1 Chronicles 13

1 Chronicles 13:3

bring again the Ark] David so soone as ever he was setled upon his throne over all Israel, taketh the strong Fort of Zion, from the Jebusites: brings the Ark of God with all solemnity, yet not after the due maner, from Kiriath-jearim, and the house of Abinadab; And upon the death of Uzza, by the way, at the threshing floore of Nachon or Chidon, he carries it aside into the house of Obed-Edom, where it remained three moneths, 1 Chron. XIII. Hiram sends to David messingers, workmen, and materials to build him an house in Zion: And David takes more wives at Jerusalem; and obtaines two victories against the Philistines, chap. XIV. And with great solemnity, in the due maner, he brings the Ark from Obed-Edoms house, and sets it in the middest of the Tabernacle or Tent which he had prepared for it, in the Citie of David, in Zion, chap. XV. where he offers Sacrifices; Orders a Quire, gives them a Psalme of Thanksgiving, and appoints Ministers, Porters, Priests, and Musicians to attend on the Ark continualy, ch.

XVI. In 2 Sam. V. David takes the strong Fort of Zion; builds, dwels in it, hath messingers sent to him from Hiram King of Tyre, with materials, workmen for his building; growes great; takes moe wives and concubines at Jerusalem; gets two victories over the Philistines in two set battels chap. V. And he brings up the Ark from Kiriath-Jearim, and carries it aside into the house of Obed-Edom; and after three moneths, he brings it thence, into the Citie of David, with great solemnity, and joy; 2 Sam.

VI Now whether the things contained in 1 Chr. XIV. and 2 Sam. V. after the taking of Zion, did intervene in that three moneths space, while the Ark was in the house of Obed-Edom; or were acted before the Ark was removed from Kiriath-Jearim, is a matter of conjectural probabilities on either side: yet I rather incline to the later opinion.

1 Chronicles 13:5

from Shihor of Egypt] This Shihor, or Shichor, or Sihor, hath a notion of blacknesse in it; And is not that rill or drill of water called by forraine writers Rhinocolura; but is much rather the same with Nilus, otherwise not once named in Scripture, anciently by the Ethiopians called Siris, by the Greeks Melas, by the Latines Melo, from the blacknesse of the water, or rather of the mud and slime that it brings downe with it, or the black colour of the grounds and soils it passeth through. It is called by way of excellencie the River, Esay XXIII. 3. Ezek. XXIX. 3, 9. and the river or flood of Egypt, Amos VIII. 8. and chap. IX. 5. This River rising in the South from unknown heads, runs in one intire streame Northward to the Head Delta in Egypt, where it divideth it self into two maine Channels; and afterwards brancheth into seven several streames, Esay XI. 15.

Emptying themselves into the midland Sea: And so making that lower part of Egypt to be of a triangular forme with the point upward, and the basis beneath toward the Sea [v]. One of the seven streames named Pelusian hath a stream issuing from it; which first makes the Sea or Lake of Sirbonis, of a great length, and vast depth, dividing Egypt from the Edomites, and Philistines, and so justly is named one of the Limits of the Land of Promise, Num. XXXIV. 5. Josh. XIII. 3. 1 Chron. XIII. 5. as the River Euphrates is named the other, Gen.

XV 18. Deut. I. 7. and chap. XI. 24. Josh. I. 4.

This River Nilus supplieth the place of Raine in Egypt, Zech. XIV. 18. by the overflowing of it; as is famous in Histories. The seven streames of old, are now become four.