_Soul. Pythagoras said, "that friendship is an equality, and one soul, and that the friend is another self." It would be difficult to find two souls more tender and generous than those of David and Jonathan. (Calmet) --- Josephus speaks of their friendship on another occasion, as these five verses a... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he, Jonathan. (Haydock) --- Soul. "Friends have one soul." (Arist.[Aristotle?] Mor. ix. 8.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Girdle, which perhaps was of great value, Job xii. 18. He wished that David should lay aside his shepherd's dress, and appear like himself at court, that all might know how much he loved him. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prudently, or with success. (Calmet) --- Especially. Hebrew, "also," which enhances his praise, as courtiers are but too apt to envy those who are taken from a low condition and set over them in the king's favour. David must have displayed great wisdom and moderation. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Philistine. Some explain this of some fresh achievement against that nation, (Malvenda; Worthington) but without reason. --- Dancing. Hebrew also playing on the flute, or on some such instrument of music. (Calmet) --- So Mary [Miriam] sung after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea, Exodus xv. 20... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sung. The chorus of their song is given. (Calmet) --- "The women sung, Saul slew his thousands; and the virgins answered, And David, " &c. (Josephus) --- The death of Goliath was equivalent to the slaughter of thousands, as he had filled the whole army of Israel with dismay. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_A thousand. These women were guilty of an indiscretion, through excess of zeal, as it is always displeasing for the sovereign to hear any of his subjects preferred before him. (St. Chrysostom, hom. i. de Saul.) --- The jealousy of Saul was the more excited, as he had been threatened with the loss o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eye. Septuagint, "and Saul suspected." (Haydock) --- Chaldean, "laid snares for David." (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prophesied. Acted the prophet in a mad manner, (Challoner) like an enthusiast, (Calmet; 2 Kings ix. 11.) or one possessed by the devil, as the Sybil was agitated by Apollo. Et rabie fera corda tument. (Virgil, \'c6neid vi.) To alleviate his distress, David took up his harp. (Haydock) --- Spear. Wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_People, as their leader. Saul gave him an honourable, but dangerous office, to procure his destruction. This is frequently the manner in which men of superior talents have been treated, (Calmet) as Corbulo, Germanicus, and Agricola were by three Roman emperors. (Tacitus, Ann. ii., &c.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Began. Septuagint, "he was filled with awe in his presence." Hebrew, "he was afraid of him," as he perceived that God protected him in all perils._... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Saul. This an the two following verses are omitted in the Roman Septuagint, which subjoins, "and Michol, the daughter of Saul, loved David," &c. (Haydock) --- Wife. He had promised her already, (Menochius) if the verses in the preceding chapter be genuine. But why then had he delayed so long, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Life. What exploits have I performed deserving such an honour? or what offices have my relations yet enjoyed? (Calmet) --- David considers only his abject condition, and forgets his victories. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wife. If this were the case, the character of Saul is rendered more despicable and perfidious. David never reclaims Merob, as he did Michol. (Haydock) --- All the children of the former were gibbeted, 2 Kings xxi. 9. The latter was given to David for his destruction, like Cleopatra (Daniel xi. 17,)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Other, is not found in the Hebrew, Septuagint, &c. (Haydock) --- Some Latin copies read, "David loved Michol," (Calmet) as the Douay Bible translates; the authors living before the Popes had published their authentic editions. (Haydock) --- Both might be true. (Drusius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Days. Hebrew, "In two thou shalt," &c. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "in the one of the twain," Merob or Michol. (Haydock) --- Saul had deceived him with respect to the first; but he promises that he shall have "the second," (Calmet) or two motives induced the king to make him this offer, the victory o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ability, or riches. Septuagint, "without glory." (Haydock) See ver. 18._... [ Continue Reading ]
Dowry. Among the Hebrews, the man had to purchase his wife. --- Philistines. They were the nearest nation of those who were not circumcised; and thus Saul would prove that David had attacked them, which would greatly irritate them against him. (Calmet) --- Josephus specifies six hundred heads, (Hayd... [ Continue Reading ]
_David. Of the subsequent verses, the Roman Septuagint has only the following words. "And all Israel lived him; (29) and Saul still continued to be in awe of him." The Alexandrian manuscript agrees with the Hebrew, only, instead of Michol, &c., it reads, "all Israel." If the contested passages were... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forth, probably to revenge the recent insult. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XVIII.... [ Continue Reading ]