Of one year. That is, he was good, and like an innocent child, and for two years continued in that innocency. (Challoner) (St. Gregory) (Worthington) --- Israel. This verse is omitted in some copies of the Septuagint. It is extremely difficult to explain. Some translate Hebrew, "Saul was a son of on... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dwellings, from Galgal (Salien) or from some other general assembly. (Calmet) --- These 3000 were to be the king's guards, supported at the expense of the nation, that the people might begin to feel one part of the royal prerogative. (Salien, the year before Christ 1089)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Land. As soon as the next cities had heard the alarm, they sounded the trumpet, and so the news was conveyed to the most distant parts, in a short time, Judges iii. 27. --- Hebrews. Probably those "on the other side" of the Jordan, who presently came to the assistance of their brethren, ver. 7. (Os... [ Continue Reading ]
_Courage. Hebrew, "and Israel was in abomination (stinking) with the Philistines." See Exodus vi. 21. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "despised as nothing the strangers." --- Were should be omitted, as the verb is active, clamavit, in the Vulgate and Septuagint, though the Protestants have "were called," &... [ Continue Reading ]
Chariots. This number seems almost incredible, as the Philistines were but a contemptible nation, compared with various others which never brought so many chariots into the field. Zara, king of Ethiopia, in his army of a million men, had only 300, 2 Paralipomenon xiv. 9. Adarezer had 1000, and Sesac... [ Continue Reading ]
_Straitened, the people form the northern provinces, and provisions being cut off, by the immense army of the Philistines. (Calmet) --- Providence was pleased to convince the people that, though they had been able to muster so large a force against the Ammonites, at so short a warning, they must not... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hebrews. Septuagint, "the people, who came over, (the river) crossed the Jordan." (Haydock) --- The title of Hebrews, "passengers," seems to be applied to those who lived on the east side of the river, (Calmet) though probably some others would seek for a retreat in that country, or even hide thems... [ Continue Reading ]
Of Samuel. Yet the prophet condemns his proceedings, either because he did not wait till the expiration of the seventh day, (Calmet; St. Ignatius, &c.; Salien) or because he ventured to offer sacrifice himself. (Lyra after Sulp. Serverus, &c.) (Haydock) (Worthington) --- He had however the high prie... [ Continue Reading ]
Lord, by sacrifices. --- Holocaust. Hebrew, "I forced myself therefore," &c. It is asked whether Saul offered sacrifice, or caused it to be offered by the priests. The text seems to assert that he did it himself. Samuel and David did the like; and we read that Solomon ascended to the brazen altar, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ever. He foresaw this want of obedience, and therefore promised the sceptre to Juda, Genesis xlix. (Menochius) --- God's foresight of sin, and preordination to punish it, does not take away free-will nor the possibility of a reward. (St. Augustine) (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Continue long. This seems to have been a threat, which Saul might still have escaped, if he had not proved disobedient again. St. Gregory says, "he might have been loosed from the bonds of his former disobedience;" prioris inobedientiæ nexus enodaret. The second rebellion caused him to be entirely... [ Continue Reading ]
_Samuel. Piscator suspects that we ought to read Saul, as no mention is made of the prophet in the sequel of this war, and he is never consulted. (Calmet) --- Josephus says he returned home. (Haydock) --- But all the versions are conformable to the text: and Samuel went with the king and his 600 sol... [ Continue Reading ]
_Plunder, seeing that the Israelites durst not come to an engagement. Jonathan took advantage of their absence, chap. xiv. --- Land of Sual, "foxes," not far from the birth-place of Gedeon, Judges vi. 11._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bethoron, the lower, to the north-west of Gabaa. --- Seboim was one of the cities which perished along with Sodom. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Smith. The Philistines had taken these precautions before Samuel gained the victory over them, and he consented that the people should employ the Philistines as before, when he made peace with them; (Salien) or they had again begun to get the upper hand at the beginning of Saul's reign, as the Israe... [ Continue Reading ]
_All Israel, whom the Philistines had conquered, particularly the neighbouring tribes. (Calmet) --- They were obliged to go to the places where the enemy kept garrisons, (Menochius) as they did at Gabaa, Bethel, &c. --- Share. Septuagint, Syriac, &c., "scythe," or "sickle for corn;" Greek: therister... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mended, by the Philistines. (Haydock) --- The Hebrew is variously translated. "Their implements were like saws; or, they had a file to sharpen the," &c. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "and the fruits were ready to be gathered. But the vessels (instruments for labour) were three sicles for a tooth, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Further. Hebrew, "went out to the passage (Haydock) or defile of Machmas," leading to Gabaa. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "and there came out of the station of the strangers, to the other side (or beyond) Machmas," where they have been fixed, chap. vi. 11, 16. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XIII.... [ Continue Reading ]