Judg 12:1-6, 2Sa 2:14-17, 19:41-20:22, Pro 17:19, 26:21, 29:22 | TSK | STEP | The Ephraimites, quarrelling with Jephthah, and discerned by Shibboleth, are slain by the Gileadites. Jephthah dies. Ibzan, who had thirty sons, and thirty daughters; and Elon; and Abdon, who had forty sons, and thirty nephews, judge Israel. gathered. Heb. were called. Wherefore. we will burn.

Ps 69:2,15; Isa 27:12; *Heb:{Shibboleth} also means an ear of corn, (Job 24:24,) and {sibboleth} signifies a burden, (Ex 6:6;) and a heavy burden they were obliged to bear who could not pronounce this test letter. It is well known that several nations cannot pronounce certain letters. The sound of th cannot be pronounced by the Persians, no more than by some of our Continental neighbours; though it is a common sound among the Arabians. To this day, many of the German Jews cannot articulate [t] th, for which they substitute ss; thus for {baith,} a house, they say {baiss.}

there fell.

Pr 17:14; 18:19; Ec 10:12; Mt 12:25; Ga 5:15

forty.{Arbäim ooshenayim aleph,} "forty and two thousand." Here the [w,] and, may mean simple addition; and this number may denote 2,040 and not 42,000. At the last census of the Israelites (Nu 26:37) the whole tribe of Ephraim only amounted to 32,500, compared with which this last number appears far too great.

2 Samuel 2:14-17

play before.

17,26,27; Pr 10:23; 17:14; 20:18; 25:8; 26:18,19

by the head.Probably by the beard or hair of the head. Plutarch, in his Apophthegms, informs us, that all things being ready for a battle, Alexander's captains asked him whether he had any thing else to command them. "Nothing," said he, "but that the Macedonians shave their beards." Parmenio wondering what he meant, "Dost thou not know," said he, "that in fight, there is no better hold than the beard?"

Helkath-hazzurim. that is, the field of strong men.

Abner.

3:1

2 Samuel 19:41-43

Why have.

Jud 8:1; 12:1; Joh 7:5,6

stolen.

Because.

We have.

ten parts.

despise us. Heb. set us at light. our advice.

9,14; Ga 5:20,26; Php 2:3

the words.

Jud 8:1; 9:23; 12:1-6; Pr 15:1; 17:14; 18:19; Ro 12:21; Ga 5:15,20

Jas 1:20; 3:2-10,14-16; 4:1-5Whatever value or respect the men of Israel at this time professed for their king, they would not have quarrelled so fiercely about their own credit and interest in recalling him, if they had been truly sorry for their former rebellion.

2 Samuel 20:1-22

1 By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba makes a party in Israel.

3 David's ten concubines are put in confinement for life.

4 Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab.

14 Joab pursues Sheba unto Abel.

16 A wise woman saves the city by Sheba's head.

23 David's officers.

And there.

19:41-43; Ps 34:19

a man.

23:6; De 13:13; Jud 19:22; 1Sa 2:12; 30:22; Ps 17:13; Pr 26:21

Hab 1:12,13

he blew.

15:10; Jud 3:27; Pr 24:21,22; 25:8

We have.

19:43; 1Ki 12:16; 2Ch 10:6; Lu 19:14,27

every man.

19:41; Ps 62:9; 118:8-10; Pr 17:14

the men.

Joh 6:66-68; Ac 11:23

from Jordan.

19:15,40,41; 2Ch 10:17

ten women.

15:16; 16:21,22

and put.The confinement and retired maintenance of these women was the only measure which in justice and prudence could be adopted. In China, when an emperor dies, all his women are removed to an edifice called the palace of chastity, situated within the palace, in which they are shut up for the remainder of their lives.

ward. Heb. an house of ward.

Ge 40:3

shut. Heb. bound. living in widowhood. Heb. in widowhoodof life.

Amasa.

17:25; 19:13; 1Ch 2:17

Assemble. Heb. Call.

So Amasa.

19:13

tarried.

1Sa 13:8

Abishai.

2:18; 3:30,39; 10:9,10,14; 18:2,12; 21:17; 23:18; 1Sa 26:6

1Ch 11:20; 18:12

do us.

19:7

thy lord's.

11:11; 1Ki 1:33

escape us. Heb. deliver himself from our eyes.

23; 8:16,18; 15:18; 23:22,23; 1Ki 1:38,44

in Gibeon.

2:13; 3:30

Amasa.

4,5

Art thou.

Ps 55:21; Pr 26:24-26; Mic 7:2

took Amasa.Thevenot says, that among the Turks it is a great afront to take one by the beard, unless it be to kiss him, in which case they often do it. D'Arvieux, describing an assembly of Arab emirs at an entertainment, says, "After the usual civilities, caresses, kissings of the beard, and of the hand, which every one gave and received according to his rank and dignity, they sat down upon mats." The doing this by the Arab emirs corresponds with the conduct of Joab, and illustrates this horrid assassination.

to kiss him.

Mt 26:48,49; Lu 22:47,48

in Joab's.

9; Jud 3:21; 1Ch 12:2

he smote.

2:23; 3:27; Ge 4:8; 1Ki 2:5,6,31-34

and shed.

Ac 1:18,19

struck him not again. Heb. doubled not his stroke.

1Sa 26:8

He that.

6,7,13,21

for David.

4; 2Ki 9:32

17:25; Ps 9:16; 55:23; Pr 24:21,22

the highway.

12,13; Nu 20:19; Jud 21:19; 1Sa 6:12; 2Ki 18:17; Pr 16:17; Isa 7:3

Isa 36:2; 62:10; Jer 31:21; Mr 10:46

Abel.Or rather, probably, Abel of Beth-Maachah, as in the next verse. It appears, from Joab having marched "through all the tribes of Israel," to have been situated in the northern confines of the land of Israel, and in the half tribe of Manasseh, east of Jordan, as that was the situation of Maachah, to which it belonged. This agrees with the situation of the Abela which Eusebius and Jerome place between Paneas, or Cæsarea Philippi, and Damascus. Josephus says it was a fortified city, and a metropolis of the Israelites; and also that it belonged to the ten tribes, having been taken from the king of Damascus.

1Ki 15:20; 2Ki 15:29; 2Ch 16:4

Berites.

Jos 18:25

Beeroth.

cast up.

2Ki 19:32; Jer 32:24; 33:4; Lu 19:43

a bank.So LXX. generally render {solelah,} by [proschoma or choma;] which latter is described by Potter as "a mount, which was raised so high as to equal, if not exceed, the top of the besieged walls. The sides were walled in with bricks or stones, or secured with strong rafters; the fore part only, being by degrees to be moved near the walls, remained bare."

it stood in the trench. or, it stood against the outmostwall. battered, etc. Heb. marred to throw down.

14:2; 1Sa 25:3,32,33; Ec 9:14-18

Hear the words.

14:12; 1Sa 25:24

They were wont, etc. or, They plainly spake in thebeginning, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel, and so make an end.

De 20:10,11

peaceable.

Ge 18:23; Ro 13:3,4; 1Ti 2:2

a mother.

Jud 5:7; Eze 16:45-49

swallow.

17:16; Nu 16:32; 26:10; Ps 124:3; Jer 51:34,44; La 2:2,5,16