_Day, while it was yet dark. (Josephus) --- This action would seem rash, and contrary to military discipline, which requires that the general should be apprised of any hazardous enterprise. (Calmet) --- But it is thought that Jonathan was directed by God, who granted him success. (Cornelius a Lapide... [ Continue Reading ]
_Magron, a village between Gabaa and Machmas, Isaias x. 28. Hebrew reads "Remmon," which means "a pomegranate tree," and denotes a famous impregnable rock, with extensive caverns, where an equal number of men had formerly saved themselves, Judges xx. 47. (Calmet) (Tirinus) (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ephod; or was high priest, ver. 18. Achias is called Achimelech, chap. xxii. 9. (Calmet) --- He had succeeded his father, Achitob, in the beginning of Saul's reign, after the former had held the dignity twenty-two years. (Salien, the year of the world 2962.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Uncircumcised. The Hebrews looked upon the Gentiles as unclean and they, in their turn, spoke of the Jews in the most contemptuous manner. (Calmet) --- It may. Literally, "if perchance." (Haydock) --- This does not express any doubt. The hero found himself impelled to undertake this work, but he kn... [ Continue Reading ]
_This shall be a sign. It is likely Jonathan was instructed by divine inspiration, to make choice of this sign; otherwise, the observation of omens is superstitious and sinful. (Challoner) (Menochius) (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Philistines, probably on the northern rock, as they afterwards climbed up that on the south, (Calmet) where they had not been discovered. (Salien)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_A thing, making you pay dear for this temerity. Herodotus (v.) mentions, that the Peonians were commanded by the oracle not to attack the Perinthians, unless they were challenged. They did so, and gained a complete victory._... [ Continue Reading ]
Day. Varro, &c., allow 120 feet, Columella only 70, for a day's work, so that these twenty men were slain in the space of 60 or 35 feet. Louis de Dieu rejects all the other versions, and would translate the Hebrew "in almost the half of the length of a furrow, and in the breadth which is between two... [ Continue Reading ]
_Miracle. Hebrew charada, "consternation or trembling," a panic fear, as the Philistines imagined that all the army of Israel had got into the camp. "In the terrors sent by demons, ( or superior beings) even the sons of the gods flee away." (Pindar. Nem.) The earth quaked (Calmet) to increase the en... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gabaa, where they were stationed to observe the enemies' motions, and to give notice of them to Saul, at Remmon, ver. 2. (Calmet) --- Overthrown. Hebrew, "melted down, (without courage) and they went crushing" one another is the narrow passes, (Haydock) and turning their arms against all they met.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Were not. Hebrew, "when they had numbered, behold Jonathan, &c., not" in the number. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ark. Septuagint, "the ephod." (Kimchi, &c.) --- Spencer follows the sentiment of the Rabbins, and explains it of a little box, in which the ephod and pectoral were placed, when they were brought to the army. But what need of this explication? (Calmet) --- How the oracle was given is uncertain. (Men... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hand. He prayed with his hands extended. Saul believed that God had sufficiently intimated his will, by affording such a favourable opportunity. "The best of omens is to revenge our country's wrongs." (Hector. Iliad.) (Menochius) --- Optimis auspiciis ea geri, quæ pro Reip. salute fierent, was the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Before; that is, for some time, as slaves. (Menochius) --- Having retired to their camp, to avoid the plunderers, (Calmet) they rose upon their oppressors, as Christian slaves have often done upon the Turks, when a galley has been engaged, and fallen into the hands of their friends. (Menochius) ---... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there, &c. This is not found in Hebrew, &c., nor in many Latin copies. The Septuagint specify the number, (ver. 24) where it is not in the original. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XIV. _ Bethaven. They pursued the stragglers thither, as well as to Aialon, ver. 31. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Together. Which interpretation is more natural (Calmet) than the Protestants "where distressed,...for Saul had adjured," &c. (Haydock) --- Septuagint, "And all the people was with Saul, about 10,000, and the war was spread through all the city in Mount Ephraim, and Saul was guilty of great ignoranc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ground. Even still travellers perceived the smell of honey very frequently in that country. (Maundrell) --- The people use honey almost in every sauce and in every repast. Virgin assures us, that "bees dwell in holes under ground, in hollow stones, and trees." (Georg. iv.) The Scripture frequently... [ Continue Reading ]
_Enlightened. Extreme hunger and fatigue hurt the eyes, Jeremias xiv. 6. Sanctius saw a man who through fasting lost his sight, and recovered it again as soon as he had eaten. This is conformable to the observations of Hippocrates, and to nature. (Calmet) --- Tenebræ oboriuntur, genua inedia succedu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Land. Chaldean, "the people of the land." (Menochius) --- He speaks his sentiments freely. But we ought not to find fault, in public, with the conduct of the prince. (Calmet) --- The people might have eaten a little without stopping the pursuit, as they generally carried provisions with them, or mi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Aialon, in the tribe of Dan. It might be about ten miles from Machmas._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blood, contrary to a two-fold law, Genesis ix. 4., and Leviticus xvii. 14. The blood ought to have been carefully extracted and buried. (Calmet) --- This was another bad effect of Saul's rash oath. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_With the blood, as you have done. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_First. Saul begins to exercise himself in acts of religion, which only belonged to a prophet, &c. He thought he might do so in quality of king, thus consecrating a monument of his victory to the God of armies. It was perhaps the very stone on which the oxen had been just before killed for the peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
_God, to consult him, whether the enterprise met with his approbation. Saul is too eager to follow his own prudence. (Haydock) --- He would not before wait for God's answer; (ver. 19) now he can get none. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Corners, to the very last; or all the princes, Judges xviii. 9._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gainsayed him, out of respect. Saul gives another proof of his precipitation, in swearing; and the people, by this silence, acquiesce, not suspecting that Jonathan could have offended in what he had done. (Calmet) --- One of them, at least, knew that he had transgressed the order of his father, ver... [ Continue Reading ]
_A sign, (judicium;) "pass sentence;" declare why, &c. (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "give purity." Shew who is innocent. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "give the proofs" by the Thummim, which they seem to have read. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jonathan was taken. Though Jonathan was excused from sin, through ignorance of the prohibition, yet God was pleased on this occasion to let the lot fall upon him, to shew to all, the great obligation of obedience to princes and parents, (Challoner) the sacred nature of an oath, and at the same time... [ Continue Reading ]
_Die. We may here admire the respect which the ancients had for an oath, without seeking for any modification; and the blindness of Saul, who condemns his son with as much haste as he had pronounced the curse, thinking thus to honour God. The thing surely required some deliberation, and he ought to... [ Continue Reading ]
_The people, directed probably by the high priest, who pronounced the oath null. (Salien) --- Ground. He shall not be hurt. (Menochius) --- With God. He has been visibly "the minister of God's mercy." (Septuagint) --- Die. They obtained his pardon. They ought not to have permitted the king's oath to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Soba, in the north. (Menochius) --- Rohab was the capital of another part of C\'9closyria, 1 Paralipomenon xviii. 3., and 2 Kings x. 6. --- Overcame. We are not to judge of the virtue of a man from his success in the world. (Calmet) --- Under the reign of Saul, the tribe of Ruben overcame the Agari... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amalec. The particulars of this war will be given [in] chap. xv., as it explains the cause of Saul's rejection, and David's advancement to the throne. (Salien)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sons, who accompanied Saul in his wars. Isboseth was too young. --- Jessui is called Abinadab, 1 Paralipomenon viii. 33. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Achinoam. After he came to the throne, he had Respha, 2 Kings iii. 7. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]