Scripture Notes | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 12, 1868

Scripture Notes.

OX GOADS—THEIR SIZE.

Judges iii, 31. And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.

Ox goad. ‘Goads were of an extraordinary size. I found them about 8 ft. long, and at the bigger end 6 in. in circumference, with a sharp prickle in the lesser end, and a small spade or shovel at the other for cleansing the plough,’ &c. Evang. Syn.—Dr. Hales supposes that Shamgar’s administration in the W. included Ehud’s administrations of 8 years in the E.?—Dr. A. Clarke.

MILK.

Jud. iv, 19. And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty: And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

Milk. ‘Deborah seems to allude to this, 5. 25. as a special act of Jael’s wisdom and policy, because milk would bring quicker and deeper sleep than water.’—Assemb. Ann.

WHITE ASSES DESCRIBED.

Jud. v, 10. Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.

White asses. ‘Sleek or well-fed.’—Dr. A. Clarke. ‘Asses with white, streaked or striped garments, and so the Chald. spread on them, as now in Arabia, for the accommodation of the riders.’—Burder and Harmer. But ‘the Onagar, it is rather thought, is here intended.’ [And so the Arab. seems to understand.] Evang. Syn.

‘A taller and much more dignified animal than the common ass, its legs are more elegantly shaped, and it bears its head higher. It is peculiarly distinguished by a dusky, woolly mane, long, erect ears, and a forehead highly arched. The color of the hair in general is of a silvery white. The upper part of the face, the neck, and the upper part of the thighs are flaxen colored. The fore part of the body is divided from the flank by a white line, extending round the rump to the tail. The legs and belly are white. A stripe of waved, coffee-colored, bushy hair, runs along the top of the back, from the mane to the tail. Another stripe of the same color crosses the former at the shoulders. Two beautiful white lines, one on each side, bound the dorsal band and the mane. In winter the hair is soft, silky and waving, and resembles the hair of the camel; in summer it is smooth and silky, and certain shaded rays pointing downwards mark the sides of the neck. The word rendered white occurs also Ezek. xxvii, 18, and only there, where it is spoken of wool.’—Harris.

BLEATING OF THE FLOCKS—EXPLAINED.

Verse 16. Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

Bleatings of the flocks. ‘She upbraids them for being more affected with the bleatings of their sheep, than with the cries and groans of their brethren under Jabin’s tyranny, which argues their covetousness and baseness of spirit.’—Assemb. Ann.