_Nobe. A city in the tribe of Benjamin, to which the tabernacle of the Lord had been translated from Silo. (Challoner) --- It was about 12 miles south-west of Gabaa. (Tudelensis.) --- There was another Nobe on the east side of the Jordan, to which Serarius thinks David was three days in travelling.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king, &c. This was an untruth, which David, like many other great men, might think lawful in such an emergency. But it is essentially evil. (Calmet) --- And such, which he deems it unnecessary to specify. Septuagint retains the Hebrew words, "Phelanni almoni." See Ruth iv. 1._... [ Continue Reading ]
_If the young men be clean, &c. If this cleanness was required of them that were to eat that bread, which was but a figure of the bread of life which we receive in the blessed sacrament [the Eucharist]; how clean ought Christians be when they approach to our tremendous mysteries? And what reason hat... [ Continue Reading ]
Vessels, i.e., the bodies, have been holy; that is, have been kept from impurity: (Challoner) in which sense St. Paul uses the word, 1 Thessalonians iv. 4. It also includes garments, arms, &c. All was to be clean. Septuagint, "my men are all purified." (Calmet) --- Defiled. Is liable to expose us to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Within. Hebrew mehtsar, "detained, or assembles before the Lord." Theodoret thinks he was possessed; others believe he had made a vow, &c. --- Edomite. Some Greek copies read, a Syrian, as also chap. xxii. 9. (Calmet) --- He had embraced the Jewish religion. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_This. Chaldean observes, he gave this sword "after he had consulted the Lord with the ephod." In a just war, the ornaments of the temples may be used. Pro republic i plerumque templa nudantur. (Seneca) (Grotius, Jur. iii. 5, 2.) (Calmet) --- Tostatus believes that David would restore this sword, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Achis. He is elsewhere called Achimelech. This bold step was taken by God's order, (Salien) or secret impulse, as the high priest and Doeg knew not whither David had directed his course. (Haydock) --- Sanchez thinks David received no express declaration, as the event was not very prosperous. (Menoch... [ Continue Reading ]
_Land, equal to a king in glory. (Menochius) --- Perhaps they had heard of the rejection of Saul, and reflected that their own country belonged to him, according to the terms proposed by Goliath. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Countenance. Hebrew, "sentiment, (Calmet) or, behaviour." (Haydock) --- Chaldean, "reason." He no longer acted as a prudent man, but like a fool. --- Down; not fainting, (Calmet) but like one in an epileptic fit. (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "he feigned himself mad." Chaldean, "stupid." --- Stumbled. Hebre... [ Continue Reading ]
_House. David had not rushed into the palace of his own accord, but wished to remain concealed. Some of the people however knew him, and would have him to enlist as one of the soldiers of Achis; (Menochius) or even designed to get him put to death, which made him have recourse to this expedient. Som... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXI.... [ Continue Reading ]