Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 24. Feet, which was very requisite in those countries, to prevent a disagreeable smell, for which the Jews were noted. Martial iv. 4.—Ammianus (2) speaking of the emperor Marcus says, Cum Palestinam transiret, fœtentium Juædorum et tumultuantium sæpe tædio percitur. Some have thought that this odour was removed by baptism. Basnage, Tirinus. iii. p. 194. Rom. Septuagint adds, “neither had he cut his nails, nor (made or) dressed his mustaches,” or upper lip. The chin, as far as the ears, was not shaved by the Jews. To cut all the hair was a mark of sorrow, no less than to neglect dressing it. See Leviticus 21:5. Calmet.—By the external appearance of Miphiboseth, David might be convinced that he had indulged his grief for a long time; ( Menochius.) which might serve to remove the ill impressions which he had received against the helpless son of his friend Jonathan.