_Time; before the assembly broke up. The 40,000 had continued to fight along with their brethren, (Calmet) as long as there was occasion. Now peace being obtained, they are permitted to return to their families. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And peace. This is a farther explication of rest, (Haydock) which alone occurs in Hebrew. It may denote a fixed and permanent abode, Deuteronomy iii. 20., and Ruth i. 9._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed them, like a good magistrate, having given them a solemn admonition not to forget God, the source of all blessings. (Haydock) --- This expression may also intimate that he loaded them with praises and with presents, and wished them all prosperity. --- Dwellings. Literally, "tents," in which... [ Continue Reading ]
_Riches. Hebrew, Septuagint, &c., "cattle." --- Brethren. Grotius pretends that they were to keep what they had gotten. But his proofs rather shew that they were to follow the ancient custom and law, which prescribed that those who had remained at home to guard the country, should share the booty wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Galaad here denotes all that country, (Calmet) as Chanaan does that on the west of the Jordan (Haydock) and Ephraim, the ten tribes. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Banks. Hebrew Goliluth, which is (chap. xiii. 2, &c.) rendered Galilee, Galgal, "limits," &c. (Haydock) --- Chanaan, consequently on the western banks. Vatable, however, says that the eastern country went sometimes by this name, on account of the Amorrhites having dwelt in it. Josephus ([Antiquitie... [ Continue Reading ]
_In Silo, without being called, as they were all fired with a holy zeal, (Menochius) to prevent the growth of idolatry among their brethren. (Haydock) --- They knew that one altar was to be allowed (Menochius) in the place which the Lord should appoint, Leviticus xvii. 8., and Deuteronomy xii. 5., &... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tribe. Another of the tribe of Levi, and deputies from the other nine tribes, accompanied Phinees on this important occasion. The Levites were most of all concerned, as their rights seemed to be particularly invaded. (Haydock) --- The princes of the tribes did not (Calmet) perhaps (Haydock) go, but... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord. Thus Phinees shews that he speaks in the name of those who still continued faithful to the Lord. He imputes the crime of apostacy to Ruben, &c., that they may declare more openly for what reason they had built this altar. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Beelphegor. As they lived in the country, where this idol had been adored, Phinees was afraid lest they might have built the altar in his honour. He reminds them what destruction that worship had brought upon all Israel. He had been particularly zealous in appeasing the wrath of God, and therefore s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unclean, as being destitute of the ark, &c. The Israelites had the greatest veneration for the land which God had chosen for their habitation. Naaman loaded two mules with some of the earth. We cannot help admiring the zeal and the disinterestedness of Phinees. He proposes to abandon some of the po... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wickedness. Hebrew, "he did not expire in his sin," (Calmet) but repented; (Haydock) or, Did he not? &c. The Septuagint, "he did not alone die in his sin." Chaldean, "but this man alone did not die in his transgression." (Calmet) --- All Israel was in consternation, and 36 were slain. If this secre... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel. Septuagint, "answered the Chiliarchs of Israel," who had spoken by the mouth of their president. They repel the charge with earnestness. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_God. In Hebrew there are three terms, (Calmet) El, Elohim, Yehova, "the strong, the judge, the self-existent Being." To him they make their appeal. Him they acknowledge in the first place, as the only true God, as they had been accused of departing from him, ver. 19. (Haydock) --- They are willing... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sacrifice. Hebrew intimates particularly "of flour or libations." (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_To-morrow. At any future period. (Haydock) --- Israel. The same idea is expressed, ver. 27. You have no part in the Lord. You are not his peculiar people. Of this title the Israelites were always very jealous, even when they neglected the worship and covenant of the Lord. (Calmet) --- Hence these t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, who would not have failed to punish Israel for such a crime. (Calmet) --- They rejoice, therefore, not only at the fidelity of their brethren, but also on their own account, because they may now confidently look up for protection to God, instead of being in continual apprehensions of feeling... [ Continue Reading ]
_Into, &c. ( finium Chanaan) "of the confines of Chanaan," which is ambiguous. (Haydock) --- But the Hebrew removes the difficulty in this manner._... [ Continue Reading ]
God. Hebrew seems rather defective; (Calmet) "called the altar, (Syriac supplies the altar of witness) for it shall be a witness between us, that the Lord he is the God. Ed, "witness," is placed in the margin of Plantin's edition (Kennicott) and the Protestants have inserted it in the text, though i... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXII.... [ Continue Reading ]