_Fled. They make but a feeble resistance, as God was not with them. (Haydock) --- The first onset was made by the archers, and Saul's three sons fell, while the king himself was dangerously wounded. (Calmet) --- The death of his sons would increase his anguish. (Menochius) --- He seems not to have t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jonathan. Ven. Bede, &c., doubt not of his salvation. (Salien)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Overtook. Hebrew, "attacked, found, or hit him." He was running away. (Haydock) --- Wounded. Some translate Hebrew, "terrified," as they believe the words of the Amalecite, "my whole life is in me." But that wretch deserves no credit; and Saul would probably not take the desperate resolution of kil... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bearer. The Rabbins say he was Doeg. They were not yet come to a close engagement. --- Mock at me, as was then customary. See Josue viii. 29., and Judges i. 7. He might recollect the treatment of Samson. (Calmet) --- Fear. "To spill the royal blood's a direful thing." (Homer)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_With him. Thus to avoid a little shame and temporal punishment, they rushed into those which are inconceivably geat and eternal. (Haydock) --- The Jews in vain attempt to excuse Saul, as they deem suicide in such cases lawful, though in others they deprive those of burial, who have been guilty of i... [ Continue Reading ]
_His men. 1 Paralipomenon x. 6., his house fell together. The hopes of his family were at an end, (Haydock) though Isboseth, Abner, and some few survived him, (Menochius) who had fled, (Calmet) or had not been in the engagement. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beyond, or about "the passage" or fords of the Jordan, as the Hebrew means. (Menochius) --- The Philistines did not pursue after them, as God set bounds to their ambition. It might otherwise have proved very fatal to his people, who were now so much divided and terrified. In the parallel passage, i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Head, as David had treated that of Goliath, chap. xvii. 54._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Astaroth. The like custom was observed by the Hebrew, (chap. xxi. 9,) and by the Greeks and Romans, (Calmet) to acknowledge that victory was granted by God. The Philistines insulted Saul's body, and blasphemed the true God, as much as if they had taken the king alive. He only avoided the mortificat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jabes, in gratitude for the deliverance which he had procured for them, chap. xi. 11. (Calmet) --- They are also deserving of praise for shewing mercy to the dead, as well as for their bravery. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Burnt them, or the flesh, reserving the ashes and bones to be buried, as was customary among the Greeks (Homer, Greek: ps.) and Romans: ----- Sed cænam funeris h\'9cres_ Negliget iratus quod rem curtaveris; urnæ Ossa inodora dabit. (Persius. vi.) See Amos vi. 10. Jonathan insinuates, that they b... [ Continue Reading ]
Wood. 1 Paralipomenon x. 12., under the oak. --- Days, at their own option. David fasted one day, (Calmet) as he did for Abner. (Salien) --- There was no obligation of mourning for the kings, though it is probable that those near the royal city, would shew this mark of attention to the deceased mona... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXXI.... [ Continue Reading ]