25. cursed them--that is, pronounced on them an anathema which
entailed excommunication.
smote . . . and plucked off their hair--To cut off the
hair of offenders seems to be a punishment rather disgraceful than
severe; yet it is supposed that pain was added to disgrace, and that
they tore off the hair with violence as if they were plucking a bird
alive.
JFB.
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