2 Samuel 21:8
Rizpah <07532> [Rizpah.]
sons .............. five sons ............. son <01121 02568> [and the five sons.]
This Adriel did not marry Michal, Saul's younger daughter, but Merab, 1 Sa 18:19; Michael being married to David, and afterwards to Phaltiel; though it is here said she bore {(yaledah,} not brought up, as falsely rendered, five sons to Adriel. Two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., however, have Merab, instead of Michal; the Syriac and Arabic have Nadab; and the Chaldee renders the passage thus: "And the five sons of Merab which Michal the daughter of Saul brought up, which she brought forth to Adriel the son of Barzillai."
Merab <04324> [Michal. or, Michal's sister.]
born ............... born ... Adriel <03205 05741> [brought up for. Heb. bare to.]
2 Samuel 4:4
Jonathan ...................... Jonathan <03083> [Jonathan.]
news <08052> [when the tidings.]
Mephibosheth <04648> [Mephibosheth.]
[Meribbaal.]
2 Samuel 24:9
800,000 ......... 500,000 <08083 03967 0505> [eight hundred thousand.]
2 Samuel 12:30
took <03947> [took.]
weighed <04948> [the weight.]
If this talent was only seven pounds, as Whiston says, David might have carried it on his head with little difficulty; but this weight, according to common computation, would amount to nearly 114 pounds! Some, therefore, think, that {mishkelah} should be taken for its value, not weight; which renders it perfectly plain, as the worth of the crown will be about 5,074œ. 15s. 7d. sterling. The ancients mention several such large crowns, made more for sight than use. Athen‘us describes a crown of gold that was 24 feet in circumference; and mentions others that were two, some four, and others five feet deep. Pliny takes notice of some that were no less than eight pounds weight. Besides the crown usually worn, it was customary for kings, in some nations, to have such large ones as described, either hung or supported over the throne, where they sat at their coronation or other solemn occasions.
great deal <03966 07235> [in great abundance. Heb. very great.]
2 Samuel 14:26
shave ............. shave ............ shave <01548> [when he polled.]
three pounds <08255 03967> [two hundred shekels.]
If the shekel be allowed to mean the common shekel, the amount will be utterly incredible; for Josephus says that "two hundred shekels make five {min‘:}" and the {mina,} he says, "weighs two pounds and a half;" which calculation makes Absalom's hair weigh twelve pounds and a half! But it is probable that the king's shekel was that which Epiphanius and Hesychius say was the fourth part of an ounce, half a {stater,} or two drachms: the whole amount, therefore, of the 200 shekels is about 50 ounces, which make 4 lb. 2 oz. troy weight, or 3 lb. 2 oz. avoirdupois. This need not be accounted incredible, especially as abundance of oil and ointment was used by the ancients in dressing their heads. Josephus informs us, that the Jews also put gold dust in their hair.
