| I Samuel 19:13
| And Michol took an image, and laid it on the bed, and put a goat's skin, with the hair at the head of it, and covered it with clothes.
| Image. Hebrew Teraphim. Aquila, "figures." Symmachus, "idols." Some believe that David had idols in his house, as ornaments, or to treat them with ignominy. (Mercer.) --- But others cannot persuade themselves that he would keep such dangerous things. What Michol took, might therefore be some sacred representation, or a statue of some great man. (Genebrad.) (Kimchi; Maimonides) Or it might be some piece of wood, or clothes folded up, so as to make the guards believe that David was in bed. (Bochart, Anim. 1:2. 51.) See Genesis 31:19. (Calmet) --- They would not examine very narrowly. (Haydock) --- The Taraphim denote both idolatrous and sacred things, Osee 3:4. (Menochius) --- Skin. Vatican and Alexandrian Septuagint, "liver," still warm and in motion. (Tirinus) --- But they have followed a false reading, as well as Josephus and Aquila. (Calmet) --- Some have inferred that the hair of goats in that country is reddish, because it was designed to resemble David's hair, of the same colour. (Tirinus) --- This is, however, uncertain. The skin might form his pillow or coverlet. (Calmet)
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