_Fountain. The same also called Areth, as the copies of the Septuagint and of St. Jerome vary. (Bonfrere) --- Harad, or "of trouble," either because the Madianites were filled with terror at the approach of Gedeon, or because so many of his soldiers returned home through fear. (Menochius) --- Perhap... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lest Israel, &c. by this we see that God will not choose for his instruments in great achievements, which depend purely on his grace, such as, through pride and self-conceit, will take the glory to themselves. (Challoner) --- Yet Gedeon had only 32,000 to encounter 135,000 fighting men; so that if... [ Continue Reading ]
_Return, agreeably to the law of Moses, Deuteronomy xx. 8. If God had not enforced this order, it would perhaps have been neglected in the hurry, particularly as all seemed to have joined the army with such alacrity. (Menochius) --- Scipio going to destroy Carthage, was informed that some Sicilian k... [ Continue Reading ]
Tongues. Some Latin copies add, "and hand," as it is expressed in Hebrew, &c., in the following verse. They resembled dogs more in the hurry than in the method of taking water. An old proverb says, "the dog drinks and flees away," (Calmet) alluding to the dogs of Egypt, who, through fear of the croc... [ Continue Reading ]
_That lapped water. These were preferred that took the water up in their hands, and so lapped it, before them who laid themselves quite down to the waters to drink; which argued a more eager and sensual disposition. (Challoner) --- It is thought that the former would be more capable of supporting th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Victuals. It appears that they did not take sufficient, (Calmet) not expecting that they would have to pursue the enemy so far, chap. viii. 5, 8._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Servant. Thus he confessed that he was not entirely free from fear himself, ver. 5, 10. (Haydock) --- The most courageous feel less alarm, when they have a companion, (Menochius) as Diomede observed, when he desired that one or two might accompany him in the attempt to explore the enemy's camp. (Ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_A dream. Observation of dreams is commonly superstitious, and as such is condemned by the word of God; but in some extraordinary cases, as we here see, God is pleased by dreams to foretel what he is about to do. (Challoner) --- See Genesis xl., Leviticus xix. 26., and Deuteronomy xviii. 10. (Worthi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sword and loaf are both derived from the same Hebrew word, which signifies "to make war." See Numbers xiv. 9. But if there had been no connection or reason in the discourse of the soldier, (which was not the case, as Providence put it into his mouth,) the end would be equally obtained, which was to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Interpretation. Hebrew, "the breaking," in allusion to a loaf or nut which must be broken. (Calmet) --- Adored God, in thanksgiving. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Lamps, or flambeaux, (Calmet) made of wood, full of turpentine. (Haydock) --- The soldiers held one end in their hand, and when they had thrown down their pitchers, the sudden light, the sound of trumpets and of men on three sides of the camp, threw the various nations into the utmost consternation,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Camp. The three divisions stopt at the entrance, ver. 21. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Camp, and shout together to the Lord and to Gedeon: or rather "the sword of, &c., ver. 20. The war is the Lord's, victory to or by the hand of Gedeon," Chaldean. He is the minister of God's justice to punish Madian. (Menochius) --- It is not derogation to God (Calmet) that honour is given to his se... [ Continue Reading ]
Watch. This was the second of the three watches known to the ancient Hebrews: in the New Testament, they followed the Roman discipline, and admitted four, Matthew xiv. 25. (Calmet) --- Menochius thinks they did the same at this time. (Haydock) --- Alarmed. They were not asleep. (Menochius) --- We re... [ Continue Reading ]
_Camp. Hence the Madianites made no doubt but a great army was in the midst of the camp, and began to cut in pieces all whom they met. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bethsetta. These cities seem to have been near Bethsan. --- And the border. Hebrew, "in Zererath," (Haydock) which Junius takes to be Sarthan. --- Abelmehula gave birth to Eliseus, and was 12 miles from Scythopolis. (St. Jerome) --- Tebbath occurs no where else. But we read of Thebes, three miles f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bethbera, "the house of corn." (Serarius) --- Many take it to be Bethabera, "the house of passage," or the ford of the Jordan. The river was fordable on camels at any time. But in summer, people might cross the Jordan in many places on foot. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Two men. That is, two of their chiefs. (Challoner) --- Press. Hebrew yekeb, denotes a cistern fit to contain wine, Isaias v. 2., and Proverbs iii. 10. --- Zeb had concealed himself in it. --- Jordan. They afterwards took occasion from this exploit to extol their own valour, and to quarrel with Gede... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER VII.... [ Continue Reading ]