13
The notice in the text: "after forty years" (2 Samuel 15:7) is manifestly a clerical error. Most interpreters
(with the Syrian, Arabic, and Josephus) read "four years;" but it is impossible to offer more than a
hypothesis.
14
The circumstance that some are "Jehovah" and some "Elohim" Psalms often determines their position in
the Psalter.
15
Psalm 55:22, in the version of the LXX, is quoted by St. Peter (2 Peter 5:7).
16
Probably the last house in the suburbs of Jerusalem. The rendering in our Authorized Version (2 Samuel
15:17): "in a place that was far off," is not only incorrect, but absolutely meaningless.
17
It is impossible to suppose that these six hundred were natives of Gath. Everything points to his old
companions-in-arms, probably popularly called "Gathites," as we might speak of our Crimean or Abyssinian
warriors.
18
Kidron - "the dark flowing" - was only a brook during the winter and early spring rains.
19
The expression (2 Samuel 15:27), rendered in the Authorized Version: "Art thou not a seer?" is very
difficult. Keil and others, by slightly altering the punctuation, translate: "Thou seer !"
20
So the Chethib, or written text, has it; the Keri, or emendated text, has "plains." The former seems the more
correct. The "fords" were, of course, those where the Jordan was crossed.
21
This is the correct rendering, and not as in the Authorized Version (2 Samuel 15:32): "where he
worshipped God."
22
The Authorized Version translates 2 Samuel 16:14: "they came weary;" but the word, Ayephim, is
evidently intended as the name of a place, though it may mean "weary," somewhat in the sense of our
"Traveler's Rest."
23
Speaker's Commentary, Vol. 2. p. 429.
24
This is the correct reading, as in 1 Chronicles 2:17. The word "Israelite" in 2 Samuel 17:25 is evidently a
clerical error.
25
From 2 Samuel 17:25, it appears that both Abigail and Zeruiah, though David's sisters, were not the
daughters of Jesse, David's father, but of Nahash. It follows, that David's mother had been twice married:
first to Nahash and then to Jesse, and that Abigail and Zeruiah were David's stepsisters.
26
It is impossible to decide whether this "Wood of Ephraim" was west or east of the Jordan. From the
context, the latter seems the more probable.
27
So literally in the Hebrew text.
28
The Hebrew word here used (Shevet) generally means scepter, or else staff or rod, but not dart, as in the
Authorized Version (2 Samuel 18:14).
29
The first word of Ahimaaz as he came close to the king was: "Shalom," "Peace" (in our Authorized Version
"All is well"). David's first word to Ahimaaz also was "Shalom." Only Ahimaaz referred to t he public weal,
David to his personal feelings.