There. Hebrew, Septuagint, &c., "And there," &c. The books of Scripture are thus frequently connected. The authors present us with a series of events, without prefixing any title, or their own names, that our attention may be wholly fixed on what we read. The birth of Samuel being so miraculous, des... [ Continue Reading ]
_Phenenna. She was only of inferior dignity. At that time polygamy was lawful, (Menochius) as Moses insinuates, if he do not expressly allow it._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Days, the three great festivals. His family accompanied him, though the law only lays an express injunction upon the males to attend. We find, however, that females did not neglect to come. (Calmet) --- Hosts. Hebrew ( Tsebaoth) of "armies," both of angels and of Israel. God is attended by myriads... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sacrificed, by the hand of the priests, (Menochius) who had the breast and right shoulder; the rest was given back to the person who had presented the fattened victim, that he might feast with his friends. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
With sorrow. Hebrew apayim, "of faces, indignation, (Calmet) sorrow;" (Menochius) or that was presented before him. Chaldean and many others translate, "a chosen:" (Calmet) Protestants, "a worthy portion." (Haydock) --- The shew-bread is called, "the bread of the face," because it stood before the L... [ Continue Reading ]
_Insomuch. Hebrew, "to make her fret, or rage; because the Lord," &c. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord. Then they could hardly avoid being together on the road, and Anna was accustomed to pray earnestly (Menochius) to be delivered from her reproach. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Silo; either in some private house, or in the porch before the tabernacle. She complied with the entreaty of her husband. (Menochius) --- Stool. Hebrew, "Heli was sitting upon a throne, near the steps, leading to the palace of the Lord." It is also called the temple, or the house of God, though it... [ Continue Reading ]
A vow; rightly trusting that her husband would give his consent, Numbers xxx. 7. --- Razor. Hebrew mora, "scissors." Septuagint, "iron." Some copies add, "he shall not drink wine, nor any intoxicating drink." In quality of Levite, Samuel was bound to serve the tabernacle from 25 or 30 years of age t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prayers, out of fervour; not through vain superstition and ostentation, as the Pharisees and pagans did, Matthew xxiii. 14. Christ does not condemn many, or long prayers, since he prayed whole nights for our instruction, Luke xxi. 43., and vi. 12., and 1 Thessalonians v. 17. --- Mouth. He tried, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Much. Heli's "son or servant," ( Greek: paidarion, according to the Septuagint) addressed these words to Anna. Her going to pray immediately after a feast, instead of taking recreation, increased the suspicion. (St. Chrysostom, hom. 1.) --- Salien (the year before Christ 1153) observes the many ins... [ Continue Reading ]
_My lord. She gives him this title, though he had called her a drunken woman. (Haydock) --- Unhappy. Hebrew, "of a hard (or afflicted) spirit." See Canticle of Canticles viii. 6. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Belial; "without restraint;" abandoned. (Haydock) --- Septuagint, "pestiferous." --- Sorrow. Hebrew, "meditation;" (Calmet) what preys upon my spirits. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Peace, with all blessings. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eyes: that thou wouldst lay aside thy suspicions against my character, and pray (Calmet) that I may obtain so great a happiness. --- Changed. Hebrew, "no more," as it had been sad, and defaced with tears. (Haydock) --- She was now full of hope and joy. (Menochius) --- Septuagint, "her countenance f... [ Continue Reading ]
_About, at the expiration of the year, which term the ancients frequently allowed between the conception and the nativity, Genesis xviii. 10. --- Samuel. This name imports, asked of God. (Challoner) --- Some letters are omitted for the easier pronunciation, as the Hebrews would now write it, Saul-me... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vow, in consequence of his son's nativity. The sacrifice might be of precept, such as the paschal lamb, or for his wife's purification and the redemption of his first-born, as they could not attend in person. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "the victim of days and his vow," which he had probably made in conju... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER I. _ Weaned. The mother of the Machabees weaned her children when they were three years old; (2 Machabees vii. 27.) which Gallien asserts as the proper time, though Avicenna fixes upon two years. See Genesis xxi. 8. Iremellius translates, "till the child be grown up." But we must not allow... [ Continue Reading ]
_Word, by preserving the life of the child, (Calmet) and enabling him to serve according to our engagement. (Haydock) --- Word is often put for "a thing," in Hebrew. May God perfect his own work. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Three calves. Septuagint, "a calf three years old," such as Abraham sacrificed, Genesis xv. 9. We only find one offered up, ver. 25. --- Bushels. Hebrew epha, (Calmet) each of which contained three bushes or measures, Ruth ii. 17. (Haydock) --- Bottle. Hebrew nebel, a large measure containing above... [ Continue Reading ]
_Liveth: a strong attestation. (Menochius) --- As sure as you live; or, may you enjoy a long and happy life. See chap. xvii. 55., and xx. 3., Daniel iii. 9., and 2 Esdras ii. 3._... [ Continue Reading ]
Lent. This is equivalent to giving entirely. Anna presents her son to the Lord, to serve in his tabernacle as long as God shall think proper. He dispensed with his personal attendance, when he appointed him judge, chap. vii. 15. (Calmet) --- As much as depended on Samuel's mother, he was consecrated... [ Continue Reading ]