_A.M. 2604. B.C. 1400._ The posterity of Issachar, 1 Chronicles 7:1. Of Benjamin, 1 Chronicles 7:6. Of Naphtali, 1 Chronicles 7:13, Of Manasseh, 1 Chronicles 7:14. Of Ephraim, 1 Chronicles 7:20. Of Asher, 1 Chronicles 7:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whose number in the days of David_, &c. That is, when David numbered the people, (2 Samuel 24.,) the descendants of Tola, Issachar's firstborn, were found to be thus many; which was a very great increase.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sons of Benjamin, three_ They were ten, (Genesis 46:21,) and five of them are named 1 Chronicles 8:1, but here only three are mentioned, either because they were most eminent, or because the other families were now extinct.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heads of the house of their fathers_ Each of them head of that family to which he belonged. For it may seem, by comparing this with chap. 1 Chronicles 8:3, &c., that these were not the immediate sons of Bela, but his grand-children, descended each from a several father.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sons of Bilhah_ The grand-children; for Bilhah was Jacob's concubine, and mother both to Naphtali, the father of the persons last named, and to Dan. _The sons of Manasseh_ Grand-children, as in the former verse. _Ashriel, whom she bare_ Whom his wife bare, his concubine being here opposed to he... [ Continue Reading ]
_These were the sons of Gilead_ Namely, Ashriel and Zelophehad, named 1 Chronicles 7:14, the relative being here referred to the remoter antecedent, as is frequent in the Hebrew. _His_ Gilead's sister. _Mahalah_ Understand, and Shemidah, out of the next verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whom the men of Gath slew_ This history is not recorded elsewhere in Scripture, but it is in the ancient Hebrew writers. The Philistines (one of whose cities Gath was) and the Egyptians were next neighbours; and in those ancient times it was usual for such to make inroads one into another's country... [ Continue Reading ]
_She conceived and bare a son_ Thus the breach was in some measure repaired, by the addition of another son in his old age. When God thus restores comfort to his mourners, he _makes glad according to the days wherein he afflicted:_ setting the mercies over against the crosses, we ought to observe th... [ Continue Reading ]
_His daughter_ His descendant, his grand-child, or great-grand- child; _built Beth-horon_, &c. Rebuilt or repaired them, which possibly she did in Joshua's time. And this work may be ascribed to her, because it was done either by her design and contrivance, or by her instigation and influence upon h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Their possessions_ That is, the portion allotted to the tribe of Ephraim: _were Beth-el_ Which stood in the border of Benjamin, but belonged to Ephraim. _Unto Gaza_ Not the Gaza of the Philistines, which belonged to another tribe, and was remote from Ephraim, but another place of the same name. Or... [ Continue Reading ]