1 Samuel 5:4
head <07218> [the head.]
Dagon ................. Dagon ................ Dagon's <01712> [of Dagon.]
The name of this idol, Dagon, signifies a fish: and it is supposed to be the Atergatis of the Syrians, corruptly called Derceto by the Greeks, which had the upper part like a woman, and the lower part like a fish; as Lucian informs us: [Derketous de eidos en Phoinike ethe‚sam‚n, the‚ma xenon; ‚misen men gyn‚; to de okoson ek m‚r¢n es akrous podas, ichtlyos our‚ apoteinetai;] "In Phoenicia I saw the image of Derceto; a strange sight truly! For she had the half of a woman, but from the thighs downward a fish's tail." Diodorus, (1. ii.) describing the same idol, as represented at Askelon, says, [to men pros¢pon echei synaikos, to d'allo s¢ma pan ichthyos.] "It had the head of a woman, but all the rest of the body a fish's." Probably Horace alludes to this idol, in De Art. Poet. v. 4; {Desinat in piscem, mulier formosa superne:} "The upper part a handsome woman, and the lower part a fish." If such was the form of this idol, then everything that was human was broken off from what resembled a fish.
Dagon ................. Dagon ................ Dagon's <01712> [the stump. or, the fishy part.]
1 Samuel 9:19
<07200> [the seer.]
The word {roaih} literally signifies one who sees; particularly preternatural sights. A seer and a prophet were the same in most cases; only with this difference, the seer was always a prophet, but the prophet was not always a seer. A seer seems to imply one who frequently met with and saw some symbolical representation of God. All prophets, true or false, profess to see God, (see Nu 24:4, 16. Jer 14:4;) and diviners, in their enthusiastic flights, boasted that they had those things exhibited to their sight which should come to pass.
tell <05046> [and will tell.]
1 Samuel 15:12
Carmel <03760> [Carmel.]
setting up <05324> [he set him.]
monument <03027> [a place. Yad.]
Literally as the LXX. render [cheira,] a hand; probably because the trophy or monument of victory was in the shape of a large hand, the emblem of power, erected on a pillar. These memorial pillars were anciently much in use; and the figure of a hand, by its emblematical meaning, was well adapted to preserve the remembrance of a victory. Niebuhr, speaking of the Mesjed Ali, or Mosque of Ali, says that, "at the top of the dome, where one generally sees on the Turkish mosques a crescent, or only a pole, there is here a hand stretched out, to represent that of Ali." Another writer informs us, that at the Alhamra, or red palace of the Moorish kings in Grenada, "on the key-stone of the outward arch [of the present principal entrance] is sculptured the figure of an arm, the symbol of strength and dominion."
1 Samuel 17:20
entrusted ... flock <06629 05203> [left the sheep.]
camp <04570> [trench. or, place of the carriage.]
battle lines <04634> [fight. or, battle array, or place of fight.]
1 Samuel 19:11
sent messengers <04397 07971> [sent messengers.]
guard ..... kill ....................... dead <08104 04191> [to watch him.]
