Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

This chapter takes up the subject of the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin. In the preceding chapter, we had the introduction to this register of the Benjamites. Here it is again prosecuted and completed.

Wherefore the sacred writer had it in commission, to re-assume the subject of the genealogy of Benjamin in this chapter, and to employ a whole chapter in it, I cannot presume to speak. But it is worthy of remark, that after we had gone through the register of the Benjamites, nearly equal in point of length to that of some other of the tribes of Israel, that we should be called to it again. Perhaps, as the numeration of the different tribes is now nearly finished, and we are approaching to the historical part of the Chronicles, as the house of Benjamin furnished the first king in Israel, in the person of Saul, it might be on this account.

I see no cause for interruption in the catalogue of the Benjamites, from the beginning of the chapter to the end, and therefore have made none. One of two general observations are all that seem to present themselves from the whole, and therefore may as well be made in the close, as in the body of the chapter. The Reader of curiosity who compares this register of the Benjamites, with some other detached views of their Chronicles, as they are occasionally introduced in other parts of scripture, may be led to conceive, that there are mistakes somewhere from the different names by which some of the descendants of Benjamin are recorded. But I conceive that such an idea will be entirely done away in every unprejudiced mind, from the consideration, that many men as well as places, even now in our day, from various causes are distinguished by different names. The one grand object of a Chronicle in the register of families, is certainly to identify the persons of it.

And if this be but accurate, the whole of everything important is answered. There is a much more interesting consideration, for the pious Reader to have his mind exercised with, in the perusal of this account of the Benjamites, and that is, to remark how the Lord graciously peopled Benjamin again, after they were reduced to about 600 men, for the iniquity of Gibeah. When the Lord restored Benjamin to his favor, he restored to him his privileges. And therefore we find here, that Benjamin stands as high in numbers as any of his brethren. Judges 20:15; Jdg_20:46-47; Jdg_21:1.

REFLECTIONS

IT forms no small improvement in the perusal of this chapter, and indeed in the review of the whole registry of Israel, to remark with what honour the illustrious tribes of Israel, are handed down to us in the word of God. Here are names with whom, by frequent reading, we may become familiar, who lived and died in ages so remote from the present, while thousands and tens of thousands among the great ones of the earth, who made splendid appearances in their day, no doubt, their very memorial is perished with them. Think, Reader! what a succession of men and monarchies have passed on through the world, of whose remembrance not a vestige remains. While those families, even the least and most inconsiderable, because they were the Israel of God, are had in everlasting remembrance.

But chiefly, Reader, from this view, let you and I be led to consider the vast importance of having our names written in the book of life. Think, Sir, of that awful day, at the audit of God, which John describes as he saw it in vision; and which will one day certainly be realized: therein he tells us he saw, the dead both small and great, stand before God. And the sea gave up her dead, and death and hell delivered up their dead. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12-15. Oh! precious, precious Jesus, that last delivered thy people from the wrath to come; give me, dearest Lord, to rejoice in the pleasing, glorious hope, that my name, worthless as it is, is written in heaven.