Rapha, head of the giants of Palestine. (Calmet) CHAPTER XX. Satan. This shews that the Lord only (Haydock) permitted David's sin, (2 Kings xxiv.; Worthington) and in this sense only he is said to have instigated him; (Du Hamel) though we read this was done by the fury of the Lord, or by an evil spirit. (Haydock) Israel, who will be severely punished. (Calmet) --- Sin is often used in this sense. (Vatable) The number, &c. The difference of the numbers here and [in] 2 Kings xxiv. 9., is to be accounted for, by supposing the greater number to be that which was really found, and the lesser to be that which Joab gave in; (Challoner) or the transcribers of this place have been inaccurate. (Calmet) Number. These might therefore escape the pestilence. (Du Hamel) --- For. Hebrew, "because the king's word was abominable to Joab." We read that Benjamin was numbered unto David, chap. vii. 5, 11. But that might be on another occasion; or the register continued in the archives, and was not brought to the king. See chap. xxvii. 24. (Calmet) CHAPTER XXI. Iniquity. David was guilty, though he retained both faith and hope. (Worthington) Seer, or prophet, whom David kept at court and consulted. He was endued himself with the prophetic spirit. Three; a word omitted in Hebrew, but supplied by the Protestants. (Haydock) --- "I will bring three things upon thee." (Septuagint) Three years' famine; which joined with the three foregoing years of famine, mentioned [in] 2 Kings xxi., and the seventh year of the land's resting, would make up the seven years proposed by the prophet, 2 Kings xxiv. 13. (Challoner) --- Perhaps it would be as well to acknowledge a mistake, (2 Kings; Haydock) on account of the similitude of the Hebrew words signifying three and seven: (Tirinus) unless the prophet reduced the time from seven to three years; as in Ezechiel (iv. 15.) God mitigates the severity of his first threat. (Sanctius) Men. Susanna spoke on a different supposition, (Daniel xiii. 23., and Ecclesiasticus ii. 22.) of eternal punishment, in consequence of sin. David prefers to be punished by the hand of a tender father, rather than that of an enemy; (Tirinus; Estius) and he does not wish to screen himself from suffering in this world, but offers himself to share in the chastisement of his subjects. (Haydock) Took. Hebrew, "repented of evil," taking pity of unhappy victims. --- Ornan, or Areuna. (Challoner) --- He had been king of the Jebusites before David took Jerusalem. (Mariana; Tirinus) Altar. Hence it appears that holy men erected altars by God's command. (Du Hamel) Now. Hebrew, "and Oranan turned back." --- Angel. Vatican Septuagint, the king and his four sons with him, along with Achabin." Other editions have, "and his four sons hidden with him." Arabic, "and the king, being come near to Aran, he saw David and his," &c. Syriac reads in like manner; but says nothing of the children either of David or of Ornan. We do not read that Ornan saw the angel, 2 Kings, but this circumstance may be here supplied. It is evident the Septuagint have read melec, "king," instead of malac, "angel." (Calmet) --- Eupolemus says the angel Dianathan shewed David were to build the temple. (Eusebius, Pr\'e6p. ix. 30.) Worth. Hebrew, "give it me for the full price," or "worth." Septuagint, "the money was weighed." Six hundred sicles, &c. This was the price of the whole place on which the temple was afterwards built: but the price of the oxen was fifty sicles of silver, 2 Kings xxiv. 24. (Challoner) --- Or the fifty sicles were given for the threshing-floor alone. (Calmet) (Du Hamel) Fire, to testify his approbation. (Worthington; Tirinus) See Genesis iv. 4., and 2 Paralipomenon vii. 1. (Calmet) --- This altar represented the cross, on which the Victim of our reconciliation [Jesus Christ] was offered. (Du Hamel) God. He performed what God had commanded. But he would have offered other voluntary victims at Gabaon, if he had been able. (Calmet) --- The distance shewed the propriety of building the temple at Jerusalem, (Du Hamel) which was nearly in the centre of the country. (Haydock) The house. Or the place where the temple shall be built. (Menochius) --- The miraculous fire convinced David that God had made choice of this spot. Proselytes. This is the first time that the word occurs in the Vulgate. See Exodus xii. 45. It means "strangers," (Calmet) who were not allowed to live in the country, unless they would observe the natural law, and renounce idolatry. (Rabbins) --- These had embraced the Jewish religion. (Menochius) --- They were the remnants of the people of Chanaan, (3 Kings ix. 20,) and were treated as public slaves, which could not have been done, with justice or policy, with regard to those who might barely wish to reside in the country. These strangers prefigured the Gentiles, chosen to build the Christian Church. Prepared. Syriac and Arabic, "appointed blacksmiths from among the proselytes, to forge tools for cutting and dressing stone, &c." But most follow the Vulgate. (Calmet) --- Closures is explained by the following word, which alone occurs in Hebrew, &c. --- Immense. Hebrew and Septuagint, "abundance, it was not weighed." (Haydock) Number. Still we find that Solomon ordered more, as the structure was more magnificent than even David had imagined. Tender, weak and unexperienced. (Calmet) --- Yet he might be 21 when he was crowned. (Tirinus) --- David began his preparations long before. --- Lord. Hebrew, " must be (Haydock) for grandeur, excellence, fame, and beauty, through all countries" a sort of prodigy. --- All. Hebrew, "abundantly." Blood, of Urias, (St. Jerome and the Rabbins) or rather, as David had already entertained the desire of building a temple before that event, (Estius) the blood which David had shed in just wars, must be understood; as even that causes a person to be regarded as unclean. The soldiers were obliged to be purified before they could enter the camp, Numbers xxxi. 19. In the Christian Church, those are deemed irregular who have contributed to the death of the guilty, even as judges or witnesses. The Pagans entertained the like sentiments. (Calmet) \'c6neas dares not touch the sacred vessels and household gods, when he was stained with blood, shed in his country's defence.Tu, genitor, cape sacra manu, patriosque penates Me bello e tanto digressum et c\'e6de recenti Attrectare nefas. (Virgil, \'c6neid ii.) --- So. Hebrew, "much blood in my sight." (Haydock) --- This expression enhances (Du Hamel) the greatness of the bloodshed; as when a person is said to be wicked, &c., before the Lord, it means in an extraordinary degree. The wars of David are frequently assigned as the impediment to David's building the temple, chap. xvii. 4., and xxviii. 3. (Josephus, &c.) (Calmet) --- They would not suffer him to have sufficient leisure, ver. 18., (Haydock) 3 Kings v. 3. (Salien) (Menochius) Peaceable. Hebrew, "Solomon," which has this meaning. (Calmet) --- Herein Solomon was a figure of Christ, who is styled the Prince of peace, Isaias ix. (Worthington) Name. See 2 Kings vii. 13. (Menochius) --- A son. The crimes into which Solomon fell, hinder us from explaining this literally of him. St. Paul refers the expression to Jesus Christ, Hebrews i. 5. (Calmet) --- St. Augustine (de C.[City of God?] xvii. 8 and 9.) observes that the promises were not perfectly fulfilled in Solomon. Understanding, Skill to resolve difficult questions. (Menochius) --- That. Hebrew, "and appoint thee to rule." (Haydock) Poverty. Protestants, "trouble." (Haydock) --- David confesses that the immense sums which he had collected, were nothing in comparison with the greatness of God. He left more than was sufficient for Solomon to perfect the work, with still greater magnificence than he had planned out, ver. 5., chap. xxviii. 2., and xxix. 2., &c. (Calmet) --- Million. Josephus ([Antiquities?] vii. 14.) reduces these sums to one tenth part, "of gold 10,000 talents, of silver 100,000;" so that it is "extremely probable that a cipher " was added to these numbers, in some very ancient Hebrew copy. Brerewood computes that the sum mentioned here and [in] chap xxix. 4, would amount to 841,125,000 l. and maintains that the whole temple pavement, and all the vessels, might have been made of solid gold, without consuming it all. (De pond, in Walton's Polyglot.) --- "If we take the preceding talents according to bishop Cumberland's computation, the sum total will be somewhat less: but, were we to reduce it to less than one-half, would not the sum of four hundred millions of money be immense and incredible?" (Kennicott) --- A learned Jew has written this marginal note in his Bible, 1661: "It is supposed, these talents are not to be reckoned like the Mosaic, for they would amount to 720 millions. But as the Scripture makes no difference, we have no other computation to go by." See Kennicott, diss. ii. If they were the same, the sum would exceed belief. Some have thought that they were only half. Mariana supposes the talents were only the weight of sicles, or four drachms; so that David left one million for the fabric. (Du Hamel) --- But the relation given by historians of the riches of Sardanapalus, Cyrus, Alexander, Atabalipa, and some kings, who were not more likely to amass such treasures than David, make the account less improbable. Josephus ([Antiquities?] vii. 12.) asserts, that "no prince ever left so great riches." He had extended his dominions on all sides, and imposed tribute on the conquered. He was very frugal, and had possession of the mines of Phunon, (Numbers xxi. 10., and xxxiii. 43.) and of Ph\'9cnicia, Deuteronomy xxxiii. 25. Though the talent seems to have varied in other nations, it always consisted of 3000 sicles among the Hebrews, at least till the captivity, Exodus xxxviii. 25, 26. We find from 2 Paralipomenon xxv. 6., and 4 Kings xv. 19., &c., that it formed a very considerable sum. Yet Villalpand calculates that all the gold and silver left by David, would be requisite for the ornaments and vessels of the temple. If, however, we grant that it would have sufficed to build a massive temple of gold, how much must be deducted to pay the workmen? &c. (Calmet, Diss. on the riches left by David, t. ii.) --- For all. Hebrew, Chaldean, Septuagint, "And to these add." (Tirinus) --- He encouraged the princes to contribute; (chap. xxxix.) and here he exhorts his son to shew his liberality, if any thing should be found deficient. (Haydock) Saying is not expressed in Hebrew, " Is not the Lord," &c. --- And hath. Hebrew, "for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into my hand," or power. (Haydock) --- Almost all the neighbouring nations were subjected to David. (Calmet)--- The Lord, who assisted his people, and filled the enemy with terror. (Menochius) Is on the point of being built. David was convinced that the work would not be much longer retarded, so that he speaks of it as present. (Haydock)