- 146-
(^131) The Chaldee paraphrast has "serpents" - this valley being supposed to have been
their lurking-place. But I have taken the more general meaning of the term.
(^132) Samuel 14:5, literally, "the one tooth poured" - "or a pillar" - "towards the north
before" (or "over against") "Michmash."
(^133) Dean Stanley supposes the name to be derived from a thorn-bush on the top of
the eminence. But it may simply mean the "thorn-like," or more probably, "the
pointed."
(^134) Both Keil and Erdmann refer for a similar feat to Sallust, Bell. Jugurth. c. 89,
- The quotation is so far erroneous that the story is told in c. 93, 94; but the feat
of the Ligurian, however magnificent, was scarcely equal to that of Jonathan. Still,
the one story is certainly parallel to the other.
(^135) Our present textus receptus has, in 1 Samuel 14:18, two copyist's errors. The
one is emendated in our Authorised Version, which reads, "with the children of
Israel," instead of, as in the textus receptus, "and the children of Israel," which
would give no meaning. The second error is emendated in the LXX., who seem to
have had the correct text, according to which the word "Ephod" should be
substituted for "ark." The letters of these two words in the Hebrew are somewhat
like each other, whence the error of the copyist. The ark was at Kirjath Jearim, nor
was it "brought hither" to ascertain the will of God.
(^136) We take this to be the meaning of the expression: "So Saul took the kingdom"
(14:47).
(^137) The sacred text has it (vers. 47, 48): "and whithersoever he turned himself, he
vexed them" - the latter word being used of sentences pronounced by a judge, -
"and he wrought might," that is, he displayed power.
(^138) Only those three sons are mentioned whose story is identified with that of Saul
himself, and who fell with him in the fatal battle of Gilboa (31:2). "Ishui" is
evidently the same as Abinadab. We will not venture on any conjecture of the
reason of the interchange of these two names (comp. 1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39). In
the genealogies in Chronicles, a fourth son, Esh-baal, is mentioned, who was
evidently the same as Ishbosheth. Merab and Michal are introduced with a view to
their after-story. Ewald says: "With ch. 14 Saul ceases to be the true king, in the
prophetic meaning of that term. Hence the history of his reign is here closed with
the usual general remarks."
(^)