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1
Chronicles Chapter Nineteen
1 Chronicles 19
Chapter Contents
David's wars.
The history is here repeated which we read 2 Samuel 10. The only safety of sinners consists
in submitting to the Lord, seeking peace with him, and becoming his servants.
Let us assist each other in a good cause; but let us fear lest, while made
instruments of good to others, we should come short of salvation, through
unbelief and sin.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 Chronicles》
1 Chronicles 19
Verse 7
[7] So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the
king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the
children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to
battle.
Chariots — Thirty two thousand men, who fought partly from
chariots, and partly on foot with chariots, or attending upon the chariots, as
the ancient manner of fighting was.
Verse 19
[19] And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were
put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his
servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.
His servants — Let those who have in vain stood
it out against God, be thus wise for themselves. Let them become his servants;
for they are undone, if they remain his enemies.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 1 Chronicles》
19 Chapter 19
Verses 1-5
And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father.
The menage of condolence
I. The generous
message of David.
1. In its accession.
2. In its form.
II. The disgraceful
treatment of David’s messengers. Shaving their beards and shortening their
garments, a double insult in the East, where long beards and long garments are
badges of honour. Many Orientals would rather die than lose their beards (signs
of dignity and ornaments of freedom), and Turks used to regard beardless
Europeans as runaway slaves.
III. The considerate
kindness for the disgraced messengers. (J. Wolfendale.)
Thinkest thou that David
doth honour thy father.
Suspicions
Don’t be suspicious. Some people think they are very clever in
finding out what is wrong where no one else sees anything amiss, and these
often make themselves very ridiculous. Tennyson, when a young man, was walking
through Wales, on his way back from the Continent, and turned into a little
wayside inn, where an old man sat by the fire, and asked many questions in s
very suspicious fashion. “Are you from the army? Not from the army? Then where
do you come from?” he bluntly asked at last. “I am just come from the
Pyrenees,” said the poet. “Ah, I knew there was ‘a something!’” was the knowing
clincher of the old man. Could anything have been more ridiculous? Don’t be
suspicious; think the best, believe the best, love the best; remember that
everybody finds just what he seeks. You will always find “a something” if it is
“a something” you are seeking, but you will also always find what is good and
beautiful if you are in search of that. (J. Reid Howatt.)
Verses 6-9
And when the children of Ammon.
Avenging an insult
I. Insult
springing from slight provocation.
1. From a suspicious mind.
2. From advice of jealous princes.
II. Insult leading
to unjust war. This War might have been avoided by an honourable apology or
better understanding. One evil leads to smother.
III. War terminating
in disgraceful overthrow. (J. Wolfendale.)
Verses 16-18
Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him.
The war-cry
I. The purpose for
which they fought.
II. The method in
which they fought.
1. A wise economy of forces.
2. A determination to render mutual help.
III. The spirit in
which they fought.
1. Of exalted courage.
2. Of true patriotism.
3. Of submission to God. (J. Wolfendale.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》