30
This is the correct rendering, and not, as in the Authorized Version, 2 Samuel 19:17, last clause: "They
went over Jordan before the king."
31
This is the proper translation of the Hebrew word, and not, as in our Authorized Version (19:18): "As he
was come over Jordan."
32
The Talmud makes the following significant application: "In the hour when David said to Mephibosheth,
Thou and Ziba shall divide the land, a Bath Kol (voice of God) came forth and said to him: Rehoboam and
Jeroboam shall divide the kingdom" (Shabb. 56 b.).
33
It is thus that we interpret the expression - "half the people of Israel" - in 2 Samuel 19:40. Of course, it must
not be taken literally, as appears from the whole context.
34
To use the pictorial Hebrew expression (2 Samuel 20:6): "lest he find him fenced cities, and tear out our
eye." This seems to us a more suitable rendering than that either of our Authorized Version or of Ewald.
35
The text mentions only dealings between David and Abishai, but the subsequent narrative shows that
Joab was in command. From the relations between Joab and the king, it seems likely that David may have
preferred to communicate with Joab through his brother.
36
Samuel 20:8, and not, as in the Authorized Version, "went before them."
37
This is the correct rendering of the rest of ver. 8.
38
These fortresses are grouped together in 1 Kings 15:20; 2 Kings 15:20; 2 Chronicles 16:4. It has been
ingeniously suggested that the expression: "all the Berites" (2 Samuel 20:14), which gives no meaning,
should be regarded as a masculine form of the word, and rendered: "all the fortresses."
39
In a previous volume of this History we have shown how much even a woman like Jael was influenced by
tribal traditions - so to speak, the inherited taint of blood.
40
It is thus we understand the expression (2 Samuel 21:1): "It is for Saul, and for his bloody house."
41
We have translated literally 2 Samuel 21:4.
42
The punishment of crucifixion, or impaling, is mentioned in Numbers 25:4. But that criminals were not
crucified or impaled alive, but only after they were slain, appears from ver. 5. Similarly, in hanging, death
always preceded the hanging (Deuteronomy 21:22, where our Authorized Version is not sufficiently
distinct). The same remark applies to the punishment of burning, which was only executed on the dead body
of the criminal (Leviticus 20:14), as appears from Joshua 7:15 comp, with ver. 11. In these respects the
Rabbinical Law was much more cruel, ordering literal strangulation, and burning by pouring down molten
lead (comp. specially Mishnah Sanh. 7:1-3).
43
In 2 Samuel 21:8, by a clerical error, we have Michal instead of Merab. But it was the latter, not the former,
who was married to Adriel the Meholathite (comp. 1 Samuel 18:19).
44
The same inference may be drawn from 1 Chronicles 27:23, 24, where the enumeration is evidently
connected with the military organization of the nation.
45
Comp. 1 Chronicles 21:6; 27:24. From this latter notice we also gather that the result of the census was not
entered in the Chronicles of King David. We can therefore the less hesitate in supposing some want of
accuracy in the numbers given. Of the two enumerations we prefer that in 2 Samuel 24:9. However, 1,300,000,