JOHN KITTO, D. D., F. S. A.—The bow is among the most ancient of offensive arms. We read of no corps of archers in the Hebrew army till after David's time; but very large bodies of archers are subsequently mentioned. The Benjamites became remarkable for their use of this weapon. The frequent reference to archery in the Psalms would alone suffice to show the interest which David took in the subject.—Pict. Bible, In loco.
Mutilation
'ANNALS OF ASSUR-NASIR-PAL., B. C. 883.—Many soldiers I "captured alive; of some I chopped off the hands and feet; of others the noses and ears I cut off; of many, soldiers I destroyed the eyes; one pile of bodies while yet alive, and one of heads I reared up on the heights within their town.—Records of the Past, Vol. III., p. 50.
DR. RICHARDSON.—The south and part of the east wall of the great temple at Medinet Habou is covered with a battle-scene, and the cruel punishment of the vanquished, by cutting off their hands and maiming their bodies, which is performed in the Presence of the chief, who has seated himself for repose in the back part of his chariot to witness the execution of his horrid sentence. Three heaps of amputated hands are counted over before him, and an equal number of scribes with scrolls in their hands are minuting down the account. As many rows of prisoners stand behind, to undergo a similar mutilation in their turn.—In Pict. Bible, Vol. II., p. 6.
Capture of Jerusalem
2 Sam. 5:6, 7, 96And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. 7Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. (2 Samuel 5:6‑7)
9So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. (2 Samuel 5:9).—And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land.... And David took the stronghold of Zion.... So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David.
PROF. H. B. HACKETT, D. D., LL. D.—It has seemed hitherto almost incredible that the Jebusites could have kept this acropolis for so Tong a time, while the Hebrews dwelt almost under its shadow. Recent excavations have thrown light on this singular fact. Jebus was a place of extraordinary strength; for though Zion appears at present on a level with some parts of the city, it is now proved beyond a question that it was originally an isolated summit, precisely as implied in the account of its capture by David. It was protected not only by the deep ravine of Hinnom on the south and west, and the Tyropæon on the east, but by a valley which ran from the Jaffa gate to the Tyropæon on the north side of the mount. This last valley has been laid bare, showing at different points a depth of twenty-six and thirty-three feet below the present surface, and in one instance a depth of nearly eighty feet below the brow of Zion. At one spot a fragment of the ancient northern rampart of Zion was brought to light.
It was built close against the cliff, and though only rising to the top of the rock behind, it was yet thirty-nine feet high toward the ravine in front. It is not surprising, therefore, that the subjugation of this stronghold should be reserved for the prowess of David, and be recorded as one of his greatest exploits.—Smith's Dict. of the Bible, p. 1220.
STRABO.—Music, accompanied with the dance, rhythm, and song, brings us near the deity by the pleasure which it excites, and by the charm of art.—Strab., 1. x., c. 3.
HORACE.—
Like Salian priests the dance we'll lead,
And many a mazy measure tread.
—Hor., 1. i., car. 36.
TACITUS.—The priests of the Jews used to chant to the sound of pipes and drums, binding their brows with ivy; whence some have inferred that they worshipped Bacchus, the conqueror of the east.— Historia, 1. v., c. 5.
Defeat of Hadadezer and the Syrians
NICOLAS OF DAMASCUS.—After this, there was a certain Hadad, a native Syrian, who had great power: he ruled over Damascus, and all Syria, excepting Phœnicia. He likewise undertook a war with David, the king of Judaea, and contended against him in a number of battles; in the last of them all, which was by the river Euphrates, and in which he suffered defeat, showing himself a prince of the greatest courage and prowess.—Nic. Dam., Frag. 31.
LIVY.—At the battle of Cannæ, a body of Numidians fell on the rear of the Romans, cutting their hams, etc. After the battle many were found lying on the ground alive, with their thighs and hams cut.—Liv., 1. xxii., c. 48.
EUPOLEMON.—David reduced the Syrians, who dwelt by the river Euphrates, and Commagene, and the Assyrians and, Pbœnicians who dwelt in the land of Gilead; and he made war on the Edomites, and the Ammonites, and Moabites, and Ituræans and Nabatæans and Nabdæans; moreover, he also made an expedition against Suron (Huram or Hiram), king of Tyre and Phœnicia, and compelled all these people to pay tribute to the Jews.—Quoted in Eusebius, see also Frags. of Polyh. in Fr. Hist. Gr., Vol. III., p. 225.
PROF. GEORGE RAWLINSON, M. A.—The narrative of Eupolemon, which seems clearly to be derived from non-Jewish sources, is an important testimony to the truth of the history related in 2 Sam. 8 and ix. It confirms that his: tory, by a distinct mention of the chief conquests of David recorded in the Bible, while it adds to them several others, which, though not recorded in Scripture; are intrinsically not improbable.—Hist. Illust. of the O. T., p. 97.
Insulted Messengers
ARISTOPHANES.—You drive away the embassies from the city, slapping them on the buttocks who make proposals of peace.—Equites, V., 795
D'ARVIEUX.—It is a greater mark of infamy in Arabia to cut a man's beard off than it is with us to whip a fellow at the carts' tail, or to burn him in the hand. Many people in that country would rather die than incur that punishment.—In. Pict. Bib., In loco.
Treachery
2 Sam. 11:14, 1514And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. (2 Samuel 11:14‑15).—And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten and die.
HOMER.—Prætus, unwilling to slay his guest, sent him into Lycia, and gave him fatal letters, which he was to show to his father-in-law, who was to cause him to be put to death.—Iliad, 1. vi., v. 167.
THUCYDIDES.—Pausanias gave to an Argyllian, an old servant of his, letters to convey to Arlabazus. This man alarmed by the recollection that no person sent on these errands before him had ever returned, having previously counterfeited the seal, to the end that if he were deceived in his suspicions, or if Pausanias should demand them again to make any alteration, he might escape detection, broke open the letters. He found by them that he was going on the errand which he foreboded, and that his own murder was especially enjoined.—Thucyd., 1. i., c. 132.
The Convicting Parable
2 Sam. 12:1-41And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. (2 Samuel 12:1‑4).—And Nathan came unto David and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter, etc.
REV. HENRY J. VAN-LENNEP, D. D.—It is customary among Christians to purchase a young lamb to be eaten at Easter, and the same thing is done by Muslims at the feast of Corban-Bairam. These customs are evidently relics of the Jewish Passover. It is a great event for the children of a family, who may be seen leading the little pet about, and vying with each other who shall give it the nicest handful of grass. The fathers must have quite a struggle to bring about the slaughter of these favorites of the little ones; for many of them are spared, and become installed as members of the family; and for this reason two lambs are sometimes bought, only one of which is killed for the Easter festival. Thenceforward the lamb is the children's inseparable companion. It follows the little girls to a pasture close by, or runs behind a donkey the boys are riding to the vineyard, and at night the little ones dispute who shall have it for his bedfellow. It goes to sleep with their little arms about its neck, or lying in its master's bosom, and being unto him as a daughter." So it was with the poor man's " one little ewe lamb " in the parable of the prophet Nathan; and many a time since that day has the rich and powerful sheikh or aga, when desirous to entertain a passing traveler, "spared to take of his own flock," but has taken " the poor man's lamb and dressed it."—Bible Lands, p. 194.
HORACE.—Change but the name, of thee the tale is told.—Sat., I., v. 69.
CICERO.—Great men of a vicious life are doubly pernicious to the state, as being not only guilty of immoral practices themselves, but likewise of spreading them far and wide among their fellow-citizens. Nor are they mischievous to iv only, inasmuch as they cherish vice themselves, but also because they corrupt others; and they do more harm by their example than by the crimes which they commit.—De Legibus, l. iii., c. 13.
JUVENAL.—Every act of moral turpitude incurs more glaring reprobation in exact proportion to the rank of him who commits it.—Satires, VIII., v. 140.
Death
2 Sam. 12:16, 1716David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. (2 Samuel 12:16‑17).—David therefore besought God for the child: and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
ARRIANUS.—Alexander, on the death of Hephæstion, neither tasted food nor changed his apparel for three whole days; but lay all that time, either uttering lamentations or grieving silently.—Exped. Alex., 1. vii., c. 14.
MAXIMUS TYRIUS.—God will not give you what ought not to be given, though you lament and implore ever so much, or pour ever so much dust upon your head.—Dissertations, 30.
EURIPIDES.—Thou thinkest thy son will return from below the earth; but who of the dead has ever returned from Hades?—Herc. Fur., v. 296.
CICERO.—O glorious day! when I shall depart to that divine company and assemblage of spirits and quit this troubled and polluted scene. For I shall go not only to those great men of whom I have spoken before, but also to my friend Cato, than whom never was better man born, nor more distinguished for pious affection; whose body was buried by me, whereas, on the contrary, it was fitting that mine should be buried by him. But his soul not deserting me, but often looking back, no doubt departed to those regions whither it saw that I myself was destined to come. Which, though a distress to me, I seemed patiently to endure; not that I bore it with indifference, but I comforted myself with the recollection that the separation and distance between us would not continue long.—De Senect., c. 23.
The Honor of Name
QUINTUS CURTIUS.—Alexander now returned to Craterus, who was besieging Artacacua, and who, having all things in readiness, only waited for the king's coming, that he might give his name to the captured city.—Q. Curt., 1. vi., c. 6.
TACITUS.—Agricola never boasted of his exploits to blazon his own fame. To his general, as the author of all, he, as his instrument and inferior, always ascribed his good fortune.—Agric., c. 8.
Crown
DIODORUS SICULUS.—The Athenians made a decree that golden statues of Antigonus and Demetrius should be set up upon a chariot next to Harmodius and Aristogilon, and that they should both be adorned with crowns of the weight of two hundred talents each.—Diod. Sic., 1. xx., c. 3.
PLINY.—An Etruscan crown of gold was supported from behind, over the head of the victor.—Hist. Nat., 1. xxxiii., c. 4.
LIVY.—The ambassadors from King Philip deposited in the temple of Jupiter, supremely great and good, a golden crown of one hundred pounds weight. Livy, 1. xxxvi., c. 35.
Geshur
PROF. J. LESLIE PORTER, M. A.—It is a remarkable fact-and it shows how little change three thousand years have produced in this Eastern land-that Bashan is still the refuge for all offenders. ' If a man can only reach it, no matter what may have been his crimes or his failings, he is safe; the officers of government dare not follow him, and the avenger of blood even turns away in despair. During a short tour in Bashan I met more than a dozen refugees, who, like Absalom in Geshur, awaited in security some favorable turn of events.—Giant Cities of Bashan, p. 14.
Tekoah
PROF. HORATIO B. HACKETT, D. D., LL. D.—Tekoah is known still as Tek'ua, And, though it lies somewhat aside from the ordinary route, has been visited and described by several recent travelers. The writer was there on the 21St of April, 1852, during an excursion from Jerusalem by the way of Bethlehem and Urtas. Its distance from Belt Tahm (Bethlehem) agrees precisely with that assigned by the early writers as the distance between Tekoah and Bethlehem.... The scene was eminently a pastoral one, and gave back, no doubt, a faithful image of the olden times. Flocks were at pasture near the tents and on the remoter hillsides in every direction. There were horses and camels and cattle also, though these were not so numerous as the sheep and goats. A well of living water, on the outskirts of the village, was a center of great interest and activity; women were coming and going with their pitchers, and men were filling the troughs to water the animals which they had driven thither for that purpose.—Smith's Dict. of Bible, p. 3189.
David's Resignation
2 Sam. 15:25, 2625And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: 26But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. (2 Samuel 15:25‑26).—And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city if it shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation. But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
EPICTETUS.—Dare to lift up thine eyes to God, and say, Use me hereafter to whatsoever thou wilt. I agree and am of the same mind with thee, indifferent to all things. I refuse nothing that shall seem good to thee. Lead me whither thou wilt; let me act what part thou choosest, whether of a public or a private person, of a rich man or a beggar.—Epict., 1. ii., c. 16.
CLEANTHES.—Conduct me Jove; and thou O destiny.
Covering the Head
2 Sam. 15:3030And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. (2 Samuel 15:30).—And David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
PLUTARCH.—Anaxagoras, being neglected and destitute, covered his head and resolved to starve himself.—Pericl., c. 16.
LIVY.—Appius, bereft of courage and dreading for his life, covered his head, and, unobserved by his adversaries, made his escape into a house near the Forum.—Liv., 1. iii., c. 49.
QUINTUS CURTIUS.—Darius being informed by the eunuch Tyriotes that his queen had died in her captivity, but that she had been respectfully treated by the conqueror, covered his head and wept for a long time.—Quint. Curt., 1. iv., c. 8.
Wood of Ephraim
DR. W. M. THOMSON.—I have had a delightful ramble this morning in these grand old forests, and now understand perfectly how Absalom could be caught by the thick branches of an oak. The strong arms of these trees spread out so near the ground that one cannot walk erect beneath them; and on a frightened mule, such a head of hair as that vain but wicked son “polled every year " would certainly become inextricably entangled. No doubt; and it is interesting to know that the region where that battle was fought is still covered with such forests—that " wood of Ephraim," with thick oaks and tangled bushes, and thorny creepers growing over ragged rocks, and ruinous precipices down which the rebel army plunged in wild dismay, horses and men crushing each other to death in remediless ruin. Thus 20,000 men perished in that fatal wood, which devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.—The Land and the Book, Vol. II., p. 234.
Tender Grief
2 Sam. 18:3333And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! (2 Samuel 18:33).—And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! Would God that I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
BION.—I wail Adonis! perished the fair Adonis! lust, lost, Adonis.—Idyl I.
VIRGIL.—We will raise your Daphnis to the-stars. We will raise Daphnis to the stars! Me too Daphnis loved!—Eclog., 1. v., v. 51.
Greeting by the Beard
HOMER.—
Sternly he spake, and as the wretch prepar'd
With humble blandishments to stroke his beard,
Like lightning swift the wrathful falchion flew,
Divides the neck, and cuts the nerves in two.
—Iliad, l. x., v. 454.
EURIPIDES.—I implore thee, old man, falling before thy knees, for it is not possible for me to touch thy beard, deliver me by the gods.—Androm, v. 572.
Six-Fingered Giant
PLINY.—Some persons have six fingers on the hands. We read that C. Horatius, a man of patrician rank, had two daughters, who, for this reason, had the name of "Sedigitæ; " and we find mention made of Volcatius Sedigitus, as a famous poet.—Hist. Nat., 1. xi., c. 99.
DR. ADAM CLARKE.—I saw once a young girl in the county of Londonderry, in Ireland, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot; but her stature had nothing gigantic in it.—Note, In loco.
REAUMUR.—A Maltese couple, named Kelleia, whose hands and feet were constructed upon the ordinary human model, had born to them a son, Gratio, who possessed six perfectly movable fingers on each hand, and six toes, not quite so well formed, on each foot. Gratio Kelleia married a woman with the ordinary pentadactyle extremities, and had by her four children, Salvator, George, Andre and Marie. Of these children Salvator, the eldest boy, had six fingers and six toes, like his father.—In Huxley's Lay Sermons, p. 265, 266.
Time of Snow
DR. ROBINSON.—At Jerusalem snow often falls to the depth of a foot or more, in January and February, but it seldom lies.—Researches, Vol. I., p. 429.
DR. KITTO.—At Nazareth snow falls more frequently and deeply; and it has been observed to fall even in the maritime plain of Joppa, and about Carmel. —Phys. Hist. of Pal., p. 210.
JOSEPHUS.—The ambient air here (in the plain of Jericho) is of so good a temperature, that the people of the country are clothed in linen only, even when snow covers the rest of Judea.—Jewish Wars, B. IV., c. viii., § 3.
Numbering the People
2 Sam. 24:15, 1715So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men. (2 Samuel 24:15)
17And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. (2 Samuel 24:17).—So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel, from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.... And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.
HESIOD.—
States rue the wrongs a sinful man has done,
And all atone the wickedness or one.
The god sends down his angry plagues from high.
Famine and pestilence; in heaps they die.
He smites with barrenness the marriage bed,
And generations moulder with the dead:
Again in vengeance of his wrath he falls
On their great hosts, and breaks their tottering walls;
Ponder ye kings! within your inmost thought,
The retribution of his judgments wrought.
—Op. et dies, v. 240.
HORACE.—When doting monarchs urge Unsound resolves, their subjects feel the scourge.—Lib. i., ep. 2.
STATIUS.—But now the weeping sons of Thebes atone For royal crimes, and mischiefs not their own. —Theb., 1. iii., v. 206.
David's Peace-Offerings
HOMER.—
The gods (the only great and only wise)
Are moved by offerings, vows, and sacrifice;
Offending man their high compassion wins,
And daily prayers atone for daily sins.
—Iliad', 1. ix., v. 493.