2 Samuel 1:1
_Siceleg, though it had been burnt down. (Salien, the year of the world 2949.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Siceleg, though it had been burnt down. (Salien, the year of the world 2949.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chance. He feigned this to obtain the favour of David; but the king punished him as he deserved. (Worthington) --- Spear, or sword, as it is before expressed. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amalecite. The Rabbins say he was the son of Doeg; and has this appellation because Amalec sprung from Esau, Genesis xxxvi. 12. But this is all very uncertain. The man seems to have gotten possession of the marks of the royal dignity in the night, as the Philistines deferred till the next day strip... [ Continue Reading ]
_Anguish. Hebrew, "the coat of mail withholds me." Septuagint, "horrid darkness encompasses me." Shabah, signifies a coat of mail, made of cloth, very thick, and boiled in vinegar, to render it more impenetrable. The Greeks emperors and the French formerly wore them much, instead of iron. (Calmet) -... [ Continue Reading ]
_I killed him. This story of the young Amalecite was not true, as may easily be proved by comparing it with the last chapter of the foregoing book. (Challoner) --- Fall. This he says, apprehending that David would perhaps disapprove of what he had done. --- Diadem, or ribband, which was tied round h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rent them, in sign of grief, as many other nations did. Tum pius \'c6neas humeris abscindere vestem. (Virgil, \'c6neid v.) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of the Lord, the priests; (Abulensis) though it seems to be explained by the following words, of all the Israelites. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER I. _ Stranger, residing among the Hebrews._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Head. None but thyself can be answerable for thy death. See Matthew xxvii. 25. David was already supreme magistrate, and he wished that all should be convinced that he rejoiced not at the death of the king, and that none might imitate the example of this wretch. (Calmet) --- Thus Vitellius punished... [ Continue Reading ]
Bow. So this canticle was entitled, because it spoke in praise of the bow and arrows of Saul and Jonathan, ver. 22. So one of the works of Hesiod is called "a buckler;" of Theocritus "a flute;" of Simmias "wing;" &c. Septuagint have neglected this word entirely (Calmet) in the Roman edition. But it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Illustrious. Hebrew, "the glory (beauty, hart, &c.) of Israel hath been pierced," &c. The comparison of Saul with a hart, is noble enough in the ideas of the ancients, Psalm xvii. 34., Canticle of Canticles ii. 9., and viii. 14. Syriac and Arabic, "O hart of Israel, they have been slain," &c. (Calm... [ Continue Reading ]
_Triumph. He was aware of the exultation of the infidels. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Fruits, which may be offered to the Lord. Inanimate things could not offend, nor does David curse them in earnest. But (Tirinus) nothing could more strikingly express his distress and grief, than this imprecation. It is false that those mountains have since been barren. This canton is one of the mos... [ Continue Reading ]
_From. Hebrew, "without the blood of soldiers, without the fat of the valiant, the bow of Jonathan had never returned." (Kennicott) --- Fat. The entrails. It might also denote the most valiant of the soldiers, as we read of "the fat or marrow of corn" for the best, Psalm lxxx. 17. (Calmet) --- Jonat... [ Continue Reading ]
Lovely, or united. Jonathan always behaved with due respect towards his father, though he could not enter into his unjust animosity against David. (Calmet) --- The latter passes over in silence all that Saul had done against himself, and seems wholly occupied with the thought of the valour and great... [ Continue Reading ]
_Battle. Hebrew, "in the midst of battle! O Jonathan, thou warrior upon thy high places!" (Kennicott, Diss. i. p. 123.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brother. So they lamented, Alas! my brother, Jeremias xxii. 18. (Menochius) --- Women. He indicates the ardour of his love, not any inordinate affection. (Du Hamel) --- I love thee more than any person can love a woman, (Calmet) more than women can love their husbands or children. (Menochius) --- C... [ Continue Reading ]
Perished, falling into the hands of the enemy; though Saul and Jonathan may be styled the arms, as well as the shield, of Israel. (Menochius) --- No character could be more worthy of praise than the latter. His breast was never agitated by envy, though he seemed to be the most interested to destroy... [ Continue Reading ]