1 Chronicles 19:1

EXPOSITION

This chapter runs very closely parallel with 2 Samuel 10:1-19 ; a chapter also of nineteen verses. The slight differences between them avail to make one or the other narrative a little clearer or a little fuller. The time is only marked, as in the first verse of the preceding chapter, by the too general formula, "after this." Between the last verse of the preceding chapter and the first of this, we find interposed, in the Book of Samuel, the account of David's thoughts and deeds of kindness "for Jonathan's sake" to Mephibosheth "of the house of Saul," who was a son of Jonathan, though apparently not personally known at present to David.

The chapter gives an account of David's war with Ammon and Aram allied temporarily, and the ungracious cause of the war—the insult put upon David's messengers, when sent on a mission of kindly and sincere condolence, on occasion of the death of Nahash, King of Ammon. Some think that the contents of this chapter are in reality a narration at greater length and in fuller detail, belonging to the space occupied by 2 Samuel 10:3-13 of last chapter. They would, in like manner, identify 2 Samuel 10:1-19 with 2 Samuel 8:3-13 .

Nahash . It is possible that this may be the Nahash of 1 Samuel 11:1 , 1 Samuel 11:2 and 1 Samuel 12:12 , who, being signally defeated by Saul, may have been the more inclined to show partiality to David. But it would appear that nearly sixty years had elapsed, and if so, it must be held very unlikely, and would point to the conclusion that it was his son whose death is here in question. With this the statement of Josephus ('Ant.,' 1 Samuel 6:5 , § 3), would tally, which says that the Nahash of 1 Samuel 11:1-15 . was killed in the destruction of the Ammonite army then wrought by Saul. Possibly the word "Nahash" was the official title of kings of the Ammonites (and, though considering its signification, i.e. serpent , scarcely a flattering one from a modern point of view, yet this is overruled by the association of the attribute of wisdom with the serpent in olden time, of which we have more than a trace in Matthew 10:16 ), as "Pharaoh" of kings of Egypt, etc.