Adeodatus

ADEODATUS, filius saltus, polymitarius de Bethleem; that is to say, Given of God, the Son of the Wood, a Weaver of Bethlehem; or to speak more correctly 2 Sam. xxi. 19.according to the Hebrew, Elhanan the Son of the Jarim, who were Weavers of Bethlehem; or according to the Text of the Chronicles, which seems to be more pure, Elhanan the Son of Jaïr, a Beth-lemite, slew the Brother of Goliath. This, in all probability, 1 Chron. xx. 5.is the very Elhanan spoken of in 2 Sam. xxiii. 24. who was the Son of Joab’s Uncle by the Mother’s side; that is to say, Son to one of David’s Brothers, who was a Native of Bethlehem, and very much distinguished by his valour. The passage of Samuel being thus restored, the Difficulty is easily resolved, which some have started concerning Adeodatus filius saltus, which several Interpreters¹ have endeavoured to confound with David. Elhanan did not kill Goliath, but the Brother of Goliath, whether by the word Brother we understand his Brother in blood, or barely one like him.

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