You can use apply to avoid eval:
var args = [start, number].concat(newItemsArray);
Array.prototype.splice.apply(theArray, args);
The apply function is used to call another function, with a given context and arguments, provided as an array, for example:
If we call:
var nums = [1,2,3,4];
Math.min.apply(Math, nums);
The apply function will execute:
Math.min(1,2,3,4);