Psal. lxxvii. 66.SMITE. To Smite, is often used for to put to Death. David smote the Philistine: he put Goliah to Death. The Lord smote Nabal; he smote Uzzah; that is, he put them to Death. To Smite, is also put for to Afflict, to strike with Fear, with the Pestilence, with Poverty, with Ulcers, with Distempers, with Wounds. To smite an Army, is, to beat it, to rout it intirely. To smite the Camp of the Philistines, is, to disperse it, to obtain a Victory over them. Percutere fœdus, is literally, to strike or smite a Covenant, to contract an Alliance; because generally they kill’d Animals, and offered Sacrifices, for ratifying Covenants or Alliances. God smote the Philistines, in posteriora; he sent them the Piles, or Hemorrhoides, or other Diseases of the Fundament. To smite the Tongue, Jer. xviii. 18. Venite & percutiamus eum linguâ; Let us overwhelm him with Injuries and Reproaches; Let us load him with all sorts of scandalous Reflections. To smite or strike the Hands, is sometimes an Action of Applause and Approbation; and at other times is a Token of Grief, Trouble, and Astonishment.
Lam. iii. 30. Jer. xxxi. 19. Ezek. xxi. 14.To smite the Cheek, to smite with the Fist, require no Explication. To smite the Thigh, denotes Indignation, Trouble, Astonishment. To strike Hand against Hand, Percute manu ad manum, signifies, Express your Trouble, by smiting your Isai. xi. 4. 1 Cor. viii. 12.Hands. He shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth, is, God shall destroy them with his Breath. To wound [or smite] the weak Conscience of a Brother, is, to create unnecessary Scruples in his Conscience, and to expose him to the Commission of Sin. To strike or smite one’s Heart: David 1 Samuel xxiv. 6.smote his Heart; he had a Remorse, at having cut off the Lappet of Saul’s Garment. See STROKE.