- 150-
(^170) The expression, ver. 18, "take a pledge of them," need not, as by most
commentators, be taken literally, but may be a figurative expression for bringing
back an assurance of their welfare.
(^171) "Ten cheeses," or rather, "cuts of curdled milk;" possibly resembling our so-
called cream-cheese.
(^172) There is considerable difficulty about the text as it now stands. That the
narrative is strictly historical cannot be doubted. But, on the other hand, vers. 12-
14, and still more vers. 55-58, read as if the writer had inserted this part of his
narrative from some other source, perhaps from a special chronicle of the event.
The LXX. solve the difficulty by simply leaving out vers. 12-31, and again vers.
55 -58; that is, they boldly treat that part as an interpolation; and it must be
confessed that the narrative reads easier without it. And yet, on the other hand, if
these verses are interpolated, the work has been clumsily done; and it is not easy to
see how any interpolator would not have at once seen the difficulties which he
created, especially by the addition of vers. 55- 58. Besides, the account, vers. 12-
31, not only fits in very well with the rest of the narrative - bating some of the
expressions in vers. 12- 14 - but also bears the evident impress of truthfulness. The
drastic method in which the LXX. dealt with the text, so early as about two
centuries before Christ, at least proves that, even at that time, there were strong
doubts about the genuineness of the text. All this leads to the suggestion, that
somehow the text may have become corrupted, and that later copyists may have
tried emendations and additions, by way of removing difficulties, which, as might
be expected in such a case, would only tend to increase them. On the whole,
therefore, we are inclined to the opinion that, while the narrative itself is strictly
authentic, the text, as we possess it, is seriously corrupted in some of the
expressions, especially in the concluding verses of the chapter. At the same time it
should be added, that its correctness has been defended by very able critics.
(^173) The same term is used in 1 Samuel 17:38, 39; Judges 3:16; 2 Samuel 20:8. But I
cannot see how (as in The Speaker's Commentary, vol. 2, p. 325) it can be
supposed to comprise "the sword, bow, and girdle." These three are expressly
connected with it by a threefold repetition of the expression, "even to."
(^174) The expression in our Authorised Version, "behaved himself wisely," includes
both skillfulness and success.
(^175) In ver. 6 we have it, that they went to meet Saul "with hand-drums, with joy
(that is, with paeans of joy), and with triangles." The picture is vivid, and true to
the custom of the times.
(^)