1 Chronicles 26:27

Verse 1 Chronicles 26:27. The spoils won in battles did they dedicate] It seems these were intended for its repairs. This custom prevailed amongst almost all the people of the earth. All who acknowledged any supreme Being, believed that victory could only come through him; and therefore thought it quite rational to give him a share of the spoils. Proofs of this exist in all ancient histories: thus Virgil: -

Irruimus ferro, et divos, ipsumque vocamus

In partem praedamque Jovem.

AEN. iii., ver. 222.

"With weapons we the welcome prey invade:

Then call the gods for partners of our feast,

And Jove himself, the chief invited guest."

DRYDEN.

On this passage Servius observes: Ipsum vocamus. Ipsum regem deorum, cui de praeda debetur aliquid: nam Romanis moris fuit, ut bella gessuri de parte praedae aliquid numinibus pollicerentur: adeo ut Romae fuerit unum templum JOVIS PRAEDATORIS: non quod praedae praeest, sed quod ei ex praeda aliquid debeatur. "Jupiter himself, the king of the gods, to whom a portion of the prey was due: for it was a custom among the Romans, when entering on a war, to promise some part of the prey to their deities. And there was a temple at Rome dedicated to JUPITER PRAEDATOR, not because he presided over the prey, but because a part of the prey was due to him."