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(^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 the public weal, David to his personal feelings.
(^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.
(^)