_War, the particulars of which are not given. (Calmet) --- But David's power continually increased, and he was blessed with many children. (Haydock) --- "Legions and fleets are not such strong bulwarks of the throne, as a numerous family." (Tacitus, Hist. v.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amnon, who was murdered by Absalom, for his incest, chap. xiii. 32. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cheleab, or Daniel, 1 Paralipomenon iii. 1. Septuagint, "Dalnia." (Calmet) --- Alexandrian, "Dalouja." (Haydock) --- Others, "Abia." --- Gessur, not far from Damascus. The lady probably first embraced the true religion, though the Scripture seldom enters into these details. (Calmet) --- David is ne... [ Continue Reading ]
_Adonias was slain by Solomon, (3 Kings ii. 24.; Menochius) for arrogating to himself the right of the first-born, and pretending that the crown belonged to him. (Haydock) --- The names of his mother, and of those who follow, are barely known. (Salien)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wife. She was otherwise of no nobility, but perhaps loved by David more than the rest, as Rachel was by Jacob. The Rabbins would infer that Egla and Michol are the same person. But the latter had no children, (chap. vi. 23.; Salien) and is mentioned [in] ver. 13._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Concubine. To marry the king's widow was deemed an attempt upon the throne, 3 Kings ii. 22. Hence Solomon was so displeased at Adonias, ver. 24. Some think that Isboseth formed the accusation on mere conjecture; but Abner does not deny the fact. (Calmet) --- Dog's head: of no account, like a dead d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sworn. It seems therefore that he knew of God's appointment, and had hitherto resisted it for his own temporal convenience. (Haydock) --- If both he and Isboseth were ignorant of this decree, Abner had no right to deprive the latter of the crown. (Abulensis, q. 7.) (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him. And no wonder; since even David could not repress the insolence of his chief commander, ver. 39. So Otho "had not yet sufficient authority to hinder the perpetration of crimes." (Tacitus, Hist. i.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Himself. Hebrew may be also "immediately," (Piscator) or "in secret," (Kimchi) as the matter seems not to have transpired. (Calmet) --- Alexandrian Septuagint, "to Thelam, where he was, without delay, saying, Make," &c. (Haydock) --- Land? Is it not thine? or have not I the disposal of a great part... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thee. Could David thus authorize treachery? It is answered, that Abner knew that the throne belonged to him, and he was already responsible for all the evils of the civil war. David does not approve of his conduct, but only makes use of him to obtain his right. --- Michol. He might justly think tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_Isboseth. Thus he would screen the perfidy of Abner, (Menochius) and hinder him from using any violence. (Calmet) --- The pacific king accedes immediately to the request, as he had no personal aversion to David, and saw that he was in a far more elevated condition than Phaltiel. (Haydock) --- Moreo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bahurim, in the tribe of Benjamin. (Adrichomius 28.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Enemies. We read not of this promise elsewhere. But how many other things are omitted in the sacred books? (Calmet) --- Abner alleges God's decree, that he may not be deemed a traitor. (Cajetan)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Benjamin, which tribe was naturally most attached to Saul's family. They followed, however, the example of the ten tribes, and 20 of them accompanied their general to Hebron. (Salien)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Feast, through joy at the reception of his wife, and of such good news. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And may. Some Latin copies read with the Hebrew, "and it (Israel) may enter," ineat._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Robbers. Amalecites, (Salien) or Philistines, who had made some incursions into David's territories. (Abulensis)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dost. This explains going out, &c. (Haydock) --- Joab pretends to be wholly solicitous for the king's welfare. But he was afraid lest Abner should take his place, and he also desired to revenge Asael's death. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Messengers, in the king's name. --- Sira. See Judges iii. 26. Josephus says the place was 20 stadia from Hebron. (Antiquities vii. 1.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Middle. Septuagint, "sides." --- Brother; (who had been wounded in the same place) a just punishment of Abner's licentiousness. (Salien) --- This was given out as the pretext of the murder; but envy seems to have been the chief promoter. (Menochius) --- Joab treated Amasa in the same manner, chap.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Innocent. I would not purchase a kingdom at such a price. (Calmet) --- I beg that the crime may not be imputed to us, who are innocent. (Haydock) --- God sometimes punishes a whole kingdom for the sins of the rulers. (Menochius) --- Yet not without some fault of the subjects. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Issue. Such were looked upon as unclean, (Leviticus xv. 3,) and incapable of having children. Aquila translates zab, "blind." Septuagint, "afflicted with the gonorrh\'9ca." --- Distaff, like eunuchs. (Delrio, adag. 190.) (Claud in Eutrop.) Tu telas non tela pati, &c. Some translate a stick, with wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joab. Requiring him to make some reparation, at least, for the offence, and to render the funeral pomp more solemn. All were obliged to rend their garments, and to put on sackcloth, on such occasions. It was very rough, and consisted chiefly of goat and camel's hair. --- Bier, contrary to the custo... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER III.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Died. Hebrew, "Is Abner dead, like Nabal, " "a fool," (Chaldean) "like the wicked?" "Ought so brave a man to have died in this treacherous manner?"_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Iniquity. David does not spare Joab, in this canticle, which was sung by all the people. (Calmet) --- He intimates, that if he had not used deceit, Abner would not have been so easily overcome. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_David. Hebrew, "to cause David to eat meat" (Haydock) at the feast, which usually accompanied funerals, Genesis l, 3. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel. And that all this pomp is not unseasonable. (Menochius) --- The chief, if not the only virtue of Abner, was military skill, or a blunt valour._... [ Continue Reading ]
_King. Septuagint, "and that I am to-day a relation, (by my wife) and appointed king by the king?" (Haydock) --- He seemed as yet to have little more than the title. His throne was not well established; (Calmet; Worthington) and to undertake to punish the offenders now, might have had so pernicious... [ Continue Reading ]