Bible Commentaries

The Sons of Israel: Their Genealogy—Typical Sinners

Genesis 38:7. It would seem as if a certain ineradicable stigma specially attached to certain sins, rendering necessary that they should be recalled from time to time, to illustrate the most modern phases of wickedness. There have been, so to say, many typical sinners in the history of the world; for example, no name can take the place of Cain, when the sin of fratricide shocks the sentiment of society; Achan will always be a leading name in connection with religious felonies; Joab will always be associated with the vilest forms of treachery and cruelty; and Judas Iscariot can have no rival so long as the world endureth. Take, as another instance, the happy references made to the Calebite stock in 1 Chronicles 2:18-24. It is needful to remember that not only are these names particularly associated with evil, there are also names which God has been pleased to set on high, as marking his encouragement and reward of virtue. This manifestation of justice is to be carefully noted throughout the whole development of biblical history. We cannot think of the wickedness of Cain without being reminded of the purity of Abel; if we are shocked by the felony of Achan, we cannot but be profoundly impressed with the virtue and conduct of Deuteronomy 23:7-8) that, in the third generation, persons of Egyptian blood are to be treated as full Israelites. [Compare Exodus 12:38 with Numbers 11:4.] We shall see that the Egyptian element was recognised in Judah. Even the name Jarha has an Egyptian cast, some commentators suppose that it is derived from a root which signifies "great river," and that river has been identified as the Nile. But all this is simply illustrative of the great and glorious truth disclosed by the personality and ministry of the Son of man. All 1 Chronicles 2:34.

Everything therefore would depend upon Sheshan's point of view as to the estimate he placed upon his social position.—If he fixed his attention upon the fact that he had no sons, he might be depressed, he might wonder as to the future, he might be perplexed as to the continuance of his memorial and his name in the tribe to which he belonged.—On the other hand, if he were a man of more cheerful and grateful disposition, he would proceed not to the lamentation of his deficiencies, but to the recognition of his blessings: he would magnify the excellence of his daughters, he would dwell with thankful delight upon their meekness, modesty, gentleness, helpfulness, domesticity.—The principle is larger than the local instance.—Men should always put down after a statement of their deficiencies a statement of their possessions; thus: had no money, but had mental power;—had no external fame, but had great home repute;— had no genius, but had great common-sense;—had no high connections of a social kind, but enjoyed easy access to heaven in prayer;—had no earthly property, but was rich in ideas and impulses:—was not at the head of a great circle of admirers, but was truly respected and trusted wherever known;—had no health, but had great cheerfulness;—thus we must keep the two sides, so to say, parallel; if we have not one thing, we have another; if we have not feet, we have wings; if we have not wings, we have feet; if we cannot run quickly, we can think rapidly; in a moment our thoughts can be at the ends of the earth, the eagle can outfly us in space, or the lion outrun us, but in mind we are round the earth before they have begun their motion.—Men will act constitutionally in this whole matter. Some men have a great gift for seeing shadows and outlines of foes and beginnings of oppositions; some men bankrupt themselves every month in the year, and live a life of inward toil and anxiety: others are perhaps too hopeful, allowing their imagination and their ambition to make fools of them under some circumstances.—On all these matters we must think seriously, and pray humbly for divine direction.