34
They offered the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, that they might prepare them for the battle.
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ExplanationCommentary
Verse 34. Blood of grapes, wine, (Deuteronomy 32:14) and the juice of mulberries incite elephants to fight, as the smell of some sorts of blood causes dogs to hunt. Vales. Phil. lxxxii. Worthington.—This might be done to accustom the elephants to the sight of blood. Calmet.—White colours irritate them most, as red do bulls. Plut. de Fort. Alex.—Sometimes wine and spirits were given them to drink, when they were to trample on criminals: but it was only shewn them when going to battle, as by drinking they lose their strength. Elian, Hist. ii. 40. and xiii. 8. and 3 Maccabees 5:30.
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