_Israel. God made use of the ill-will of the Philistines to punish Saul, and to make way for David to the throne. (Salien) --- Each of the five lords brought their armies into the field, where they were united. Achis, placing the greatest confidence in David, requires his attendance. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do; or "can do." Thou wilt be convinced of my valour and fidelity. (Haydock) --- But could David lawfully fight against his brethren? or could he desert Achis in the heat of the engagement? His answer is ambiguous. (Calmet) --- He prudently committed his cause into the hands of Providence, resolved... [ Continue Reading ]
_Samuel. His death is here recorded, as well as the abolition of magic, to explain what follows, when Saul, not being able to obtain an answer from God, as his prophet had been withdrawn in anger, had recourse to the devil. (Haydock) --- Land, while he reigned virtuously, (Menochius) according to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gelboe. So that he occupied the parts south of the vale of Jezrahel, while the Philistines were encamped on the north, in the tribe of Issachar. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dismayed. It was so numerous, while his own conscience upbraided him with being at enmity with God, who increased his fears. (Salien)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dreams. During which God often revealed his will. See Deuteronomy xiii. 3. --- Priests. Hebrew, "nor by Urim." It seems Saul had appointed some priests, and had fabricated a fresh ephod, with the Urim, &c., after the departure of Abiathar. (Calmet) --- But Salien calls this in question, and there m... [ Continue Reading ]
Spirit. Hebrew, "an ob, " or vessel distended, as such impostors seemed to swell at the presence of the spirit. Septuagint, "a belly talker." They endeavour to speak from that part. We read of some who, without magic, have possessed the art in great perfection, so as to deceive the company, and make... [ Continue Reading ]
_Clothes, that he might not fill the woman or his army with dismay. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thing. He adds this crime of swearing unjustly, to all the rest. (Saline[Salien?])_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Samuel. Here we behold the antiquity of necromancy, which is a proof that people believed the soul's immortality; animas responsa daturas. (Horace, i. sat. 8.) (Calmet) --- Protestants sometimes deny (Haydock) that souls appear again, contrary to this history and Matthew xvii. (St. Augustine) (Wort... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXVIII. _ Woman. The Rabbins pretend that she was Abner's mother, (Calmet) which is extremely improbable, as he was of the tribe of Benjamin, and a man of such renown. (Salien) --- Theodoret follows their opinion, in supposing that the woman was startled, because Samuel appeared in a standi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gods, or one venerable and divine personage. (Worthington) --- Elohim, is applied to Samuel for greater honour. It is a title given to the true God, to idols, and people in dignity. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Understood that it was Samuel. It is the more common opinion of the holy fathers, and interpreters, that the soul of Samuel appeared indeed; and not, as some have imagined, an evil spirit in his shape. Not that the power of her magic could bring him thither, but that God was pleased for the punishme... [ Continue Reading ]
_Up. To inform a person of something very terrible, is distressing; and though the saints deceased cannot partake in the afflictions of mortals, yet we read that "the angels of peace will weep, but they will approve of the just sentence of the judge" against the reprobate. (Haydock) --- The Scriptur... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rival. How vain is it to expect that a prophet can give an answer when the Lord is silent! Hebrew, "is become thy enemy." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_To thee. Hebrew, "to him." This was only a repetition of what Samuel had before denounced, chap. xv. 28. If the evil spirit spoke this, he was not guilty of falsehood, nor more than [in] Matthew viii. 29. (Calmet) --- But would he dare so often to repeat the name of the Lord? (Haydock) --- Could he... [ Continue Reading ]
_To-morrow. Usher supposes some days afterwards. But all might take place the day after this was spoken. (Calmet) --- Sons, except Isboseth, who enjoyed, for a time, part of his father's kingdom. (Haydock) --- With me. That is, in the state of the dead, and in another world, though not in the same p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Day, through excessive anguish. (Haydock) --- He fainted away; upon which his attendants and the woman rushed in. (Salien)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hand, in the most imminent danger. See Judges xii. 3._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Calf, destined for a victim or feast, Luke xv. 23., and Proverbs xv. 17. (Calmet) --- The generosity of this woman deserves commendation. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] vi. 15.) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]