Treasury of Scripture
caught three. Dr. Kennicott and others contend, that for foxes, we should read handfuls or sheaves of corn. But
1. The word lachad, rendered caught, never signifies simply to get or take but always to catch, seize, or take by assault or stratagem.
2. Though the proposed alteration is sanctioned by seven MSS., yet all the versions are on the other side.
3. Admitting this alteration, it will be difficult to prove that the word shoal means either a sheaf or a handful of corn in the ear, and straw. It occurs but thrice in Scriptures (1ki
Judges 20:10 And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand...
. Is
40:12:00
Ezekiel 13:9 And my hand shall be on the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people...
): where it evidently means as much as can be contained in the hollow of the hand; but when handfuls of grain in the shock, or sheaves are intended, very different words are used. See
Ruth 2:15,16 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not...
, etc.
4. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone, or in one day; he might have employed many hands and several days in the work.
5. The word Shual properly denotes the jackal, which travellers describe as an animal in size between the wolf and fox, gregarious, as many as
200 having been seen together, and the most numerous of any in eastern countries; so that Samson might have caught many of them together in nets.
Psalm 63:10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
Songs 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Lamentations 5:18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk on it.
firebrands or touches