After this. So far is omitted in the Hebrew, &c., but we find it in most editions of the Septuagint and in Josephus. (Calmet) --- Fight. He had threatened an invasion before, and had perhaps (Haydock) attacked some of the tribes on the east side of the Jordan, and treated them with the same cruelty... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eyes: strange proposal! He would not render them quite blind, that he might not be deprived of their service. But he wished to render them unfit for war, (Calmet) as the buckler covers the left eye; (Josephus) and people who shoot with bow and arrow, keep it closed. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Days. We have examples of similar requests in history. (Grotius, Jur. iii. 23.) See Judith vii. 23._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of Saul. Septuagint, "to Saul," which may remove the surprise of Abulensis, that the king is not mentioned. (Salien) --- Saul was absent at the time, so that they made known the threatening danger to the people._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Field. So David fed sheep, even after he was anointed king. The ancients had very different sentiments of royalty from what we have. Their kings and great men did not esteem it beneath them to cultivate the earth. Several of them wrote on the subject. Jura dabat populis, posito modo prætor aratro,_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spirit of fortitude, prudence, and zeal. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Oxen, with which he had been ploughing. --- Pieces. Hebrew does not say that he sent them; and Josephus intimates, that he only "hamstrung them, and sent messengers," &c. (Haydock) --- But such actions are far more impressive than words. See Judges xix 29., and Acts xxi. 10., &c. (Calmet) --- Samue... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bezec, where Adonibezec had reigned, (Judges i.; Menochius) near the place where they crossed the Jordan, a little below Scythopolis, to go to Jabes, which was about thirty miles distant. (Calmet) --- Thousand. Josephus makes the army consist of 770,000, who were collected at Bala. Septuagint have... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hot. Josephus says, Saul "being seized with the divine spirit, ordered them to inform the citizens of Jabes, that he would come to their assistance on the third day, and rout the enemy before the sun arose." But the message of which the Scripture here speaks, (Haydock) was sent from Bezec. Saul, in... [ Continue Reading ]
_To you, Naas, (Haydock) which they speak in irony, and that the enemy may be off his guard. (Calmet) --- We must thus deceive our passions, that we may not be blinded (Haydock) or slain by them. (St. Gregory, v. 1. in Reg.) (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Camp. It was not then customary to throw up any fortifications, but only to place sentinels in all the avenues. --- Watch, which ended at sunrise. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Them. It seems there were but few discontented persons. (Salien) --- They address themselves to Samuel, who they knew had not regarded their request of a king with approbation, as if to give him a little mortification. But he makes a proposal of confirming the election with still greater solemnity,... [ Continue Reading ]
_They made. Septuagint, "and there (again the prophet; Josephus) Samuel anointed Saul king." The same ceremonies as had been used before, except the casting of lots, were here repeated, particularly the solemn anointing, (Salien) whence, in the following chapter, (ver. 3) Saul is styled the anointed... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XI.... [ Continue Reading ]