=7.= _Shimea_] See iii. 5, note. ⁸These were born unto the giant¹ in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. ¹ Hebrew _Rapha_. =8.= _These were born unto the giant in Gath_] Again “giant” is the Hebrew “Rapha” as in verses 4, 6. The meaning is that these belonged to a branch of the Rephaim which was settled in Gath. CHAPTER XXI. =1‒27= (= 2 Samuel xxiv. 1‒25). THE NUMBERING AND THE PLAGUE. Comparison of these verses with the account given in Samuel discloses not a few interesting divergences, the more important of which are pointed out in the notes below (see especially the notes on verses 1, 6, 25). In general it may be said that the account in Chronicles curtails any features reflecting discredit on David and expands such as do him honour. Some scholars consider that the changes are of such a character that they may all be due directly to the Chronicler, but others see in them motives so various as to suggest the opinion that the Chronicler’s source is not Samuel but an intermediate source. There may be a measure of truth in both contentions. So famous a tale may well have been recounted with modifications in the telling to suit the later idealisation of David. The Chronicler may therefore have been working from the text of Samuel, but some of the changes he introduced may have been generally current, and for these he is in a sense not _immediately_ responsible, although of course all were more or less in accordance with his taste.