Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

The history of the genealogy of Israel being finished, the book of Chronicles now enters upon the history of Israel as a people. In this Chapter we are carried back to that part of Saul' s history which terminated with his death, with the events that followed, from the men of Jabesh-gilead.

I shall desire the Reader once for all, while over going such parts in the book of the Chronicles as we have already reviewed in the former books of Samuel or the Kings, to consult what hath been already offered in that part of our humble Commentary. It would swell this little work unnecessarily to enlarge upon such portions as are only the duplicates of the history. Whatever opens to a new thought, or affords, a new occasion to spiritualize the passage, in such instances I shall beg to detain the Reader. All that is related in these verses will be found in substance the same in 1Sa 31 to which I therefore refer.

What an humbling lesson is here read to great men! The body of Saul, the first king of Israel, and who had slain his thousands, as the Song of Israel proclaimed, to be thus made a spectacle of derision to men, and the subject of song himself to a contemptible dunghill god of the Philistines!

Observe, Reader! the melancholy close of Saul's history; and mark what an awful lesson he holds forth to great sinners. Alas! that any man should leave God to consult with the workers of darkness! The Philistines make war upon me, said Saul. That would have been - nothing: But when he added, and God is departed from me! this gave the finishing stroke to human misery! header! think of what vast importance that prayer, Oh, Lord, take not thine Holy Spirit from me, 1 Samuel 28:15; Psalms 51:11.

REFLECTIONS

WHO can read the history of Saul, and behold the dreadful end of such men, but with trembling! How dark the night of so promising a morning! But what must the termination of such conduct be, which in direct defiance of better knowledge, against conscience, against all the feelings of honour, justice, and humanity, rushes on the most desperate deeds, what must the end be but darkness and despair? He who murdered the priests of the Lord is deserted by the Lord, and dies by the murder of his own hands! He who abandoned his dearest friend, who fought his battles and saved his crown, is himself abandoned by all friends, and his very carcass stripped and insulted by his open enemies. My soul! rejoice with trembling! Look wholly to Jesus. Fear to thyself on any occasion. Be jealous of every earthly honour, lest like Saul's, it should be unsanctified. Oh! precious Redeemer! keep me near thyself, keep me humble, keep me low, keep me, Lord, lest I fall; for they only are safe who are kept by thy power, through faith, unto salvation.