1 Chronicles 10

Vulgate, Arabic, and Syriac here, and is undoubted reading. This repetition of part of Benjamin’s genealogy seems to be intended merely as an introduction to the ensuing history. ]—Bagster.

Cap. X. Ver. 1. Now the Philistines.—This chapter, except the two last verses, is a mere transcript of the last chapter of the First Book of Samuel; to which, therefore, we refer.

Ver. 4. Saul took a sword.—{Or, rather, “the sword,” i.e. of his armourbearer, whom, as we have seen, on the parallel passage, the Jews say was Doeg; and, if so, they both died by the same weapon by which the priests of God were slain. So Brutus and Cassius killed themselves with the same swords with which they stabbed Cesar; and Calippus was slain with the same sword with which he killed Dio.]—Bagster.

Ver. 6. All his house died.—{“All his men,” in Samuel, that is, all who were present with him in the battle: and his family received such a blow, that it never recovered itself again. For, though Ish-bosheth reigned over a part of the country, yet it was not in any splendour. This history seems to be repeated here, as an introduction to that of the kingdom of David. J— Vers. 13, 14. So Saul died.—These verses give us, as the reason of Saul’s calamitous death, that he turned his back upon the Lord, and in many instances either sought him not, or disobeyed the divine direction, until he was at length left to himself, and sought counsel of a witch.

Chap. XL. Ver. 1. Then all Israel, &c.—The first nine verses of this chapter are almost verbatim the same with the first nine of the fifth chapter of the 2d Book of Sam.

From ver. 10 to 41, it corresponds nearly with 2 Samuel the true xxiii. ver. 8 to the end, the most material variations being marked in the notes we have been on that chapter: but the six know nothing. In addition to the hints and various remarks on the discrepancies of these historic books, published credit for biblical and classical literature. “It must be admitted, that some passages of Scripture have suffered more from frequent transcription than (others;) but the passages which have suffered most, are commonly of inferior importance. The most important portion of the Old Testament, notwithstanding their remote antiquity, have come to us with comparatively very few errors or defects; whilst the account of David’s warriors, contained in the books of Samuel and Chronicles, which seem to have suffered more perhaps than any other of the Bible, either from the negligence of transcribers, or more probably from the MSS., is of very inferior interest. And I may here repeat the observation, that even the most corrupt MSS. of the Sacred Writings contain all the important history, and all the essential doctrines and precepts of revelation; and the vast number of MSS. and versions which have been collated, furnish the biblical critic with the means of restoring the Writings to a degree of purity unattainable in works far less liable to corruption from the similarity of letters, and of very easy one to err. Enough of defect has been left, by divine providence, in our copies of the Scriptures, to stimulate and to reward the labours of the biblical critic, but not enough to mislead, to embarrass, or to perplex the serious and intelligent inquirer after divine truth.”—Valpy’s Classical Journal.

Ver. 23. Went down with a staff.—[We have a good illustration of this action in the duel between Dioxippus the Athenian, and Horatas a Macedonian, before Alexander. The Macedonian had on his left arm a brazen shield, and in the same hand the spear called sarissa; a javelin in his right hand, and a sword girded on his side. Dioxippus came with a chaplet on his head, a purple sash on his left arm, his body naked and smeared with oil, and in his right hand a knotty club. Horatas, supposing he could easily kill his antagonist at a distance, threw his javelin; which Dioxippus dexterously avoided; and, before Horatas could transfer his spear from his left to his right hand, sprang forward, and with one blow of his club broke it in two.

The Macedonian began to draw his sword; but before he could draw it, Dioxippus tripped up his heels, and threw him on the ground. He then put his foot on his neck, and lifting up his club, would have dashed out his brains, if not prevented by the king.]—Bagster.