1 Paralipomenon xx.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Year. Hebrew, “at the return of the year,” in spring. (Calmet)
Ver. 2. Melchom. Septuagint add the explanation, “their king.” It may also be referred to the idol of Ammon. (Haydock) — The massy crown was suspended over David’s head. (Tirinus) (Du Hamel)
Ver. 3. Harrows. Hebrew, “cut them with saws, and with harrows; (Haydock) or, rollers of iron, and with saws.” But some other term was probably used, as we find saws before. (Calmet) — Protestants have “axes.” This exemplary punishment was in consequence of the violation of the law of nations. Abulensis pronounced it lawful. Tirinus accuses David of a grievous sin of cruelty; observing that he was at this time involved in the sin of adultery: and people easily fall from one abyss into another. Cruelty and lust often go together. Yet it seems best to suspend our judgment. (Haydock) — David might only treat the most guilty in this manner. (Du Hamel)
Ver. 4. Gazer, which seems preferable to Gob, 2 Kings xxi. 18.
Ver. 5. Adeodatus. Hebrew, “Elchanan, the son of Jair, of Lehem;” or, “slew Lechemi, brother of Goliath;” or equal to him in strength. (Calmet) — Brother is here supplied, as it is wanting, 2 Kings. (Du Hamel)
Ver. 7. Rapha, head of the giants of Palestine. (Calmet)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
Rabba is taken. Other victories over the Philistines.
1 And *it came to pass, after the course of a year, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab gathered together an army, and the strength of the troops, and wasted the land of the children of Ammon: and went and besieged Rabba. But David staid at Jerusalem, when Joab smote Rabba, and destroyed it.
2 And David took the crown of Melchom from his head, and found in it a talent weight of gold, and most precious stones; and he made himself a diadem of it: he took also the spoils of the city, which were very great.
3 And the people that were therein he brought out: and made harrows, and sleads, and chariots of iron, to go over them, so that they were cut and bruised to pieces. In this manner David dealt with all the cities of the children of Ammon: and he returned with all his people to Jerusalem.
4 *After this there arose a war at Gazer, against the Philistines: in which Sabachai, the Husathite, slew Saphai, of the race of Raphaim, and humbled them.
5 Another battle also was fought against the Philistines, in which Adeodatus, the son of Saltus, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath, the Gethite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
6 There was another battle also in Geth, in which there was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand and foot: who also was born of the stock of Rapha.
7 He reviled Israel: but Jonathan, the son of Samaa, the brother of David, slew him. These were the sons of Rapha, in Geth, who fell by the hand of David and his servants.
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1: 2 Kings x. 7. and xi. 1.; Year of the World 2969, Year before Christ 1035.
4: 2 Kings xxi. 18.; Year of the World 2986, Year before Christ 1018.