In Gabaa. That is, on the hill, for Gabaa signifieth a hill. (Challoner) (1 Paralipomenon xiii. 6.) --- It was perhaps the citadel, (Haydock) or an elevated situation, such as were generally chosen for the temples both of the true and of false gods. (Calmet) --- Abinadab was a Levite of renowned vir... [ Continue Reading ]
Year. Some would date all the subsequent events from this period. But is it credible that Samuel should neglect for twenty years to make this exhortation to the people? and how will it be true, that God humbled the Philistines during the whole time (Calmet) of his administration, which perhaps (Hayd... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saying. When the ark was translated, (Calmet) and on many other occasions, this was the theme of his discourse to the Israelites, pressing them to cease from doing evil, and to perform good works. (Haydock) --- Thus he preached every year in the different cities, ver. 16. (Lyranus) --- Astaroth. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Masphath lay south of Jerusalem, (Calmet) and was a convenient place for all to meet at. (Menochius) They came armed, and the Philistines (Calmet) suspecting their designs, proceeded to attack them. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, having purified themselves with it, Exodus xix 24. Others think that it was a kind of a protestation, that they were willing to perish if they proved faithless; (Sa) or a symbol that they rejected every vestige of idolatry, and every sin, with true repentance. (Sanctius) (Tirinus) --- Water w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Philistines. Those who distrust their own strength, and join true repentance with prayer, striving to interest the friends of God in their cause, may confidently hope for victory. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Suckling lamb. Any might be used, when eight days old, except for the paschal lamb, which must be older; a yearling, Exodus xxiii. 9., and Leviticus xxii. 27. --- Offered it, either by the hands of the priests, or by dispensation, which authorized him to sacrifice out of the tabernacle. --- Whole,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel. The princes of the Tyrians had come to the assistance of the enemy; (Ecclesiasticus xlvi. 21.; Calmet) but all in vain. The greatness of the army only increased the greatness of the carnage, when the Lord enters the lists. (Haydock) --- the sacred penman speaks with great modesty of this vi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bethchar, "the house of the penetrator." Cor denotes the celestial fluid, which the Philistines probably supposed was discharged by the heavens, independently of the great Creator. Hence their punishment was very appropriate. (Parkhurst) --- The latter heathens always represented their Jupiter arme... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sen, "the tooth," a craggy rock of that appearance. Syriac Beth Jasan. (Calmet) --- some take it to be the same with Bethchar. (Malvenda) --- It was before ignoble, (Salien) and the situation not known, till this monument was erected, with the inscription, Thus far, &c. --- Help; "Aben-ezer," menti... [ Continue Reading ]
_Any more, for a long time, (Menochius) during Samuel's administration; for we find them again attacking Saul, chap. xiii. This expression is often used to denote a cessation of some continuance, Isaias xxiii. 12, 15., and 2 Kings vii. 10._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Geth, which two cities still continued in their possession. Others, which had fallen to the share of Dan, they gave up, which explains Judges xviii. 1, 31. --- Philistines. Here ended the forty years' servitude. (Calmet) --- Salien (the year of the world 2860) rather thinks that it terminated in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Life; as sole judge for twenty years, (Gordon; Du Hamel) and conjointly with Saul till he died, almost 100 years old, a year or two before the unfortunate king. Saul put him on a level with himself; (chap. xi. 7.) and he continued to be regarded as the oracle of Israel ever since he was about forty... [ Continue Reading ]
_Places. Septuagint, "in all these holy places." Some take Bethel to mean the city, where the ark was, (Calmet) or the holy of holies, in the tabernacle, at Silo, &c. (Haydock) --- The northern tribes might meet him at Bethel; those on the east of the Jordan, at Galgala, of Benjamin; and the tribes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ramatha; his native place. His high office would not allow him to remain always near the tabernacle, chap. i. 11., and 28. (Calmet) --- Lord, by his direction, (Menochius) both to satisfy his own devotion, and that he might consult the Lord when the people wanted advice. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER VII.... [ Continue Reading ]