Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 1

Verses 1-54

1 Chronicles 1:1-4 . Adam Noah. Noah was the tenth from Adam. Sanchoniatho, the Phœnician historian, makes Noah to be the eighth. He calls these patriarchs by different names, which probably were the titles they assumed after some action accounted illustrious. We may here recite the substance of Genesis 11:0., on which biblical critics are generally agreed.

Gomer father of the Gomerians Magog father of the Scythians Madai father of the Medes Juvan father of the Ionians Tubal father of the Iberians or Spaniards Meshech father of the Cappadocians Tiras father of the Thracians, the Germans, which proves, as in Herodotus, that Europe was populated very early. See more on Genesis 11:0.

1 Chronicles 1:17 . Sons of Shem. The first five named were his sons; the four last, his grandsons; for descendants, though of remote generations, were often called sons.

1 Chronicles 1:32 . Concubine: where polygamy is allowed these are lawful wives, but their issue cannot inherit. From those dangerous connections mischiefs without end have issued.

1 Chronicles 1:36 . Timna and Amalek. Kennicott here follows the Arabic version, which seems to be the true reading. “Timna, who was the concubine of Eliphaz, bare him Amalek.”

1 Chronicles 1:43 . Bela, supposed to be the Balaam slain by Phinehas.

REFLECTIONS.

In this chapter we perceive that all the countries were originally called by the names of the patriarchs who peopled them, and it fully proves the respect in which the Mosaic Chronology was held throughout every age of the Hebrew nation. A full acquaintance with the literature of Chaldea, during a long captivity, had made no variation in the opinions of the learned scribes, who had filled the place of historians, both in the Babylonian and in the Median empire. Shall we then, at this remote period, begin to doubt and to alter our opinions, merely because the licentious infidels of modern times would almost deify themselves, and exalt their insidious sneers above the venerable glory of ancient truth?