Lessons from a list of returning exiles

Text 1 Chronicles 9 Time 21 10 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

We come this evening to 1 Chronicles 9. So far in Chronicles we have been confronted by a lot of names - mostly of people but also of places, many of which mean very little or nothing to us. The writer has been giving us the genealogical background for what comes next. At this point at last we begin to move towards the sort of narrative that we are more used to. 

So, having given us genealogies from Adam to Abraham to Jacob to David to the exile in Chapters 1-3 and then the genealogies of the tribes of Israel in Chapters 4-8 - Judah (4:1-23) Simeon (4:23-43) Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh (Chapter 5) Levi (Chapter 6) Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, western Manasseh, Ephraim and Asher (Chapter 7) and Benjamin (Chapter 8) we now come to the resettling of Jerusalem following the exile, which was done by Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. 

In verses 35-44 we have a repeat of what is in 8:29-38. Now you get other examples of this in the Bible. For example, Psalm 18 is also found in 2 Samuel 22; Psalms 105 and 96 in 1 Chronicles 16. In Psalms itself Psalms 14 and 53 are practically the same. Parts of psalms reappear in other psalms too and there are some repeated Proverbs. 1 Chronicles 11 is pretty much the same as 2 Samuel 23, certain passages in Isaiah 36 and 39 are in 2 Kings, Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 are more or less the same as are Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-5. 

It may be that here some copyist has made a mistake and written Saul's genealogy twice. It is more likely that the genealogy in 8:29-38 rounds off what is said of Benjamin and 9:35-44 serves to introduce what is said of Saul in Chapter 10. Repetition is an important rhetorical and educational tool. In the Bible we find not only simple repetition but also repetition of phrases and ideas that are clearly deliberate and no mistake. To adapt a Steve Turner poem - The Bible repeats itself; it has to no-one's listening! 

So having said that about verses 35-44, let's concentrate now on verses 1-34 and say four things. 

1. Learn from the Israelites about troubles and the need for honesty and unity 

The writer begins by bringing us to what was then bang up to date - the time of the return from the exile. He says All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. These are not the books we know but official records kept by the Israelites to which our writer had access. He says frankly and honestly They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. He goes on Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. It is these four groups that he then goes on to speak about, beginning with the Israelites (3) Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem. These Ephraimites and Manassites had no doubt originally joined Judah when the ten tribes were taken into exile by the Assyrians in 722 BC but were then taken into exile by the Babylonians in 597 BC. 

This measure of re-unification is spoken of in Hosea (1:11) and Ezekiel (37:22) The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel. ... I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 

We then have some examples of those who returned 

From Judah (4-6) Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah. Of the Shelanites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. Of the Zerahites: Jeuel. The people from Judah numbered 690. 

From Benjamin (7-9) Of the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah; Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah. The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families. 

Two things here then by way of application 

1. We ought to remember times of trouble and how our own sins have been our downfall. Matthew Henry says "Let that judgment never be forgotten, but ever be remembered, for warning to posterity to take heed of those sins that brought it upon them." More generally, we should remember past troubles and be thankful for deliverance but we should also confess how we have often been the architects of our own downfall. 

2. We should recognise that although trouble is undesirable it can often result in greater unity. Trouble can often drive people together. When people speak of the spirit that existed among people during the war it is that spirit of unity that they are referring to. Think of metals being smelted together. Though disparate under the heat they merge. Not everyone returned from exile but those that did were now reunited in a common task 

2. Learn from the priests about the importance of able leadership 

The writer then goes on to write about the Levites and Temple servants. He begins with the priests in verses 10-13. He says 

Of the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin; Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God; Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer. The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God. 

It is good to read about the priests. It was good that they were willing to leave Babylon and take a lead in the ministry back in the Promised Land and good that the people appear to have been eager to have them along. Two things again to notice 

1. It is said of Azariah that he was (9) the official in charge of the house of God. This is not a reference to the High Priest (that would have been a man called Joshua) but rather to someone who took care of the day to day running of the renewed temple worship. In New Testament times there is no separate priesthood but there are leaders and we need people to give themselves full time to leading the work. We are commended to pray for such people. Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you (Hebrews 13:7a). 

2. It is said of these men (13) that They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God. As we said a moment ago, we are all now priests but there are leaders and we need leaders who are able and who will take responsibility for the ministry. It was a critical moment in history when God's people returned from exile but they had the leaders and that made all the difference. We need such people today. Pray for them. 

3. Learn from the Levites about implementing God's revealed plans 

Having spoken about the priests, our writer goes on to consider the Levites and the gatekeepers. So first (14-16) Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite; Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah son of Mika, the son of Zikri, the son of Asaph; Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites. Presumably it was not possible to live in Jerusaem at this time and so they had to travel in. 

Then (from verse 17) The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief being stationed at the King's Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their ancestors had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD. 

In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him. This is probably not the famous one but God was with him, and as we have often said, that makes all the difference. 

Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 

Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. That sounds like a large number but if we allow for shifts and the fact that the approaches as well as the gates themselves were guarded then it sounds more reasonable. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD - the house called the tent of meeting. The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. 

Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods. This was again perhaps a temporary arrangement. But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning. 

Lessons this time 

1. It appears that until a new Temple could be built they reverted to the older pattern of using a tent or tabernacle. Matthew Henry "Those that cannot yet reach to have a temple must not be without a tabernacle, but be thankful for that and make the best of it. Never let God's work be left undone for want of a place to do it in." 

2. The way things were organised was based on what Samuel and David had prescribed (22). Whether this means that Samuel had drawn up plans later perfected by David when he was king or whether from early on David and Samuel had worked together on a plan we do not know. The thing is that after long neglect these Levites were eagerly getting back to God given principles of practice and applying them as best they knew how. We should seek to do the same. 

3. It was important that the Temple should be guarded. The unclean, the unqualified and any troublemakers needed to be kept out. We are used to the word gatekeeper being used in a wider way. So today we need to be careful in matters such as church membership and who takes communion and the need to make sure our doctrine conforms to what the Bible actually says. Care needs to be taken. That verse They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning points to the need for constancy and diligence and the importance of not guarding the truth in such a way that it excludes God's people. Use the key to open the door, rather! 

4. Gatekeepers were placed on all sides. We need to take care on all sides when it comes to the things of God. We do not know from which direction trouble may come next. There is a famous quote from Luther. He says 

If I profess with loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except that little point which the world and the Devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point. 

5. It may seem a lowly job but you recall how David said he would rather be a gatekeeper at the Lord's House than lives in the tents of the unrighteous. We should take the same attitude and be willing to do whatever needs to be done for the Lord. 

4. Learn from the other things said here about serving the Lord in our own generation 

In verses 28-33 we read of the various jobs that were done by other Levites. 

Some seven jobs are mentioned altogether. 

1. Some were in charge of Temple articles. 28 Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. Notice how careful they were that nothing should be found missing. That sort of care ought to be seen in us today. 

2. Some were in charge of Temple furniture. 29a Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, - the altar, the washing basins, the table, the lampstand, the golden altar, the ark and the atonement cover, etc. As God's servants we ought to be diligent in matters to do with prayer, Bible reading, worship, etc. 

3. Some also dealt with perishable goods. 29b as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices. 

4. The priests mixed the spices. 30 But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices. There was a special recipe for this and it was priests who dealt with the mixing. 

5. A man called Mattithiah was responsible for baking the offering bread. We read (31) that A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread. This appears to involve dealing with the flour, oil and incense used in certain priestly offerings. 

6. Bread was laid out on a special table every seven days. This bread was made and set out by certain Korahites. Verse 32 Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table. 

7. Finally, there were the musicians. Verse 33 Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night. Singing appears to have gone on at all times. The purpose of that was to remind us of heaven where God is praised continually. Whenever we sing God's praise we should be reminded of the glories of heaven. 

In verse 34 he notes that All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem. 

Everyone had a job then and knew what to do and presumably did it. We can all help in one way or another and it is important that we find out what needs to be done, whether we can help in some way and then make ourselves available and keep working on it. 

Two New Testament passages speak to this very plainly. 

Romans 12:3-8 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 

1 Peter 4:10, 11 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Lessons from the genealogy of Benjamin

 Text 1 Chronicles 8 Time 14 10 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

We are looking at the opening chapters of 1 Chronicles which are full of genealogies, making them hard to navigate. I remind you again, however, that this is part of Scripture and although not all Scripture is equally useful, it is all useful to some extent, so it is right that we give it our attention and see what there is to learn. 

I remind you that the book begins by giving us genealogies that go from Adam to Abraham to Jacob to David and on to the exile (Chapters 1-3). 

We then have the genealogies of the 12 tribes - Judah, the most numerous tribe (4:1-23) Simeon (4:23-43) the tribes east of the Jordan - Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh (Chapter 5) the priestly tribe of Levi (Chapter 6). Last week we looked at the five and a half tribes covered in Chapter 7 - Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, western Manasseh, Ephraim and Asher. 

I noted then that Dan is not there although it is probably alluded to. I should also say that Zebulun is also missing, presumably because it had so dwindled in size by the time of writing after the exile that there was nothing much to say about it or because their records had been lost. 

Tonight we come to Chapter 8 and the genealogy of Benjamin, especially focusing on King Saul after verse 32. First, we want to make some brief remarks about the chapter. 

1. Some introductory remarks on Chapter 8 

1. The Background

Again it seems to be presented in quite a higgledy-piggledy way. No doubt this is in part because different people kept their family trees in different ways, writing them out in ascending or descending order, sometimes with numbers affixed sometimes not, sometimes with places, sometimes not. Some had historical remarks intermixed perhaps. Some full, some less full. Perhaps some had parts missing or that were illegible. Moved by the Spirit the writer of Chronicles wrote them down as best he could. His purpose was to direct the returning exiles to their history so that they might try and settle back in the Promised Land in something of the order they had originally. Quite why what is in 7:6-12 matches so badly with what is in Chapter 8 we do not know. No doubt some things that don't make sense to us here would have made more sense to the original readers. 

2. The Book of life

We have made this sort of point before but perhaps it is worth saying again what a remarkable thing it is that the names of so many of the multitudes of Israel have been preserved in this way when so many names, even of the great and mighty have not. They are buried in oblivion but these names have been preserved - Addar, Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, Gera, Shephuphan and Huram, etc. Not that all of them were true believers but the names are symbolic of The Lamb's Book of Life where all the names of all the truly faithful are preserved. It is appropriate to remind you of the words Jesus spoke to his disciples (Luke 10:20) Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 

3. The Benjaminites

It is perhaps a surprise to see that this chapter is all about the Tribe of Benjamin, which has already been covered (7:6-12). In fact, there is more on Benjamin than on any other tribe apart from Judah and Levi. The question arises then as to why he should cover it again and this time in so much detail. It is not too difficult to find the answer. 

1 Firstly, because the first king of Israel, Saul, was from the Tribe of Benjamin and it is Saul that our writer is about to deal with in Chapter 10. In fact Saul's genealogy is given twice - in 8:29-40 and 9:35-44. He had done something similar with David when looking at Judah. Our instinct is perhaps to say let's forget about Saul. His reign was a disaster. Benjaminites didn't think like that. Paul in the New Testament was a Benjaminite and his parents deliberately gave him the Jewish name Saul! This is how the chronicler sees it too - these people have a king among them! It reminds us again of what makes the Jews great - it is to them that Messiah, the King of the Jews, was born. 

2 Secondly, it is this tribe, with Levi, that stuck with Judah when the kingdom was divided after Solomon's time. Good old little Benjamin. Again and again God takes what is small and insignificant and makes something of it. Here again is a reminder of that. 

Perhaps this is a good point to remind ourselves that the Tribe of Benjamin did come to a very low ebb at one point, in the time of the judges. At the end of Judges we read of how because of the outrage that took place at Gibeah in Benjamin the other Israelites fought against Benjamin and only 600 men survived. From being very low in number Benjamin managed to climb so that they eventually flourished again and were numerous. God often helps the weak and the lowly and builds them up. 

2. Some brief lessons from Chapter 8 

1. Geba. Geba is one of the towns of Benjamin and it is mentioned in verse 6 as is the name of Ehud also mentioned in 7:10. This is presumably the judge mentioned in Judges 3:5. Verses 6-11 here say 

These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath: Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who deported them and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud. Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. By his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam, Jeuz, Sakia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families. By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal. 

It was Moabites that Ehud defeated. Perhaps that explains in part how Shaharaim came to divorce his wives Hushim and Baara and marry Hodesh in Moab. Even victory brings its dangers then, let's not forget. 

2. Moab. To take this further, surely there is a warning here. Deuteronomy 23:3 is clear that No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, not even in the tenth generation. Yet this man Shaharaim. already married, was so taken with this Moabite woman he met that he divorced his wives and married her and had children by her, even though she was a pagan. Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam, Jeuz, Sakia and Mirmah are Moabite names. Yes, Moabites could become proselytes, as did Ruth, we are not ruling out grace but what a provocation this was. He is not the first man to do a crazy thing because he was obsessed by a woman and not the last. Take care you are not the next to do something so foolish. 

3. Gath. The sons of Elpaal are then mentioned in verse 12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages), and in verse 13 it says and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath a Philistine city, of course. We read in the last chapter of how some Ephraimites had been attacked by men from Gath so perhaps there was some revenge in this. Certainly it was a great victory over godless Philistines and we ought to seek spiritual victory always. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called ... (1 Timothy 6:12). 

4. Jerusalem. Verses 28 and 32 both refer to Jerusalem. Firstly, in 22-28 we have 

Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, Abdon, Zikri, Hanan, Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham. And then the note All these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem. 

Then in verses 29-32 you have 

Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maakah, and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zeker and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem. 

When the exiles returned to the Promised Land there was a problem getting people to live in Jerusalem. No doubt, because it could be a dangerous place. Nehemiah 11:1 tells us that they had a system that certain people chosen by lot had to live in Jerusalem. In 11:2 we read that The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. Here the writer no doubt is gently reminding people that historically many Benjaminites lived in Jerusalem and it would be good if the tradition was kept up.

I don't know if that teaches us anything about where we who are Christians should live today. You know that the London suburbs are full of Christians but as you move into the heart of the city they are quite thin on the ground although a number are willing to travel in for worship. Perhaps the more important thing is that if we know we have ancestors who live now in heavenly Jerusalem; we ought to be keen to join them there in due time.

I'm looking for a city not made by human hands

I'm longing for the garden where God once walked with man

For eternity is written on my heart, 

I'm longing for the day when we will never be apart

When every tear will be wiped away, 

There'll be no sorrow, hurt, or pain, There'll be no more night

All things will be made new, it will be a brand new day

And in righteousness He'll reign and the Lamb will be the light. 

Behold the tabernacle of God will be with men

And He will be our God, and we will be His people

And the bride she will marry the Lamb

But until that day I'm longing for the New Jerusalem.

Lessons from the lesser known tribes in Israel

Text 1 Chronicles 7 Time 7 10 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

We come this week to 1 Chronicles 7 and once again we are confronted chiefly by a list of names and very little narrative. That makes it difficult to appreciate but we remember that this is part of Scripture and although not all Scripture is equally useful, it is all useful to some extent, so it is right that we give it our attention and see what there is to learn.

What the chapter does is to give us a little about the genealogies of the tribes unconsidered so far. The book begins with the genealogy of Israel in general - from Adam to Abraham to Jacob. then from Jacob down to David and on to the exile (Chapters 1-3).

We then begin on the genealogies of the 12 tribes. We have looked at Judah, the most numerous tribe (4:1-23) Simeon (4:23-43) and (Chapter 5) the tribes east of the Jordan - Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh. Last week we looked at Chapter 6, the priestly tribe of Levi. To make twelve that leaves five and a half tribes and they are covered in Chapter 7, the chapter we will look at this evening. Here we read about Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, western Manasseh, Ephraim and Asher. 

Two tribes are not mentioned. Which ones? Zebulun. It is not clear why. Also Dan. So let's begin there. 

1. Lessons from the Tribe of Dan unmentioned and the other tribes in 1 Chronicles 7 

1. Dan. Revelation 7:5-8 refers to the 12 tribes with 12,000 in each, making 144,000 altogether. Instead of Ephraim it says Joseph and the tribe of Dan is missing entirely. Clearly, one needs to drop out but why Dan? Why is Dan missing? 

What do we know? Dan was Jacob's fifth son, the first born to Leah's handmaid Bilhah, rather than Leah. He's one of the ones about whom Joseph later gave his father a bad report. Of the Danites Jacob on his death bed prophesies (Genesis 49:16-18) Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward. He adds I look for your deliverance, LORD. 

In the wilderness the Danites became the second largest tribe. Oholiab who helped Bezalel build the Temple was a Danite. In Leviticus we read of a man whose mother was from Dan being stoned for blasphemy. 

When land was allotted to the 12 Tribes by Joshua, Dan was last to receive its portion. They were assigned a small coastal area south of the port of Joppa. It was west of Ephraim, south of Manasseh, north of Philistia and Judah with Benjamin on its east. Judges 1:34 says The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain by the coast. Later in Judges we meet the most famous Danite, Samson. He leads them against the Philistines. We learn too how they end up going far north to find more land - leading to the expression Dan to Beersheba to describe Israel's northernmost and southernmost points. We read also of their idolatry. When the kingdom split Dan went with the 10 Tribes and there was an idol at Dan as well as Bethel in the south. These tribes were carried off by the Assyrians in 722 BC. 

Coming back to 1 Chronicles 7, interestingly verse 12 says The Shuppites and Huppites were the descendants of Ir, and the Hushites the descendants of Aher but that name Aher may not be a name but the word "another". It could be ... and the Hushites the descendants of another (ie Dan) See Genesis 46:23 The son of Dan: Hushim. 1 Chronicles 7:13 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem which ends - the descendants of Bilhah could be referring also to the Hushites. 

Among the 12 disciples there was one who proved untrue. Perhaps it is right to think of Dan as an Old Testament Judas. Born out of wedlock, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward. Likely to blaspheme. liable to idolatry; unpredictable, dangerous; one a writer like the Chronicler would rather not mention. 

It is a reminder that not all who are of Israel are Israel. There are hypocrites. There are false believers. We must all examine our own hearts. 

2. The other tribes. The other thing here is to remind ourselves that we are not all Judah or Simeon or Levi. About some, as here, there is not much to say. God does not give the same space to all the tribes. My wife was talking to me today about Old Testament studies and how some characters are presented in quite a round way while others are quite flat. That is how the Bible is and how life is to some extent. 

Some of us are rather obscure, a bit flat. So again with the disciples there was Peter and James and John and to a lesser extent Andrew and Thomas, for that matter - quite rounded - but also Matthew and Philip and the other Judas and the other James - much flatter. We are not all as important as one another, even though many people like that idea. 

Be content to be nobody special. How does Paul put it in the New Testament? Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thessalonians 4:10, 11) 

2. Lessons from what is said of Issachar and Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 7 

1. Issachar, There are two things to notice about Issachar. 

1 They were a numerous tribe. Verse 4 says they had many wives and children. Issachar himself had four sons (1 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron - four in all - in Judges 10:1 we read of ... a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, not the son of the Tola or Puah here but the son of Dodo, he rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.) Izrahiah (3) also had four sons - The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Ishiah. All five of them were chiefs. ie Izrahiah and his sons. 

A large family is a blessing, something to be thankful for. Pray that our numbers will grow as a church. 

2 They were brave fighters. See verses 2-5 The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel - heads of their families. During the reign of David, the descendants of Tola listed as fighting men in their genealogy numbered 22,600. The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Ishiah. All five of them were chiefs. According to their family genealogy, they had 36,000 men ready for battle, for they had many wives and children. The relatives who were fighting men belonging to all the clans of Issachar, as listed in their genealogy, were 87,000 in all. 

The numbers could have been taken when Joab numbered the people in David's time but perhaps it is more likely that it was some other time as in 1 Chronicles 27:24 it says this number was not recorded in David's chronicles because what David had done displeased God. 

We must not be proud but we must be brave and ready to fight in the spiritual battle that is the Christian life. 

2. Benjamin. Matthew Henry notes that Israel's first king Saul was from the tribe of Benjamiin, Even more important, they stuck with David when the kingdom was divided. 

He is very brief here on Benjamin as he has more to say in Chapter 8. He names three sons of Benjamin, 6 Three sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker and Jediael. The third name is Ashbel in Genesis (Fire of Baal). Here it is Jediael (known to God). It is not clear why he makes that change but it is known to God and hopefully Ashbel was known to God rather than being one who served Baal. 

There were less than 60, 000 fighting men in Benjamin altogether. They are mentioned in three lots 

1 Verse 7 The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth and Iri, heads of families - five in all. Their genealogical record listed 22,034 fighting men. 

2 Verses 8, 9 The sons of Beker: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Beker. Their genealogical record listed the heads of families and 20,200 fighting men. 

3 Verses 10, 11 The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish and Ahishahar. All these sons of Jediael were heads of families. There were 17,200 fighting men and look what it says of them - they were ready to go out to war. 

Jacob had prophesied (Genesis 49:27) Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder. Again, let's be brave.

3. Lessons from what is said of Manasseh, Ephraim and Asher in 1 Chronicles 7 

1. Manasseh, The eastern half are treated in 1 Chronicles 5. Here we focus on the western half. Note 

1 Verse 14 The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel was his descendant through his Aramean concubine. She gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead. So even quite early on they were intermarrying with foreigners. Not a good sign. 

2 However, verses 15, 16 Makir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. His sister's name was Maakah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters. Makir's wife Maakah gave birth to a son and named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. Makir did not make his father's mistake - a lesson for us all. 

3 Verse 17 The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead son of Makir, the son of Manasseh. There is a Bedan also mentioned in 1 Samuel 12:11. It is presumed to be Balak but could be another name for Jair who was from Manasseh (Judges 10:3) 

The other two verses (18, 19) say His (Bedan's) sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer and Mahlah. The sons of Shemida were: Ahian, Shechem, Likhi and Aniam. 

2. Ephraim 

1 There is slightly more of a story in verses 20-22 The descendants of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, Zabad his son and Shuthelah his son. Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath, Philistia when they went down to seize their livestock. (Or it could be that the men of Gaza attacked them). Their father Ephraim (still alive or does it refer to the tribe) mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him. 

Ephraim was destined for great things but what a disaster came at this point. It caused great sadness. Parents expect to see their children and grandchildren grow to a good age not to have to bury them, especially if it is the result of a disaster like this. Pray for grieving parents. We know how hard it can be. Here we read how relatives came to comfort him. We do not know what they said but they were able to comfort him somehow. Perhaps they reminded him of Jacob's words Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. (Genesis 49:22). 

2 In 1 Chronicles 7 it goes on (23-29) Then he made love to his wife again, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He named him Beriah, because there had been misfortune in his family. His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah. Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son, Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, Nun his son and famous Joshua his son. Their lands and settlements included Bethel and its surrounding villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its villages all the way to Ayyah and its villages. Along the borders of Manasseh were Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo and Dor, together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns. 

There was some comfort in this too - a son in his old age. In his providencem God has his ways of making it up to us. Not that his grief was completely forgotten. He deliberately calls this new son Beriah - in trouble. It's like calling a child Crash or Paine or Tristan say. 

The other things here are that a daughter of that tribe, Sheerah, at the time Israel settled in Canaan, built some cities, either at her own charge or by her effort; one bearing her name, Uzzen-sheerah, As we have said before, if you read the Bible properly there is plenty about women being active and doing things. There is also the reference to Joshua here.

3. Asher. Verses 30-40 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malkiel, who was the father of Birzaith. Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer and Hotham and of their sister Shua. The sons of Japhlet: Pasak, Bimhal and Ashvath. These were Japhlet's sons. The sons of Shomer: Ahi, Rohgah, Hubbah and Aram. The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh and Amal. The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran and Beera. The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispah and Ara. The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel and Rizia. 

All these were descendants of Asher - heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders. The number of men ready for battle, as listed in their genealogy, was 26,000. 

Some 45 different names there! A rather small militia with only 26,000 men in all, but again heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders which makes up for a lot. Quality as we say is more important than quantity. Let's again remember that.

The Levites - Priestly forerunners

Text 1 Chronicles 6 Time 30 09 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

I would like us to turn this evening to 1 Chronicles 6. This chapter contains the genealogy of another tribe of Israel - the Levites. We have had Judah, Simeon, and the two and a half tribes who lived east of the Jordan and now we come to the Levites. I think it is fair to say that the writer of Chronicles has a special interest in the Levites, probably in part because he was a Levite himself - if not Ezra, then someone else. 

The Levites, of course, were quite different to other tribes in that they were the priestly tribe. In the beginning the whole nation was to be a royal priesthood with the eldest son in each family leading as priest. However, following the giving of the commandments on Sinai there was a change and one tribe, the tribe of Levi, became the priestly tribe. In each generation from then on, one Levite would be High Priest, others would be priests and all the rest of the tribe would help in the priestly work in one way or another. To preserve the match up with eldest sons numbers were taken and where the Levites fell short money would be paid to cover the anomaly. 

As the priestly tribe they were spread across the land. 

Chapter 6 is pretty long but it can be divided into three parts 

1 A long list of names of Levites (1-30) 

2 Some detail about what the Levites did (31-52) 

3 Something about where the Levites lived in Israel (53-64)

The verses are useful as they explain some of the background to what goes on throughout the Old Testament and, for example, the story of Samuel is highlighted and one or two other things. 

It was important for priests to know their line. Remember those expelled in the time of Ezra because they searched for their family records, but they could not find them ... The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim. (Ezra 2:62, 63). 

As for application, remember that under the New covenant every believer is a priest under their one High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Three questions then 

1. Who were the Levites? 

The first thing we learn is that Levi had three sons - The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The focus is then on Kohath and his sons as it was from this tribe the High Priest came and you will recognise some names listed in verses 2-15. Gershon and Merari are dealt with much more briefly. 

So let's focus first on Kohath - 2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Of these four the writer chooses the oldest Amram as he was the father of three famous people - 3a The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. You know those names, of course, because they are spoken of extensively in Exodus and elsewhere. Moses was the leader of God's people and a prophet but it is Aaron who became the nation's first High Priest, pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ and his priestly work. 

Aaron had four sons (3b) The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Nadab and Abihu messed up badly. They appear to have been drunk on duty and offered unauthorised fire at the Tabernacle and so were slain. And so Eleazar, their brother, became High Priest. 

The writer then takes us (4-10) through 15 generations from Eleazar to (10) Johanan the father of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem). This Azariah appears to have lived in the time of King Uzziah. In 2 Chronicles 26:16-18 we read But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with 80 other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. They confronted King Uzziah and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God." Courageous man. What an example! 

Verses 4-10 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas the father of Abishua, Abishua ... of Bukki, Bukki ... of Uzzi, Uzzi ... of Zerahiah, Zerahiah ... of Meraioth, Meraioth ... of Amariah, Amariah ... of Ahitub, Ahitub ... of Zadok, Zadok ... of Ahimaaz, Ahimaaz ... of Azariah, Azariah ... of Johanan, Johanan the father of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem), 

And in verses 11-15, through another nine generations from Azariah to (15) Jozadak who was deported when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. 

Verses 11-15 Azariah the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, Ahitub ... of Zadok, Zadok ... of Shallum, Shallum ... of Hilkiah, Hilkiah ... of Azariah, Azariah ... of Seraiah, and Seraiah the father of Jozadak. Jozadak was deported when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. 

Something is wrong here in that there is no mention of Eli at any point. Perhaps the writer simply follows the blood line even though the line of High Priests is different. 

In verse 16 the writer repeats verse 1 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari then adds briefly (17) These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei and repeats (18) The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel before adding, also briefly, The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. 

Finally, at a little more length (19-30) These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers: 

Of Gershon: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son and Jeatherai his son. 

The descendants of Kohath: this time pursuing a different line of descendants he adds Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son and Shaul his son. 

The descendants of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth, Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son and Samuel his son. The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second son. This is, of course, the Samuel we know well. This information helps us understand the early chapters of Samuel in a better and more nuanced way. 

Finally (29, 30) The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, Shimea his son, Haggiah his son and Asaiah his son. 

Aaron, Eleazar, Phinehas, Abishua, Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah, etc were all High Priests or should have been but of them all one has to say, as the writer to the Hebrews says, they were weak and had their own sins to deal with and could never take away sins by the means of animal blood. Christ, on the other hand, (Hebrews 7:27), is not like other high priests; he does not need to offer sacrifices every day for his own sins first and then for the sins of the people. He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, when he offered himself. 

2. What did the Levites do? 

In verses 31-52 the focus is on what the Levites did. The writer takes us to David's reign as it was then that everything became more formalised and ordered in preparation for the erection of Solomon's Temple. 

Three duties are specified. 

1. Praise in music 

He begins These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them. 

Verses 33-38 Here are the men who served, together with their sons: 

From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel;! 

Psalm 88 is by Heman, possibly the same one. This is the grandson of Samuel, David's old friend. His father Joel was a disaster but not his grandfather nor himself. 

Verses 39-43 and Heman's associate Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea, 40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malkijah, the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon, the son of Levi; Several psalms have Asaph's name. 

Verses 44-47 and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand: Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluk, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, 47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 

Psalm 89 is by Ethan again possibly the same one. 

2. Other duties 

This is more general (48) Their fellow Levites were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God. 

There was plenty to do in the Temple - fetching water and fuel, washing, sweeping, carrying out ashes, killing and flaying beasts, boiling sacrifices, etc. Plenty for God's people to do today too. 

3. The High Priests 

49-53 But Aaron and his descendants and only they were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense the golden altar just outside the Most Holy Place in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. These were the descendants of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas, Abishua , Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah, Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub, Zadok and Ahimaaz his son. 

• making atonement for Israel, that was the great aim 
• in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded that was the rule 

As we have said, under the new covenant all believers are priests and so this is all obsolete but here is a reminder to praise God and to make sacrifices and to do all our other priestly duties including telling people about the Lord Jesus Christ. 

3. Where did the Levites live? 

Unlike the other tribes, most of whom occupied certain allotted areas in Israel, the Levites were spread all over the country in their own priestly towns. Here the writer elucidates 

1. The Kohathites lived in 31 towns in Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh 

Verses 54-61a These were the locations of their settlements allotted as their territory (they were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clan, because the first lot was for them): 

They were given Hebron in Judah with its surrounding pasturelands. But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), and Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Hilen, Debir, Ashan, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands. 

And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. The total number of towns distributed among the Kohathite clans came to 13. 

The rest of Kohath's descendants were allotted 10 towns from the clans of half the tribe of Manasseh. 

Then in verses 65-70 there is a further note saying that as well as them having land From the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin that is the previously named towns there were also given six towns in Ephraim and two more in Manasseh. 

Some of the Kohathite clans were given as their territory towns from the tribe of Ephraim. In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge), and Gezer, Jokmeam, Beth Horon, Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands. 

And from half the tribe of Manasseh the Israelites gave Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands, to the rest of the Kohathite clans. 

2. The Gershonites lived in 26 towns in Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Manasseh 

Verse 62 The descendants of Gershon, clan by clan, were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali, and from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that is in Bashan. 

Again there is a further note about another 13 towns in Manasseh, Issachar, Asher and Naphtali. See verses 71-76 

The Gershonites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands; 

from the tribe of Issachar they received Kedesh, Daberath, Ramoth and Anem, together with their pasturelands; 

from the tribe of Asher they received Mashal, Abdon, Hukok and Rehob, together with their pasturelands; 

and from the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands. 

3. The Merarites lived in 24 towns in Reuben, Gad and Zebulun 

Verse 63 The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, were allotted twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun. 

Verse 64 sums up So the Israelites gave the Levites these towns and their pasturelands. 

As with the other two, however, there is a supplementary. In verses 77-81 we learn that the Merarites were given another 12 towns. 

The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they received Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands; 

from the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan east of Jericho they received Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah, Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands; 

and from the tribe of Gad they received Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands. 

Perhaps the lesson here is about giving and the need to provide for those who minister in the Lord's service. It is not always simply a matter of money. There are other forms of giving too.

Spiritual Lessons from Simeon and the Tribes in Transjordan

Text 1 Chronicles 4:124-5:26 Time 23 09 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

I want us to return today to our studies in 1 Chronicles. We are still in the early chapters where we are confronted by a large number of names and not much by way of storyline but this is all Scripture and so it is is useful to us - if not directly at least indirectly. 

So far we have looked at most of the first four chapters. Chapter 1 takes us from Adam to Abraham to Jacob. Chapter 2 goes from Jacob down to David and Chapter 3 from David to the exile. We then have genealogies for the 12 tribes. We have looked at Judah, the most numerous tribe, in 4:1-23. This evening I want us to cover all the material from 4:23-5:26. In those verses we learn firstly about the tribe of Simeon and then the tribes east of the Jordan - Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh. We have five things to say 

1. Learn about Simeon and a small tribe growing - learn to be spiritually enterprising 4:24-43 

There are three things here - who, where and what. 

1. Who were the Simeonites?

In verses 24-27 we read 

The descendants of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah and Shaul; 

Shallum was Shaul's son, Mibsam his son and Mishma his son. 

The descendants of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zakkur his son and Shimei his son. 

We are then told that although Shimei had 16 sons and 6 daughters, that was unusual for Simeonites - but his brothers did not have many children; so their entire clan did not become as numerous as the people of Judah. We will come back to this in a moment. 

2. Where did the Simeonites live? 

This is in verses 28-33 They lived in Beersheba, the most southerly town in Israel Moladah, Hazar Shual, Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David. 

Their surrounding villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token and Ashan - five towns - and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath. These were their settlements. 

These places were all within the territory of Judah in the south of the country. The statement that These were their towns until the reign of David suggests that when the nation split after David many Simeonites abandoned their towns and headed for the northern territory. 

At the end of verse 33 it says And they kept a genealogical record. In verses 34-37 more names are added Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel, also Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, and Ziza son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah. 

Verse 38 adds The men listed above by name were leaders of their clans. .... 

3. What can we learn from the Simeonites? 

Perhaps the thing we can learn is in that final phrase of verse 38 where it says that though this was a small tribe, nowhere near as large as Judah yet Their families increased greatly. Matthew Henry says "Those whom God increases ought to be thankful, though they see others that are more increased." That is a first lesson. 

But then it goes on to say of these people who didn't abandon Judah (39-41) Their families increased greatly and they went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks. They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet. (despite the fact the Asyrians were causing havoc everywhere else). Some Hamites had lived there formerly. The men whose names were listed (see above) came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meunites who were there and completely destroyed them, as is evident to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks. So they grew and as they did they needed more land so they took it. 

Another example of enterprise is in verses 42, 43 And 500 of these Simeonites, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, invaded the hill country of Seir. They killed the remaining Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day. 

Now we need to be careful how we see the Simeonites as a pattern for us here. We are not living in the Old Testament and obliged to slay Hamites and Amalekites. However, we are committed to Christ the Lion of Judah and we want to grow - grow spiritually as individuals and grow also in numbers. To do that we need to show the same enterprising spirit that we see displayed in the case of the Simeonites. They did not mope about saying we are so small and we are no longer in the position we might have been or there is no room for us here. No they expanded where they could and taking their courage in their hands they found success under God and victory over their enemies. 

Remember Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie. Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. 

You knock people’s doors to tell them about Jesus. They may be nasty to you but you'll see results eventually may be. You want to pass on the good news to others. Don’t stick to just one or two. Give to many. Whatever you do do it with this spirit, a generous open-hearted and hopeful one. 

Think of a gathering storm. The rain clouds gather then down comes the rain. Think of a very strong wind - so strong it brings down a tree. Where the tree lands it lands. Now if you think to yourself ‘I want to plant my seeds where the trees won't fall’ so you try to figure out which way one might fall in a storm then you'll never get around to sowing. Or if at harvest time you keep looking at the clouds thinking it’s no good harvesting now as it might rain after I've started you may never get the harvest in! God’s providence must not be an excuse for inactivity, doing nothing. 

As competent as weather forecasters are they can't get it exactly right. We can't be sure which way the wind will blow tomorrow. We now have scans of babies in the womb and understand better than ever what happens but not fully. So we can't predict the work of the Spirit - who'll be born again or when or how. So just get on with it! 

2. Learn about Reuben and how about God works 5:1-10 

There is a very interesting note in 5:1, 2 that helps us understand Genesis better and shows us something of how God works. Coming next to the tribe of Reuben, the writer reminds us that Reuben was Jacob's firstborn. He gives the heading The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel then adds a footnote (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, [a reference to David and Messiah] the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph). We could add here that all the brothers apart from the two youngest disgraced themselves in some way. Simeon and Levi did so in the way they reacted to the rape of their sister Dinah and Joseph gave a bad report to his father on Gad, Dan, Asher and Naphtali (Genesis 37:2). We can be sure Issachar and Zebulun were no more worthy to be considered firstborn. 

These verses then explain why Jacob made an ornate robe for Joseph and why his brothers hated him and treated him in the despicable way they did. it also explains why the tribes included a double portion for Joseph (Ephram and Manasseh) as is the right of the firstborn. 

More than that, it reminds us that God often makes what seem to us unlikely choices - Jacob over Esau, Joseph over his older brothers, David rather than any of his brothers, so many more poor Christians than rich ones. Part of the explanation here is that God is looking at the heart rather than at the outward person and his unwillingness to countenance sin. The thing to remember, however, is that God works in his own way. He is not subject to us. He does as he pleases. 

Verses 3-8a simply name some of Reuben's descendants - the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. Also The descendants of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites. Their relatives by clans, listed according to their genealogical records: Jeiel the chief, Zechariah, and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. 

Verses 8b-10 explain where they lived east of the Jordan They settled in the area from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon. To the east they occupied the land up to the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in Gilead. During Saul's reign they waged war against the Hagrites, (ie descendants of Hagar, Ishmaelites) who were defeated at their hands; they occupied the dwellings of the Hagrites throughout the entire region east of Gilead. 

3. Learn about Gad and about peace and co-operation 5:11-17 

The Tribe of Gad is dealt with next in verses 11-17. The Gadites lived next to them (Reuben) in Bashan, as far as Salekah: Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Janai and Shaphat, in Bashan. Their relatives, by families, were: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jakan, Zia and Eber - seven in all. 14 These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz. Ahi son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was head of their family. 

The Gadites lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its outlying villages, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as they extended. 

All these were entered in the genealogical records during the reigns of Jotham the eleventh king of Judah (of 20) and Jeroboam king of Israel (ie Jeroboam II). 

There is not much to glean here but it is perhaps worth noting that Gad lived cheek by jowl with the Reubenites and the half tribe of Manasseh. There is no evidence that they ever invaded each other. No, they fought the Hagrites and invaded the hill country of Seir but they did not attack each other. There is an obvious lesson for us there. 

4. Learn about the Transjordan tribes and how to win battles 5:18-22b 

In verse 18 we read that The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service - able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. As Christians we are not expected to be involved in physical fighting we are in a spiritual battle and if we are going to be successful then we need to be strong and we need to know how to use spiritual weapons. Paul sets out for us very clearly in Ephesians 6 the weapons we have - the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, etc. We need to be well trained for battle too. 

We read in verse 19 how They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish (all probably Ishmaelite tribes) and Nodab (perhaps an Arab tribe). Notice in verse 20 that it says They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. Even in Old Testament times it was all about faith. These people did not trust in their own skills but they trusted in the Lord and so they prayed and their prayers were answered so that (21, 22) They seized the livestock of the Hagrites - 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and 2000 donkeys. They also took one 100,000 people captive, and many others fell slain, because and this is the thing to remember the battle was God's. If we remember that, we are half way there. Ephesians 6 also emphasises the importance of prayer if we are going to be victorious. Matthew Henry says "In our spiritual conflicts, we must look up to heaven for strength; and it is the believing prayer that will be the prevailing prayer." William Gurnall says "Satan cannot deny but that great wonders have been wrought by prayer. As the spirit of prayer goes up, so his kingdom goes down. Satan's strategems against prayer are three. First, if he can, he will keep thee from prayer. If that be not feasible, secondly, he will strive to interrupt thee in prayer. And, thirdly, if that plot takes not, he will labour to hinder the success of thy prayer." 

5. Learn about the Transjordan tribes and be warned to flee from idolatry 5:22c-26 

The chapter ends on a very sad note. Verse 22 ends And they occupied the land until the exile. Yes, (23) The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan and beyond right up to Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir (Mount Hermon). And (24) These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They certainly were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. But .... 

... We read (25) they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. It seems crazy to us but they were surrounded by men and women who worshipped idols and they found it very hard not to believe that they could help themselves by worshipping idols and engaging in the sort of sexual acts the idolatry of the people demanded. We too often feel under pressure from the surrounding culture where greed is acceptable and people who do not serve the Creator inevitably serve created things. Idolatry is always to be spurned, however. 

So what happened? 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), and in 722 BC he took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day. This is where idolatry leads. It is a dead end road and those who fall for it suffer, Beware! 

William Carey's first convert in India was a man called Krishna Pal. We still sing Krishna Pal's hymn that begins 

O thou, my soul, forget no more The friend who all thy misery bore; 

Let every idol be forgot, But, O my soul, forget Him not. 

That was his motto; it should be ours.

Lessons from Jabez, Caleb and others

Text 1 Chronicles 4:1-23 Time 15 07 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

I found a website recently that Skynews have done - 100 UK patients who have died after contracting covid-19. There is a set of pictures there and if you click a picture you get some info about them. Most of the faces I did not recognise but then I noticed some I did so I clicked - 

• Comedian Eddie Large was half of double act Little and Large, who enjoyed TV success in the 1980s. He contracted COVID-19 in hospital while being treated for heart failure. He was 78.
• Norman Hunter, 76, was a key player for Leeds United in their 60-70s pomp under manager Don Revie. The England defender was known as 'Bites Yer Legs' because of his physical style. He won two league championship winners' medals with the Yorkshire side. He also won the FA Cup, League Cup and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, and in 1974 was the inaugural winner of the PFA's player of the year award. Hunter made more than 500 appearances for Leeds during his illustrious 20-year playing career, which also included shorter stints at Bristol City and Barnsley. 

I then looked at one or two others. 

We continue to look at the opening chapters of 1 Chronicles as we come to 4:1-23. Here the writer continues to focus on the Tribe of Judah. One reason for this, besides it being such a large tribe, is that Judah eventually formed, with the smaller tribes of Simeon, Benjamin and the Levites, the people of God, the other tribes being taken off into exile by the Assyrians in 722 BC. 

Here we have over a hundred names, nearly all men, though there are a few women mentioned. Some of the names have been mentioned before but most not. Some of the names given are clearly place names - Ephrathah, Bethlehem, Tekoa, etc. Nearly all of them remain just names to us but, as with the Skynews website, some are known, such as Judah, Hur, Caleb son of Jephunneh and Othniel. Three things 

1. Lessons from various skilled workers and others (14, 16-23)

We begin at the end 

1. The skilled workers of verse 14 

You have heard of Silicon Valley. It is the nickname for a region in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay area where a lot of computer and social media companies are situated. It is what is called a business cluster. You get it sometimes in places. So in London, Hatton Garden is traditionally where jewellers shops are, Savile Row is where the tailoring business was, Harley Street doctors. Fleet Street used to be the newspaper centre and Covent Garden the place for fruit and veg. 

There seems to be an example of that here. 14 Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of GeHarashim. It was called this because its people were skilled workers. GeHarashim is also mentioned in Nehemiah and it means something like Valley of the craftsmen. There was a cluster of artisans, skilled worker in that place. 

2. The Egyptian Princess of verses 16-18 

We will leave verse 15 for now. 16-18 The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel. The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. One of Mered's wives gave birth to Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. It then adds that he also had a (... wife from the tribe of Judah who gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soko, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) As for Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah - These were the children of Pharaoh's daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married. 

This picks up on a theme mentioned earlier - the way Gentiles were often drawn into the family of God's people, the Jews. Here another Egyptian. And no ordinary Egyptian - a princess, the daughter of a Pharaoh. 

3. The linen workers and potters of verses 19-23 

19-23 The sons of Hodiah's wife, the sister of Naham: the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maakathite. The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth. The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lekah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth Ashbea, Jokim, the men of Kozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (These records are from ancient times.) They were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah; they stayed there and worked for the king. 

Here we seem to have another group of workers - linen workers who later became potters. They became rulers in Moab, perhaps in the time of David who ruled over Moab, but by the time of the exile they were humble potters working for King Nebuchadnezzar. 

It is good to be reminded of the dignity of work - crafts, weaving, pottery. The Greeks despised manual work but the Jews did not and we should not either. There is a dignity in it. Paul writes to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12) ... make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 

On the other hand, it is tempting for some to despise the rich and powerful. We should not. God has his people among the aristocracy as well as among the workers. In the 18th century Selina, Countess of Huntingdon was a true believer and a powerful force for good. In the 19th century Ashley Cooper, Lord Shaftesbury, was a similar force for good. Pray for such people today. 

2. Lessons from the brothers Othniel and Caleb and other descendants of Judah (11-13, 15) 

Hebrews 11 the gallery of the faithful mentions the faith of many Old Testament saints. Here are two it does not directly mention 

1. Learn from enterprising Othniel

We have another wad of names in verses 11-13 Kelub, Shuhah's brother, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, (a place) Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash (another place). These were the men of Rekah. The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai. 

The name of Othniel stands out because he was the first of the judges or leaders of Israel mentioned in Judges. First Judges 1:12-15 tells how Caleb son of Jephunneh said "I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage. There is also an extra little bit about how she came to Othniel, urging him to ask her father for a field. It then describes her getting off her donkey and Caleb ask(ing) her what he could do for her. Her reply "Do me a special favour. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. 

Judges 3:8-11 tells how when The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, .. the Israelites were subject to him for eight years. But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them. It says The Spirit of the LORD came on him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died. 

Othniel then was a man filled with the Spirit who was enterprising and ambitious in a good sense and saw victory over his enemies leading to peace for many. Pray that God will fill you with the Spirit and with zeal and use you to be a blessing like him. 

2. Learn from fearless Caleb

In verse 15 we read about Othniel's older brother Caleb The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz. Two main places speak about Caleb

Numbers 13, 14. There we read how 12 spies were sent by Moses to spy out the Promised Land. The majority report said it was too difficult to take the land. The minority report from Joshua and Caleb took the opposite views. Caleb said to the people (Numbers 13:30ff) We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. But the men who had gone up with him said, We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are. .... 

In 14:6ff we read how Joshua ... and Caleb... tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them. But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. .... 

As a result of this that whole generation, apart from Joshua and Caleb, is told that it will never see the land God promised on oath to their ancestors. God says No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. ... Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived. 

Joshua 14 and 15

14:6ff Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb ... said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was 40 years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for 45 years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, 85 years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said." Then Joshua blessed Caleb ... and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb ... ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) .... 

Joshua 15 In accordance with the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah - Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites - Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak. From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 

Then we have the story in Judges mentioned before. 

Here is another great example for us then. He had a different spirit to that of his contemporaries and follow(ed) God wholeheartedly. Am I a wholehearted follower of Christ? Am I rejecting the spirit of the age ad seeking to serve the Lord as keenly as I can? 

3. Lessons from Jabez a man of prayer and other descendants of Judah (1-10) 

1. Learn from these descendants of Judah 

The chapter begins The descendants of Judah: then partly repeats from Chapter 2 Perez, Hezron, Karmi, Hur and Shobal. Although this may be a different Karmi. 

He then says (2) that Reaiah was the son of Shobal and was the father of Jahath, and Jahath the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. That is to say the people who lived in Zorah, also mentioned in Chapter 2. 

In 4:3 we read that These were the sons of Etam: (a place name) Jezreel, (may be another) Ishma and Idbash. Their sister was named Hazzelelponi. There is a Jewish tradition that Hazzelelponi was married to Manoah and was the mother of Samson. 

4-8 Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah (both a place name and a woman married to a Caleb, 2:19) and father of (place names again) Bethlehem. Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah. The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan, and Koz, who was the father of Anub and Hazzobebah and of the clans of Aharhel son of Harum. 

Whenever we read of Bethlehem, we think of the birth of the baby Jesus. This is the background to his family and birthplace. Praise his name. 

2. Learn from Jabez the man of prayer 

9, 10 Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. 

It is not clear where Jabez fits into the family tree but what is said about him is full of interest. 

1 His name and how he came by it

Not unusually Jabez's name was given to him by his mother. She called him that because she said I gave birth to him in pain. Because of the curse, childbirth usually involves pain. This must have been a particularly traumatic birth. Perhaps it was like the birth of Benjamin. Rachel, as she died, wanted to call him Benoni, son of my pain, but Jacob decided on Benjamin, son of my right hand. Whether Jabez's mother lived we don't know. If she did his name became a reminder to her to be thankful to God for his support at that pressing time. It also acted as a reminder to Jabez and all who met him of the fallen nature of this world and the troubles it brings. Perhaps it was a reminder too of the need to comfort all who are sorrowing. 

Certainly we must never forget that we are in a fallen world and people need comfort. 

2 Jabez's notable character

He was more honorable than his brothers. By his grace and in his providence God honoured him more than any of his brothers. Yes, there was sorrow at his birth but that was outweighed by the blessing that he knew as he grew older. We do not know any details but Matthew Henry points out that back in 2:55 it says that Jabez was the name of the town where the clans of scribes ... lived. Perhaps the town was named for him. The other likelihood is his piety as we know he was a man of prayer. As Henry observes "The way to be truly great is to be truly good and to pray much."

Let's forget our sorrows and seek to honour God in whatever way we can. 

3 Jabez's prayer. Presumably this was a prayer he prayed early in life. He sought to acknowledge God in all his ways and put himself under God's blessing and protection. That was the secret of his prosperity. The writer may have in mind a particular prayer or (more likely) how he prayed daily 

• Who he prayed to. It was not some vague prayer to a vague deity. It was not to any pagan God but he cried out to the God of Israel to the true God, the God of the Jews. When you pray, always pray to him.
• How he prayed. He cried out we are told. There was real fervency in it. Oh, he prayed Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! He expresses himself in such a way that he promises to give himself to God and his service, if he will only hear hi
• What he prayed. He prayed for four things 

That God would truly bless him. Oh, that you would bless me ... he prayed. Perhaps he was thinking of the promise of God to Abraham (Genesis 22:17) I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

In particular he prayed that God would enlarge my territory! He wanted his territory to grow. In a similar way, we should be praying that we will live in a more Christian way - that our lives will be filled more and more with the things of God. 

He prayed too Let your hand be with me, .... He wanted to know God's power at work in his life. he wanted God's protection and strengthening. Pray too for this.

Finally he prayed and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. His name was Jabez but he was not a fatalistic type who thought - what can I expect but pain? No, he prayed "Lead me not into temptation", "Deliver me from evil". That is how we should be praying too. 

4 The success of his prayer. And God granted his request. God gave him more than he asked for and he became more honourable than his brothers. God loves to answer the prayers of his children