146
The word must be rendered either so, or else, according to some of the Rabbis, "animals of the second
birth" (animalia secundo partu edita), which are supposed to be better than the first-born.
147
The modern Kurmul, three hours south of Hebron, the place of Nabal's possessions (25:2, 5, 7, 40).
148
Ver. 12, erroneously rendered in our Authorised Version: "he set him up a place." The word literally
means "a hand," and is again used for "monument" in 2 Samuel 18:18. Phoenician monuments have been
found with hands on them.
149
Besides its obvious falsehood, Saul must, of course, have known that all that was "banned" by that very
fact belonged unto God (Leviticus 27:29), and could not, therefore, be again offered unto Him (Deuteronomy
13:16).
150
"Stay" (ver. 16), that is, "Stop! cease!"
151
It is scarcely necessary to indicate, that the words of Samuel (vers. 22, 23) do not imply that sacrifices
were not of primary importance. This would have run counter not only to his own practice, but to the whole
Old Testament economy. But sacrifices, irrespective of a corresponding state of mind, and in actual
rebelliousness against God, - religiousness without religion, - were not only a mere opus operatum, but a
gross caricature, essentially heathen, not Jewish. Comp. Psalm 50:8-14; 51:17, 19; Isaiah 1:11; Jeremiah 6:20;
Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8.
152
This, and not "delicately," as in our Authorised Version, is the meaning of the Hebrew word (comp.
Proverbs 29:21).
153
More than ordinary women, or rather most of women, since her son was king of his people.
154
Calvin remarks: "We see here the prophet affected as other men. As Samuel beholds the vessel which
God's own hand had made, more than broken and minished, he is deeply moved. In this he showed pious
and holy affection. But he was not wholly free from sin in the matter - not that the feeling itself was wrong,
but that it exceeded the proper measure, and that he too much indulged in personal grief."
155
There is not a trace of attempted prevarication in the narrative. Calvin and others have given too much
attention to a cavil which is best refuted by an attentive study of the history.
156
See our quotation on this subject from the Mishnah in Vol. 3 of this History.
157
So 1 Samuel 16:7, rendered literally.
158
A full knowledge of his being anointed to the kingdom is incompatible alike with his after position in his
father's house, and the bearing of his brothers towards him. In general, we infer that each of the brothers
only passed before Samuel, or was introduced to him, and then left his presence when no further direction in
regard to him was given to the prophet.
159
So ver. 12, literally. The expression, "reddish," or perhaps rather, "auburn," refers to the color of the hair,
which is rare in Palestine.
160
The Authorised Version renders ver. 13: "And Samuel anointed him in the midst of his brethren." But the
word may mean either "in the midst" or "among," in the sense of "from among." The latter is evidently the
meaning in this instance.
161
So literally, as in the margin of our Authorised Version.