Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 5:22
For there fell down many slain, because the war [was] of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
22. was of God ] i.e. was prompted by God; cp. 1Sa 15:2-3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
1Ch 5:22
Because the war was of God.
Gods war
When a man fights against himself, in his lusts, passions, and unauthorised aspirations, he fights a war approved of God, and if he fights that war in the name of God he shall be none other than a victor at the close. When a man fights for the poor, the oppressed, the helpless, he is engaged in a battle over which God holds the banner, and the holding of that banner is the guarantee of triumph. (J. Parker, D. D.)
The war is of God
In speaking on temperance principles and trying to help and encourage temperance workers, this story of Bible history will well illustrate our theme. Consider:
I. The warriors.
1. They were courageous men–valiant men, sons of valour as the original has it.
2. They were skilful.
3. They were united.
II. The weapons which these warriors used.
1. The buckler. This was a weapon of defence, a small hand shield that was fastened to the wrist or to the hand itself, with which the warriors parried the blows of their enemies. Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
2. The sword. If temperance workers would take the Bible as their sword, they would get on better than with the wooden swords which so many are inclined to use.
3. Bows and arrows. The spiritual parallel is the arrow of conviction.
III. Their warfare. It was distinguished–
1. By faith.
(1) Personal. They trusted in God; we must also have a personal faith in Christ as our Saviour.
(2) Also in the power of the gospel to change the hearts and lives of men.
2. By prayer. They cried to God in the battle.
IV. The victory. (Thomas Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 22. For there fell down many slain] The hundred thousand men mentioned above were probably made slaves, and were not slain. The Targum says, one hundred thousand souls of men.
The war was of God.] The Targum says, the war was min meymera dayai, “from the WORD of the Lord.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The war was of God; God put them upon it, and mightily assisted them in it.
They dwelt, i.e. that party of these tribes which went out to this war, being 44,760 men; or part of them by the consent of the rest.
Until the captivity; of which 2Ki 15:29; 17:6.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For there fell down many slain,…. Many were killed in the battle, besides the great number of prisoners made, so that the army the Ishmaelites brought into the field was very great:
because the war was of God; or from the Word of the Lord, as the Targum; he stirred up the Israelites to it, directed, assisted, and succeeded them, that vengeance might be taken on this wicked and idolatrous people:
and they dwelt in their stead until the captivity; the Targum adds, of Sennacherib king of Assyria; but this captivity of the tribes referred to was not by him, but by Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, 1Ch 5:26 and they dwelt not in the country of the Arab-hagarites, or Ishmaelites in their stead there, but in Gilead, as in 1Ch 5:10 which belonged to the Gadites and Reubenites originally, but had been dispossessed of it, or however distressed in it by these Hagarites, which they now drove out, and dwelt in their stead; for as for the Scenite-arabs or Ishmaelites, they never were conquered and brought into subjection by any people, but always maintained their independency d; and lived upon the plunder of their neighbours, pitching their tents here and there for their convenience, which in these parts were at this time spoiled.
d See the notes on Gen. xvi. 12. and Dan. xi. 41. and a dissertation upon the independency of the Arabs, at the end of the Universal History, vol. 20. [See comments on Ge 16:12].
[See comments on Da 11:41].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“Handfuls of Purpose,”
For All Gleaners
“For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God.” 1Ch 5:22 .
We should trace the explanation of victories. There are victories which are but glittering defeats. No victory is worth having that is not won by moral means, or that does not express a moral right. Here we have the explanation in the words “the war was of God”; that is to say, it was a good war, or a war on behalf of right principles and right claims; a war which God approved, if not as to its method yet as to its end. In the Old Testament the Lord is “a man of war.” Sometimes the people went to battle without him, and then they returned without spoil or song of joy; on other occasions they went with him and at his bidding, and they brought back with them banners unstained and spoil to which they were entitled. All this is happily changed; war is becoming increasingly hated and dreaded. But there is another war which may be described as a war of God. We wrestle against spiritual enemies; we are set in battle array against the highest forces of darkness. If we have invented our own armour, or have manufactured our own piety, or have ordered the battle according to our own supposed genius in war, the eventide will find us overthrown, humiliated, and hopeless. Are we going a-warfare at our own charges? Then verily we shall play the fool and bring home with us a fool’s reward. When a man fights against himself, in his lusts, passions, and unauthorised aspirations, he fights a war approved of God, and if he fight that war in the name of God he shall be none other than a victor at the close. When a man fights for the poor, the oppressed, the helpless, he is engaged in a battle over which God holds the banner, and the holding of that banner is the guarantee of triumph, and in that triumph there shall be no stain of malice or selfishness or earthly-mindedness. We must not limit our wars to ourselves. There are wars in which we can render valuable assistance in which other men are engaged. Let the rich man go to the side of the poor man in fighting a battle with poverty, and help him to win in the strife. We can easily find out wars in which we can render assistance if we look for them, and give ourselves zealously to the cause of human service. They that be with us when we are good are more than all that can be against us. If we fight in our own strength our endeavours will be wasted, but if we deliver every blow in the name and strength of God many will be slain. Slay your sins, your passions, your animosities, your under-selves, and rise to the dignity to which God has called you as his soldiers. Endure hardness as a good soldier: fight the good fight of faith: be not afraid of the enemy. O thou poor struggler, God will bring thee to victory, to honour, and to rest, if thou wilt put thy cause into his hands.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
1Ch 5:22 For there fell down many slain, because the war [was] of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
Ver. 22. Because the war was of God, ] i.e., It was just and necessary; God also fought therein, as it were personally, against those idolatrous wretches.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
until the captivity. Compare 2Ki 15:29; 2Ki 17:6; 2Ki 18:9-12 : i.e. that of Tiglath-pileser.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the war was of God: Exo 14:14, Jos 23:10, Jdg 3:2, 2Ch 32:8, Neh 4:20, Psa 24:8, Pro 22:3, Zec 14:3, Luk 14:31, Luk 14:32, Luk 22:36, Rom 8:31
they dwelt: Num 32:33
steads: 1Ch 4:41
until the captivity: 1Ch 5:6, 1Ch 5:26, 2Ki 15:29, 2Ki 17:6
Reciprocal: 1Ch 5:20 – And they 2Ch 20:24 – they were dead
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 5:22. For there fell down many slain Besides those taken captive, a great number were slain in the battle. Because the war was of God Undertaken in his fear, and carried on in a dependance on him. Then we may expect to prosper in any enterprise, and then only, when we take God along with us. And they dwelt in their steads Most or all of those valiant men who were engaged in this war, who were forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, (1Ch 5:18,) settled themselves in the country which they had conquered, and remained there until the captivity, of which see 2Ki 15:29; 2Ki 17:6.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
5:22 For there fell down many slain, because the war [was] of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the {i} captivity.
(i) Meaning, the captivity of the ten tribes under Tiglath Pileser.