[8] Wellhausen cites a closely parallel case from Sprenger’s Leben Muhammad, vol. ii. p. 543.
[9] On the meaning of this difficult passage, see the discussions by W. R. Smith, Religion of the Semites(²), p. 455 sqq., and Schwally Semit. Kriegsalterthümer, p. 60 sqq.
[10] Interesting parallels in Barhebraeus Chron., ed. Brun and Kirsch, p. 222, and Ewald, Hist. Israel, iii. p. 84.
[11] The cave of Adullam has been traditionally placed (since the 12th century) at Khareitūn, two hours’ journey south of Bethlehem. But the town of Adullam, which has not been identified with any certainty, lay in the low country of Judah (Josh. xv. 35). The “cave” is also spoken of as a “hold” or fortress, and this is everywhere the true reading. The name has been identified with ‘Īd-el-mā (or -miyē) about 12 m. S.W. of Bethlehem.
[12] According to a late Rabbinical story, David, like Bruce of Scotland, was once saved by a spider which spun its web over the cave wherein he was concealed.
[13] The law of the distribution of booty after war enacted by David (xxx. 24 sqq.) is given as a Mosaic precedent in the post-exilic priestly legislation (Num. xxxi. 27). On the importance of this explicit statement, see W. R. Smith, Old Test. in Jewish Church(²), 386 sq.
[14] Bethel (ver. 27) is probably the Bethuel near Ziklag (1 Chron. iv. 30). David’s friendly relations with the Philistines find a parallel in Isaac’s covenant with Abimelech (q.v.). In Ps. xxxiv. the latter name actually appears in place of Achish.
[15] Fundamente Israel. u. jüd. Gesch. (1896), pp. 23 sqq.; see also Winckler, Gesch. Isr. i. 24; Keilinschr. u. d. Alte Test.(³), p. 228 sqq.
[16] 1 Chron. xviii. 1 reads “Gath and her dependent villages”; the original reading is a matter for conjecture.
[17] Cf. the idea in 1 Kings xxii. 19-23; Ezek. xiv. 9; contrast 1 Chron. xxi. 1.