benjamin in the
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foregoing chapter; here we have a larger catalogue of the great men
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of that tribe. 1. Because of that tribe Saul came, the first king
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of Israel, to the story of whom the sacred writer is hastening,
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<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.10.1" parsed="|1Chr|10|1|0|0" passage="1Ch 10:1"><i>ch.</i> x. 1</scripRef>. 2. Because
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that tribe clave to Judah, inhabited much of Jerusalem, was one of
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the two tribes that went into captivity, and returned back; and
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that story also he has an eye to, <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.9.1" parsed="|1Chr|9|1|0|0" passage="1Ch 9:1"><i>ch.</i> ix. 1</scripRef>. Here is, I. Some of the
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heads of that tribe named, <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.1-1Chr.8.32" parsed="|1Chr|8|1|8|32" passage="1Ch 8:1-32">ver.
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1-32</scripRef>. II. A more particular account of the family of
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Saul, <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.30-1Chr.8.40" parsed="|1Chr|8|30|8|40" passage="1Ch 8:30-40">ver. 33-40</scripRef>.</p>
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<scripCom id="iCh.ix-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8" parsed="|1Chr|8|0|0|0" passage="1Ch 8" type="Commentary"/>
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<scripCom id="iCh.ix-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.1-1Chr.8.32" parsed="|1Chr|8|1|8|32" passage="1Ch 8:1-32" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.8.1-1Chr.8.32">
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<h4 id="iCh.ix-p1.7">Genealogies. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.ix-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1660.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="iCh.ix-p2">1 Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel
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the second, and Aharah the third, 2 Nohah the fourth, and
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Rapha the fifth. 3 And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and
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Gera, and Abihud, 4 And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
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5 And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram. 6 And these
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<i>are</i> the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of
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the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:
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7 And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza,
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and Ahihud. 8 And Shaharaim begat <i>children</i> in the
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country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara
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<i>were</i> his wives. 9 And he begat of Hodesh his wife,
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Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham, 10 And Jeuz, and
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Shachia, and Mirma. These <i>were</i> his sons, heads of the
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fathers. 11 And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
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12 The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who
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built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof: 13 Beriah also,
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and Shema, who <i>were</i> heads of the fathers of the inhabitants
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of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath: 14 And
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Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth, 15 And Zebadiah, and Arad, and
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Ader, 16 And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of
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Beriah; 17 And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and
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Heber, 18 Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of
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Elpaal; 19 And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi, 20 And
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Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel, 21 And Adaiah, and Beraiah,
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and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi; 22 And Ishpan, and Heber,
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and Eliel, 23 And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan, 24
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And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah, 25 And Iphedeiah,
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and Penuel, the sons of Shashak; 26 And Shamsherai, and
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Shehariah, and Athaliah, 27 And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and
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Zichri, the sons of Jeroham. 28 These <i>were</i> heads of
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the fathers, by their generations, chief <i>men.</i> These dwelt in
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Jerusalem. 29 And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon;
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whose wife's name <i>was</i> Maachah: 30 And his firstborn
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son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab, 31 And
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Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher. 32 And Mikloth begat Shimeah.
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And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against
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them.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iCh.ix-p3">There is little or nothing of history in
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all these verses; we have not therefore much to observe. 1. As to
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the difficulties that occur in this and the foregoing genealogies
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we need not perplex ourselves. I presume Ezra took them as he found
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them <i>in the books of the kings of Israel and Judah</i>
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(<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.9.1" parsed="|1Chr|9|1|0|0" passage="1Ch 9:1"><i>ch.</i> ix. 1</scripRef>),
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according as they were given in by the several tribes, each
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observing what method they thought fit. Hence some <i>as</i>cend,
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others <i>de</i>secnd; some have <i>numbers</i> affixed, others
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<i>places;</i> some have historical remarks intermixed, others have
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not; some are shorter, others longer; some agree with other
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records, others differ; some, it is likely, were torn, erased, and
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blotted, others more legible. Those of Dan and Reuben were entirely
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lost. This holy man wrote as he was moved by the Holy Ghost; but
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there was no necessity for the making up of the defects, no, nor
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for the rectifying of the mistakes, of these genealogies by
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inspiration. It was sufficient that he copied them out as they came
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into his hand, or so much of them as was requisite to the present
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purpose, which was the directing of the returned captives to settle
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as nearly as they could with those of their own family, and in the
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places of their former residence. We may suppose that many things
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in these genealogies which to us seem intricate, abrupt, and
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perplexed, were plain and easy to them then (who knew how to fill
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up the deficiencies) and abundantly answered the intention of the
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publishing of them. 2. Many great and mighty nations there were now
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in being upon earth, and many illustrious men in them, whose names
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are buried in perpetual oblivion, while the names of multitudes of
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the Israel of God are here carefully preserved in everlasting
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remembrance. They are <i>Jasher, Jeshurun—just ones,</i> and
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<i>the memory of the just is blessed.</i> Many of these we have
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reason to fear, came short of everlasting honour (for even the
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wicked kings of Judah come into the genealogy), yet the
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perpetuating of their names here was a figure of the writing of the
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names of all God's spiritual Israel in the Lamb's book of life. 3.
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This tribe of Benjamin was once brought to a very low ebb, in the
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time of the judges, upon the occasion of the iniquity of Gibeah,
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when only 600 men escaped the sword of justice; and yet, in these
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genealogies, it makes as good a figure as almost any of the tribes:
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for it is the honour of God to help the weakest and raise up those
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that are most diminished and abased. 4. Here is mention of one Ehud
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(<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.6" parsed="|1Chr|8|6|0|0" passage="1Ch 8:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), in the
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preceding verse of one Gera (<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.5" parsed="|1Chr|8|5|0|0" passage="1Ch 8:5"><i>v.</i>
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5</scripRef>) and (<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.8" parsed="|1Chr|8|8|0|0" passage="1Ch 8:8"><i>v.</i>
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8</scripRef>) of one that descended from him, that <i>begat
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children in the country of Moab,</i> which inclines me to think it
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was that Ehud who was the second of the judges of Israel; for he is
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said to be <i>the son of Gera</i> and <i>a Benjamite</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.3.15" parsed="|Judg|3|15|0|0" passage="Jdg 3:15">Judg. iii. 15</scripRef>), and he delivered
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Israel from the oppression of the Moabites by killing the king of
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Moab, which might give him a greater sway in the country of Moab
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than we find evidence of in his history and might occasion some of
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his posterity to settle there. 5. Here is mention of some of the
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Benjamites that <i>drove away the inhabitants of Gath</i>
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(<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.13" parsed="|1Chr|8|13|0|0" passage="1Ch 8:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), perhaps
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those that had slain the Ephraimites (<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.7.21" parsed="|1Chr|7|21|0|0" passage="1Ch 7:21"><i>ch.</i> vii. 21</scripRef>) or their posterity, by
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way of reprisal: and one of those that did this piece of justice
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was named <i>Beriah</i> too, that name in which the memorial of
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that injury was preserved. 6. Particular notice is taken of those
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that <i>dwelt in Jerusalem</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.28" parsed="|1Chr|8|28|0|0" passage="1Ch 8:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef> and again <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.9" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.32" parsed="|1Chr|8|32|0|0" passage="1Ch 8:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>), that those whose ancestors had
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had their residence there might thereby be induced, at their return
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from captivity, to settle there too, which, for aught that appears,
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few were willing to do, because it was the post of danger: and
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therefore we find (<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p3.10" osisRef="Bible:Neh.11.2" parsed="|Neh|11|2|0|0" passage="Ne 11:2">Neh. xi.
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2</scripRef>) <i>the people blessed those that willingly offered
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themselves to dwell at Jerusalem,</i> the greater part being
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inclined to prefer the cities of Judah. Those whose godly parents
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had their conversation in the new Jerusalem should thereby be
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engaged to set their faces thitherward and pursue the way thither,
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whatever it cost them.</p>
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</div><scripCom id="iCh.ix-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.33-1Chr.8.40" parsed="|1Chr|8|33|8|40" passage="1Ch 8:33-40" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.8.33-1Chr.8.40">
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<h4 id="iCh.ix-p3.12">Genealogies. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.ix-p3.13">b. c.</span> 700.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="iCh.ix-p4">33 And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and
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Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
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34 And the son of Jonathan <i>was</i> Merib-baal; and
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Merib-baal begat <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.35" parsed="|Mic|35|0|0|0" passage="Micah. 35">Micah. 35</scripRef> And the sons of Micah
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<i>were,</i> Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz. 36 And
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Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and
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Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza, 37 And Moza begat Binea: Rapha
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<i>was</i> his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son: 38 And
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Azel had six sons, whose names <i>are</i> these, Azrikam, Bocheru,
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and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these
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<i>were</i> the sons of Azel. 39 And the sons of Eshek his
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brother <i>were,</i> Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and
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Eliphelet the third. 40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men
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of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, a hundred
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and fifty. All these <i>are</i> of the sons of Benjamin.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iCh.ix-p5">It is observable that among all the
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genealogies of the tribes there is no mention of any of the kings
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of Israel after the defection from the house of David, much less of
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their families; not a word of Jeroboam's house or Baasha's, of
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Umri's or Jehu's; for they were all idolaters. But of the family of
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Saul, which was the royal family before the elevation of David, we
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have here a particular account. 1. Before Saul, Kish and Ner only
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are named, his father and grandfather, <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.33" parsed="|1Chr|8|33|0|0" passage="1Ch 8:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. His pedigree is carried higher
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<scripRef id="iCh.ix-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.9.1" parsed="|1Sam|9|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 9:1">1 Sam. ix. 1</scripRef>, only there
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Kish is said to be <i>the son of Abiel,</i> here <i>of Ner.</i> He
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was in truth the son of Ner but the grandson of Abiel, as appears
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by <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.14.51" parsed="|1Sam|14|51|0|0" passage="1Sa 14:51">1 Sam. xiv. 51</scripRef>, where
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it is said that <i>Ner was the son of Abiel,</i> and that Abner,
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who was the son of Ner, was Saul's uncle (that is, his father's
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brother); therefore his father was also the son of Ner. It is
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common in all languages to put sons for grandsons and other
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descendents, much more in the scanty language of the <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2" parsed="|Heb|2|0|0|0" passage="Hebrews. 2">Hebrews. 2</scripRef>.
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After Saul, divers of his sons are named, but the posterity of none
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of them, save Jonathan only, who was blessed with numerous issue
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and those honoured with a place in the sacred genealogies for the
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sake of his sincere kindness to David. The line of Jonathan is
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drawn down here for about ten generations. Perhaps David was, in a
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particular manner, careful to preserve that, and assigned it a page
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by itself, because of the covenant made between his seed and
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Jonathan's seed forever, <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.20.15 Bible:1Sam.20.23 Bible:1Sam.20.42" parsed="|1Sam|20|15|0|0;|1Sam|20|23|0|0;|1Sam|20|42|0|0" passage="1Sa 20:15,23,42">1 Sam.
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xx. 15, 23, 42</scripRef>. This genealogy ends in Ulam, whose
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family became famous in the tribe of Benjamin for the number of its
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valiant men. Of that one man's posterity there were, as it should
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seem, at one time, 150 archers brought into the field of battle,
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that were <i>mighty men of valour,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.ix-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.8.40" parsed="|1Chr|8|40|0|0" passage="1Ch 8:40"><i>v.</i> 40</scripRef>. That is taken notice of
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concerning them which is more a man's praise than his pomp or
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wealth is, that they were qualified to serve their country.</p>
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</div></div2> |