1 Samuel 15:1
_Lord, in gratitude for so great an honour. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, in gratitude for so great an honour. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reckoned up. God speaks in a human manner, as if he had been reading the history of ancient times, Exodus xvii. 14. (Menochius) --- The Amalecites had treated Israel with inhumanity, above 400 years before. God's vengeance is often slow, but only so much the more terrible. (Calmet) --- Hebrew pakad... [ Continue Reading ]
_Destroy, as a thing accursed. (Haydock) --- Child. The great master of life and death (who cuts off one half of mankind whilst they are children) has been pleased sometimes to ordain that children should be put to the sword, in detestation of the crimes of their parents, and that they might not liv... [ Continue Reading ]
_As lambs. This comparison is very common, Isaias xl. 11., and Ezechiel xxxiv. 2. But many translate the Hebrew "in Telaim." St. Jerome reads Hebrew c, as, instead of b, in, with greater propriety. Septuagint and Josephus, "in Galgal," which in effect would have been the most proper place for rendez... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amelac. The people dwelt in tents, and removed from one place to another. So in Ethiopia there are properly no cities, the place where the prince encamps is deemed the capital. (Calmet) --- Torrent. Hebrew, or "valley."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Egypt. See Judges i. 16., Exodus xviii. 12., and Numbers x. 31., and xxiv. 21. Saul gave private instructions to the Cinite, who had been settled at Arad, and had mixed with Amalec, to depart. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sur. See Genesis ii. 11., and xvi. 7., and xxv. 18., and Exodus xv. 22. (Menochius) --- These people had occupied a great part of the country, from the Persian Gulf to Egypt. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Garments. Hebrew is commonly rendered, "fatlings." Septuagint, "eatables." (Calmet) --- Avarice seems to have actuated Saul, (Lyranus) or a false pity, (Josephus) or a desire to grace his triumph, ver. 12. (Glossa.) (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Repenteth. God cannot change: but he often acts exteriorly as one who repents. He alters his conduct when men prove rebellious. (St. Justin Martyr, p. 22.) --- Grieved. Hebrew, "indignant." (Calmet) --- He was sorry to think that Saul would now lose his temporal, and perhaps his eternal crown. (Sal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arch. Here we behold what a change prosperity makes in the manners of those who before shewed the greatest humility. Saul erects a monument to his own vanity. Hebrew, "he has set him up a hand," (as Absalom did, 2 Kings xviii. 18.) or "a place" to divide the booty, (Jonathan) or "a garrison," to ke... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear, and which manifestly prove, that God's order has not been put in execution. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy God. This was probably a falsehood, like the rest. (Salien)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eyes. God rejects the proud, and gives his grace to the humble. See Luke i. 52. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord. Septuagint, "of the people."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_First-fruits, or the best. --- Slain. Hebrew, "of the anathema."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rams. Can God be pleased with victims which he has cursed? (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Obey. Hebrew, "Rebellion is the sin of divination or witchcraft, and resistance is iniquity, and the Theraphim." Symmachus, "the injustice of idols." Theraphim here designate idolatrous representations, Genesis xxxi. 19. They were probably of Chaldean origin, in honour of the sun and fire, (Calmet)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Voice: miserable excuse for a king, who ought to prevent the sins of his people! (Calmet) --- Saul's transgression seems less than David's; but the one repents, and the other proudly defends what he had done. (Du Hamel)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bear, or take away. Pardon my fault. Do not expose me in public. --- The Lord, by offering sacrifices, ver. 31. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rent: a dreadful prognostic that Saul was cast away. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Triumpher. Some suppose that he speaks ironically of Saul. A prince, like you, will not repent. (Calmet) --- But it more probably refers to God, who would not fail to execute his threats against the king. (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "the victor in Israel will not lie, he will not repent." Septuagint, "an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel. He is wholly solicitous to shun disgrace in this world. (Haydock) --- His confession was not actuated by such contrition as that he might deserve to hear, the Lord has removed thy sin. He begins by falsehood; continues making idle excuses, and throwing the blame on others, and concludes, by... [ Continue Reading ]
Trembling. Hebrew, "and Agag came to him delicately." Septuagint, "trembling," (Haydock) or walking with a soft step, or "with bands or chains;" mahadannoth. See Pagnin. (Menochius) --- Some think that he presented himself boldly, like a king, fearing nothing. (Vatable) --- Manner. Hebrew, "Surely t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pieces. Josephus adds, by the hand of others. (Menochius) --- But zeal put the sword into his own hand; and he imitated the Levites and Phinees, (Exodus xxxii. 27.) to shew Saul how preposterous had been his pity, when the Lord had spoken plainly. (Calmet) --- Lord, as a sort of victim, Isaias xxxi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saw Saul no more till the day of his death. That is, he went no more to see him: he visited him no more. (Challoner) --- He looked upon him as one who had lost the right to the kingdom, though he was suffered for a time to hold the reins of government, as a lieutenant to David. He might afterwards... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XV.... [ Continue Reading ]