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(^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
(^)