_Ziph. Having declared themselves so decidedly against David, they apprehended the utmost danger if he should ascend the throne. --- Hill. Hebrew, "Gabaa," as the Vulgate leaves it, ver. 3. It lay to the right hand of Ziph, (chap. xxiii. 19,) or "of Jesimon." (Septuagint)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Certainly, or in a place strongly secured by nature. Septuagint, "well armed."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tent, or covered chariot, such as the Scythians use in their marches, (Justin i.) or in a "royal tent." Septuagint Greek: lampene, (Pollux.; Menochius) "richly ornamented," (Lucifer of Cagliari) "in the midst" (Aquila) of his troops. (Calmet) --- David might see all was quiet from an eminence, or h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hethite. He had probably embraced the Jewish religion. --- Abisai was the son of Sarvia, David's sister, and made a great figure at court. (Calmet) --- David was directed by God to manifest his clemency (Menochius) and reverence for Saul in this perilous attempt. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_My. Hebrew, "the spear," which was fixed in the ground at Saul's pillow. Protestants, "let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear, even to the earth, at once, and I will not smite him a second time." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Guiltless. Saul was still his king, how wicked soever, and this title rendered his person inviolable. The eastern nations are very seldom guilty of rebellion, or of murdering their kings; a thing of which we find so many examples in the Roman, English, and French histories. (Calmet) --- A private m... [ Continue Reading ]
_To die a natural death. Thus those who are slain, are said to die before their day, Psalm liv. 28. Jesus was not taken, because his hour was not yet come, John ii. 4., and vii. 30. (Calmet) --- David waits with patience, that God might take off his adversary by sickness, old age, or the sword. (Men... [ Continue Reading ]
_Water, for refreshment, or for purifications. --- Lord. It is not necessary to have recourse to a miracle, (Calmet) though it must have been by a special providence that all continued in such a deep sleep, (Haydock) to give David an opportunity of manifesting his innocence. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel. This was a cutting irony. (Calmet) --- Salien attributes to it the enmity which Abner bore to David for above seven years. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Death; i.e., you deserve to die. Such negligence was punishable with death, according to the Roman laws; & qui excubias. (Grotius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sacrifice, that he may be appeased; (Jonathan; Vatable) or rather, I am willing to fall a victim, (Menochius) and pray that thy sacrifice may be acceptable, and all thy designs against me succeed, Psalm xix. 4. --- They are. The opposition of this sentence to the preceding seems to require "let the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Before, the contrary to the decrees of the Lord, (Haydock) who will be my avenger. --- Hunted, ( persequiur) is here used in a passive sense; (Calmet) or it may be rendered, "as a partridge pursues" what it feeds upon. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Precious, and treated as such, with care and respect. See 4 Kings i. 14., Psalm xlviii. 9., and Isaias xliii. 4. --- Ignorant. Yet Saul was inexcusable, 2 Kings xxiv. 10, &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
_It. He would not keep the spear, lest it might seem disrespectful._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Set by. Literally, "magnified," or deemed very precious. (Haydock) --- Distress. These were the last words which David addressed to Saul; and they seem to have made a deep impression upon him. But as no dependance could be placed on Saul's most solemn promises, David resolved, by God's advice, to r... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prevail, and mount the throne. --- Place, Gabaa. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXVI.... [ Continue Reading ]