1 Samuel 8:12

captains over thousands and captains over fifties The Sept. reads "captains of hundreds and captains of thousands," which are the usual military divisions (ch. 1 Samuel 22:7; Numbers 31:14): but the Heb. text is to be preferred as mentioning the highest and the lowest offices. Cp. 2 Kings 1:9 ff. For the fact cp. ch. 1 Samuel 14:52.

to ear his ground "To ear" = "to plough," from Lat. ararethrough A.-S. erian. The verb occurs again in Deuteronomy 21:4 and Isaiah 30:24; the subst. earingin Genesis 45:6; Exodus 34:21. Shakespeare uses the word:

"And let them go

To earthe land that hath some hope to grow."

Richard II. A. iii. Sc. 2.