_Belial. Septuagint, "lawless." --- Jemini. The tribe of Benjamin continued to be rather disaffected. (Haydock) --- Part. This was an usual mode of expressing a disunion, 3 Kings xii. 16., and Acts viii. 21. (Calmet) --- See chap. xix. 43. (Haydock) Seba was perhaps a kinsman of Saul, (Menochius) in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jordan, near which the contest had happened. Some chosen troops attended Seba to the north, while the rest went home. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Widowhood, or celibacy, (Menochius) like nuns. (Grotius; Salien) --- David could not with propriety approach to them, (Estius) as they resembled his daughters-in-law; (Leviticus xviii. 15.; Menochius) and no other person could marry them, while he was still their husband. (Haydock) --- The punishme... [ Continue Reading ]
_Here, to be invested with the command over the army, and to pursue Seba. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him, owing to some insuperable difficulties. He was not long behind, since he joined the forces at Gabaon, where he was treacherously slain by the envious Joab. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, the king; or perhaps Joab. (Menochius) --- A select company always attended the king; and some of these he sent, for greater expedition, to attack Seba, before he had become too strong._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Men. It seems Joab accompanied them, though in a manner divested of his command, by the king's appointing Amasa, and then Abisai, to his exclusion. After the slaughter of the former, he resumed his authority; (ver. 10) and David was forced to acquiesce, for fear of another civil war, reserving his... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stone, where Abner and Joab had formerly joined battle, chap. ii. (Menochius) --- Habit, or body. --- Flank; they usually hand at the thigh, Psalm xliv. 4. --- Strike: the scabbard was very wide; so that, when it was hanging very high, it would easily fall out, when he stooped; and thus afford Joab... [ Continue Reading ]
_God, &c. Literally, "Hail, my brother." (Haydock) --- Kiss him. "In former times it was the custom, in Greece, for supplicants to touch the chin, (Pliny, [Natural History?] xi. 45.) having the left hand upon the person's knees. (Homer, Iliad A.) The touched a woman's cheeks; (Euripides, Hecuba.) or... [ Continue Reading ]
_Struck him with his left hand. (Haydock) --- Side. The same word is, elsewhere, translated groin; Septuagint, "loin." Moderns commonly render "in the fifth rib, " chap. ii. 23., and iii. 27., and iv. 6. (Calmet) --- Josephus, "the belly."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Some men. The same author [Josephus?] and the Hebrew only mention "one of," &c. (Haydock) --- Behold. Thus they insult over him, being attached to Joab. Hebrew, "Who loves Joab? and who is David? Let him follow Joab;" or, "who is this who wished to supplant Joab? and who desired to be in David's fa... [ Continue Reading ]
_A certain. Hebrew, "the man" stationed by Joab, near the body, to inform those who passed, that he had been justly slain. Josephus, ([Antiquities?] vii. 10,) who observes, that this crime of Joab proceeded from envy, and was less deserving of excuse than the murder of Abner. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tribes, north-west of the Jordan. (Calmet) --- Abela and Bathmaacha. Cities of the tribe of Nephtali. (Challoner) --- The former is called simply Abel (4 Kings xv. 29.; Calmet) as it is here by the Protestant version. (Haydock) --- It is also called Abyla, (Luke iii. 1,) and Hoba, (Genesis xiv. 15.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Works. Hebrew, a bank, or terrace against the city, and it stood in the trench; (Haydock) so that the town ditch was filled up, (Grotius) or terraces were raised, from which archers assailed the besieged. Joab made a ditch to defend his men from foreign assailants; and he had already taken the outw... [ Continue Reading ]
_Say to Joab. This woman was noted for her prudence, and it was hoped that her words would have more influence to disarm Joab. She addresses those who were nearest the wall, that she may have an interview with the general, at the request of her fellow-citizens._... [ Continue Reading ]
_End of their disputes, (Haydock) as Abela was remarkable for its wise counsellors, (Menochius) and equitable decisions; (Haydock) so that many came, from a distance, to consult the learned of this city. (Calmet) --- Others suppose that she refers to the law, which ordains that peace shall first be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Truth. Hebrew, "I am peaceable, faithful in Israel." (Haydock) --- I am one of the cities most inclined to peace, and to the king's service, noted for lessons of loyalty. (Calmet) --- Probably there was an academy here. (Menochius) --- Mother, city, or metropolis. The Hebrews styled the inferior to... [ Continue Reading ]
_God, ( Absit.) Literally, "Far be it, far be it from me;" as we need not put the name of God in the mouth of this profane man, without reason. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jairite, a descendant of Jair, (Calmet) son of Manasses. (Haydock) --- Priest. Hebrew cohen, respected like a priest, (Haydock) chief favourite, (Worthington) the Rab., (Chaldean) chief counsellor of David, (Vatable) almoner, &c. It is not certain that he was of the family of Aaron, or qualified to... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XX.... [ Continue Reading ]