2 Samuel 13:1
_Thamar was born of Maacha, as well as Absalom._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thamar was born of Maacha, as well as Absalom._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her. He had seen her on some solemn occasions, when virgins were allowed to go out, well attended. At other times they were so strictly guarded, that Amnon thought it almost impossible to gratify his passion, (Calmet) which made him grow pale. He afterwards feigned himself to be more sickly than he... [ Continue Reading ]
_A very wise man. That is, a crafty and subtle man: for the counsel he gave on this occasion shews that his wisdom was but carnal and worldly. (Challoner) --- Jonadab seems to be styled Jonathan, chap. xxi. 21. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_King? to whom every indulgence must be allowed. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_To me. Hebrew, "and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it, " &c. (Haydock) --- He pretends to be disgusted with food, (Calmet) unless he see his sister make it ready. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Messes. Hebrew, "cakes, or cordials;" what which refresh the heart, and give an appetite. The queen of Perdiccas, of Macedon, baked bread for her servants. (Herodotus viii. 137.) (Genesis xviii. 6.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Out. This conveys the idea of something liquid. (Calmet) --- It was a thin wafer, (Haydock) or cake, of which there were different sorts._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chamber. Hebrew Chadera, "bed-place," (Canticle of Canticles i. 4.) where Amnon was lying. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Folly, or impiety, so directly contrary to the law, Leviticus xviii. 6. and 9. and 11. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thee. Was she ignorant that such marriages could not be allowed? (Calmet) --- Some think she was. (Grotius) (Menochius) --- Others believe that, in her present situation, she said what first came into her head, to get out of the hands of her brother. The Rabbins pretend that she was conceived befor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Before. Such changes are not unfrequent in those who give way to disordered passions, as Aristotle (prob. iv.) proves. Semiramis slew her lovers, and among the rest her own son. (Tirinus) --- God caused Amnon to be stung with remorse, and the evil spirit pushed him on to extremities, which filled t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Greater, as being more public; (Tirinus) and all would think her guilty of some horrible misdemeanor. (Haydock) --- It made the divulging of the crime in some degree necessary. (Menochius) --- Unhappy woman! why did she not cry out, at least, before the perpetration of the act, as the law directed?... [ Continue Reading ]
_Robe. Hebrew passim; long and variegated, like Joseph's, Genesis xxxvii. 3. The Septuagint call it, Greek: karpotos, to insinuate that it was "adorned with fruits," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Head, as if to hide her face, Ezechiel xxvii. 30., and Jeremias ii. 37. So Mezentius: "Canitiem immundo deformat pulvere et ambas_ Ad C\'9clum tendit palmas."----- (Virgil, \'c6neid x.) See Homer, Iliad 2. (Calmet) --- _Crying, that no one might think she had consented. (Menochius) --- She probab... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brother. His disgrace will fall upon the whole royal family, and the king will not bring him to punishment, like another. (Calmet) --- Away. Hebrew and Chaldean, "desolate." (Menochius) --- Septuagint, "like a widow."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he, &c. This is not in Hebrew, &c., nor in St. Jerome's version. Josephus and some copies of the Septuagint read it. But the reason here alleged would not suffice to excuse David. (Calmet) --- He might think that, as he had shewn such a bad example himself, he could not with a good grace punish... [ Continue Reading ]
_Two. Hebrew, "full years." He waited so long, that he might put his murderous designs in execution with less suspicion. (Haydock) --- Sheep. It was esteemed the best husbandry, "to have fine flocks;" bene pascere: (Cato) even for the nobility. --- Ephraim, or Ephrem; (John xi. 54.) probably near Be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed him, wishing him joy. Absalom kept a separate establishment, and had many children, chap. xiv. 27. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amnon. He mentions him as the eldest, and that David might suppose that they were perfectly reconciled. (Calmet) --- The unhappy father seems for a long time to have expressed a reluctance and foreboding. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is I: the blame will fall on me; I will rescue all from danger. These servants were probably infidels, of Gessur, and fled with their master. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mule. This is the first time we find these animals used to ride on. The judges had fair asses. These mules were not the offspring of horses and asses. They bear young in Syria, (Aristotle, anim. vi. 24.) and are little inferior to horses in size, though they are shaped like our mules. (Aristotle, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Left. Fame often magnifies. (Menochius) --- Crescit eundo. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XIII.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mouth. Chaldean [and] Syriac, "heart." Aquila, "because Absalom was in wrath against him." He had resolved upon his destruction. (Calmet) --- Perhaps he had expressed his intention to some of the court; and this Jonadab (by whose means the crime had been committed, ver. 5) had heard of it. (Haydock... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mountain. Olivet. (Calmet) --- They had not kept the high road through fear of Absalom; (Abulensis) who, on his part, fled out of the country, as no city of refuge was able to protect wilful murderers. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tholomai, or Tholmai, (Haydock; chap. iii. 3.) his maternal grandfather. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ceased. We do not read that he had pursued Absalom before. (Calmet) --- Now he laid aside all thoughts of punishing him, as he began even to desire to see him again, when he reflected that Amnon had deserved death. (Haydock) --- Hebrew also, "he burnt with a secret desire to receive Absalom," chap.... [ Continue Reading ]