soon after the whole destruction completed by the massacre, or flight of the remnant which had been ⚫ left amidst the ruined cities of Judæa.

add, probably with as little truth, that the Levites were singing the same hymn in both destructions, repeating Psalm xciv. 23. these words: " He shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and he shall cut them off in their own wickedness, yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off." Vid. Antiq. Lib. X. c. 8. de Bell. Jud. Lib. VI. c. 4. p. 1279.

OF THE

FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES.

THE Jews formerly reckoned the two Books of Chronicles but as one [A]; which was entitled the Books of Diaries [B], or Journals, in allusion to those ancient journals which appear to have been kept among the Jews. The Books of Chronicles, indeed, as well as those of Kings, were in all probability copied, as to many of their historical relations, from these ancient chronicles of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Such Chronicles must unquestionably have existed, since in the books of Kings there are frequent references to books of Chronicles, as containing circumstances which are not found in those so entitled in our canon; not to mention that these sacred books were written after the books of Kings. The books of Chronicles

[A] They now adopt our division, as well as in the preceding books, in conformity to our mode of citation in concordance of which they borrowed the use from the Latin church.

[B]'', dibrë hajjamim. Verba dierum, that is, The words of days; extracts from Diaries. They are called Chronicles from the Greek word xpovina.

which we now possess, were so named by St. Jerom: they are distinguished in the Septuagint as the books of " things omitted [c] :" and they are supposed to have been designed as a kind of supplement to the preceding books of scripture; to commemorate such important particulars as had not been noticed, because not immediately connected with the plan of former books. They are generally, and with much probability, attributed to Ezra [D]; who has used a similar style of expression, and whose book appears to be a continuation of them [E]. Ezra, if he were the author, might have digested them by the assistance of Haggai and Nehemiah; as well from historical records, as from the accounts of contemporary prophets.

These books were certainly compiled after the captivity, as they mention the restoration by Cyrus,

[C] Παραλειπομενων. Thus Xenophon wrote the paralipomena of the Peloponnesian war, as a supplement to the history of Thucydides.

[D] This book appears to have been compiled before that of Nehemiah, by whom it is cited (Neh. xii. 23), though the genealogy of the descendants of Zerubbabel is said to be brought down much below the time of Ezra ; for if the Zerubbabel here mentioned were the same who conducted the people back from captivity, the account may have been swelled by collateral kindred; or possibly encreased by subsequent additions. St. Matthew, however, gives, in his first chapter, a genealogy so different, that it appears to be that of a different branch, if not of a different family. Comp. 1 Chron. iii. 19. et seq. with Matt. i. 13. et seq. and Grot. in Matt. i. 23. [E] Comp. the last verses of 2 Chron. with beginning of Patrick's Comm. in 2 Chron. xxix. 21.

Ezra.

and some circumstances that occurred after the return [F]. The author, however, appears sometimes to speak as one who lived previously to the captivity [G]; but this probably must have been in consequence of his transcribing, without alteration, the accounts of earlier writers.

The books of Chronicles, though they contain many particulars related in preceding books; and supply several circumstances omitted in preceding accounts; are not to be considered merely as an abridgement of former histories, with some supplementary additions; but as books written with a particular view; in consistency with which, the author sometimes disregards important details in those accounts from which he might have compiled his work; and adheres to the design proposed, which seems to have been to furnish a genealogical sketch of the twelve tribes deduced from the earliest times. The objects were to point out those distinctions which were necessary to discriminate the mixed multitude that returned from Babylon; to ascertain the lineage of Judah; and to re-establish, on their ancient footing, the pretensions and functions of each individual tribe. The author appears to have intended to afford, at the same time, an epitome of some parts of the Jewish history; and in this first book, taking up the account at the death of Saul, he presents his coun

[F] 2 Chron. xxxvi. 21–23. xxxv. 25.

[G] 1 Chron. iii. 19. iv. 41–43. 2 Chron. v. 9. xxi. 20. xxii. 26. xxv. 25.

trymen with the picture of David's reign, especially dilates on his zeal for religion; and on the preparations which he made for the building of the temple; probably with design to excite the reverence and emulation of those who were about to rebuild it. He describes particularly the regulations and arrangements adopted by David with relation to the Priests and Levites; as well as to the appointment of the musicians and other persons employed in the service of the temple, which David established on a great and magnificent scale: improving it with the introduction of hymns, of which there is a fine specimen in the sixteenth chapter of this book.

The author, in repeating some particulars related in the preceding books, specified the names of the persons employed, and active on great occasions; and by this means furnished each individual tribe with an account of the actions of its respective ancestors.

The genealogical tables of this book must have been highly important among the Jews, who were led by the prophetic promises to be extremely observant of these particulars. They exhibit the detail of the sacred line through which the promise of the Messiah was transmitted [H]. The prece

[H] The genealogies contained in this book are carried back without interruption to Adam, through a period of nearly 3500 years. They afford a striking proof of the solicitude which prevailed among the Jews to ascertain the completion of the promises; as also of the vigilant care with which the sacred accounts were preserved. They could not be cor

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