أخبار الأيام الأول ٩:٣٥

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 9 The genealogies of the several tribes being given, according as they were written in the books of the kings of Israel, Ch1 9:1, an account follows of those who first settled in Jerusalem after their return from the Babylonish captivity; of the Israelites, Ch1 9:2, of the priests, Ch1 9:10 of the Levites, and of the charge and offices of several of the priests and Levites, Ch1 9:14, and the chapter is concluded with a repetition of the genealogy of the ancestors and posterity of Saul king of Israel, Ch1 9:35.

These verses are the very same with Ch1 8:29-38, giving an account of the ancestors of Saul and the posterity of Jonathan. There it is the conclusion of the genealogy of Benjamin; here it is an introduction to the story of Saul. We take the repetition as we find it; but if we admit that there are in the originals, especially in these books, some errors of the transcribers, I should be tempted to think this repetition arose from a blunder. Some one, in copying out these genealogies, having written those words, Ch1 9:34 (These dwelt in Jerusalem), cast his eye on the same words, Ch1 8:28 (These dwelt in Jerusalem), and so went on with what followed there, instead of going on with what followed here; and, when he perceived his mistake, was loth to make a blot in his book, and so let it stand. We have a rule in our law, Redundans non nocet - Redundancies do no harm.

9:35-44 The place of Saul’s family in the kingdom has already been established (8:29-40); the repetition of that material provides a transition from the genealogies to the narratives, beginning with the story of Saul’s death (ch 10).