And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.
Ver. 24. And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod] They had a mixture of their mother's both speech and spirit: the birth followed the belly, the conclusion followed the weaker proposition.
And could not speak in the Jews' language] Though it were that of their fathers. Mothers are most about children, and have the greater advantage to perfume them, or poison them. But what mad fellows were those old Britons or Welshmen, who driven out of their own country by the Saxons, came into Little Britain in France; where, when they had married wives, they are said to have cut out their tongues, lest they should corrupt the language of their children! Hence the British or Welsh language remaineth still in that country.