_This night. Achitophel has a mind to shew that he is not only an able statesman, but a good general. (Haydock) --- On such occasions, expedition is of the utmost consequence, that the people may not have time to enter into themselves, or to concentrate about their lawful king. "Nothing is more deli... [ Continue Reading ]
_Handed. He has not had time to collect forces. --- Alone. Hebrew also, "the king also;" so that the people will be saved by flight. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_One man. They will return with such unanimity, when their leader is cut off. (Menochius) --- David was the one man whom his son desired to kill, as the latter was the only one whom David ordered to be spared, chap. xviii. 5. (Haydock) --- Hebrew seems rather transposed: "I will bring back all the p... [ Continue Reading ]
_This time, though he displays such prudence on all other occasions; or, "at this time" the situation of affairs is such, that it may prove dangerous to push people, who are already desperate, to extremities. Here we behold, how different sentiments may appear equally plausible. (Haydock) --- Mind,... [ Continue Reading ]
_First. Hebrew, "If they attack them at first." (Calmet) --- Report will easily represent the engagement as unfavourable to Absalom; and this will be readily believed, as all are convinced of David's valour. (Haydock) --- Nothing ought to be risked in such beginnings. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man. Hebrew, "the son of valour himself." Achitophel, or any other. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of them, their general. Hebrew, "and thy face shall go to battle," Exodus xxiii. 14._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dew, which there falleth every night, in summer, like rain, Deuteronomy xxxiii. 28. Some of the light armed troops of the Romans were called Rorarii, because they fell upon the enemy, and began the battle._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ropes, armed with hooks, to pull down the walls, and to move the battering engines. All the discourse of Chusai tends to fill the mind of the young prince with vanity; as if he could overcome all opposition when surrounded with the armies of Israel, (Calmet) at the head of which he would appear, in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Profitable, to the cause of Absalom, more than that of Chusai, which was also very plausible. (Haydock) --- Lord. The Scripture always directs us to fix our thoughts on God, as the arbiter of all human affairs. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "for the Lord had ordained to dissipate the good counsel," &c. (Hay... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus. He discloses the secrets of the person who had consulted him, (Calmet) as his engagements to David and to his country were prior, and more to be observed, to prevent the effects of civil war. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Over the Jordan, that it might be some sort of barrier, in case Absalom changed his mind, to follow the advice of Achitophel._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Robel, near Jerusalem, on the east. (Menochius) --- Maid, under the pretence of washing linen. (St. Jerome, Trad.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_It, as it was level with the ground; so that a cloth being spread over it, prevented all suspicion. It had no water._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Barley, which was afterwards fried with oil, and eaten. Ptisanas may also denote wheat, &c. Grana cantusa. (Theodotion) --- "Figs." (Calmet) --- Septuagint have the original (hariphoth) untranslated. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Water. Hebrew, "they have crossed the brook of water." (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_River. Hebrew, "Jordan." (Haydock) --- They had travelled twenty leagues in the day and night after their departure from Jerusalem. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XVII. _ Order, making his will. (Menochius) --- Hanged himself. Some Rabbins pretend that he died of quinsey, or suffocated with grief. But it is almost universally believed that he set a pattern to Judas, the traitor, in this mode of dying, as well as in perfidy. He was aware that Absalom... [ Continue Reading ]
_To the camp. The city of Mahanaim, the name of which in Hebrew, signifies The Camp. It was a city of note at that time; as appears from its having been chosen by Isoboseth for the place of his residence. (Challoner) --- The Vulgate often translates Mahanaim, or Manaim. See chap. ii. 8, 12. (Haydock... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jazrael, or Israel. (Du Hamel) --- Gortius would read Ismael, as 1 Paralipomenon ii. 17, Jether, the Ismaelite. (Haydock) --- Went in. This expressing makes Sanchez believe that Amasa was illegitimate. (Menochius) --- Naas is either the name of Isai's wife, or rather the latter had both names, 1 Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Camp, ver. 24. (Haydock) --- Sobi, whom David had set upon the throne, instead of Hanon, chap. x. --- Machir, who had the care of Miphiboseth, chap. ix. 4. --- Berzellai. See chap. xix. 31._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beds, will all the necessary furniture, coverlets, &c. Roman Septuagint, "ten beds, with fur on both sides." --- Tapestry. Some would translate, "bottles," (Chaldean) or "cauldrons;" (Roman Septuagint) but other editions agree with the Vulgate. --- Vessels. These are necessary, as much as things of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Calves. Many translate the Hebrew, "cheese of kine." (Theodotion) --- "Calves fed with milk." (Haydock) --- Wilderness, where they had been; unless this be placed out of its natural order. (Calmet) --- The value of a present depends greatly on the time when it is made. (Haydock) --- "How much dost... [ Continue Reading ]