Mountains. Greek adds, “and had fortified every summit of a high mountain, and had placed scandals in the plains,” obstructing the passage (Haydock) with ditches, trees, (Calmet) and snares of every description. (Haydock)
Ammon. Greek adds, “and the satraps of the maritime country,” (Haydock) the Philistines, who had submitted like the rest.
Them. Greek adds, “Ye sons of Chanaan tell.” He was not acquainted with their origin: the title belonged only to the Phœnicians, (Calmet) who might also be present. (Haydock)
East. Greek, “west,” which seems more accurate, unless Holofernes was on the sea-coast, (Calmet) or that part of the country went by this name, as it does at present. (Haydock) — He was not absolutely unacquainted with the Jews, but spoke in contempt, (ver. 27.; Worthington; Menochius) and wished to know if they had formed a league with the Egyptians, &c. (Calmet)
My. Greek, “the mouth of thy slave.” (Haydock)
Chaldeans. Abraham was a native of Ur, Genesis xii. (Calmet) — This tended to conciliate the favour of the general, who was of the same country. (Menochius)
Heaven. Greek adds, “the God whom they had known, and they (the Chaldean idolaters) cast them out from the face of their gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and dwelt there many days: (Haydock; that is, about two years. Calmet) and their God commanded them to leave their abode, and to go into the land of Chanaan; and they dwelt there, and were enriched;…and when,” &c. — There. Greek, “and were there till they returned; and there they became innumerable.” (Haydock)
Oppressed. Greek, “craftily inveigled them,” Exodus i. 10.