Bible Commentaries

Exodus 25:9 — mount, Exodus 25:40. The word משכן mishcan signifies literally the dwelling or habitation; and this was so called because it was the dwelling place of God; and the only place on the earth in which he made himself manifest. Exodus 25:40, and on Exodus 33:7-10.

Exodus 29:34 — Verse Exodus 29:34. Burn the remainder with fire — Common, voluntary, and peace-offerings, might be eaten even on the second day; see Leviticus 7:16; Leviticus 19:5-6. But this being a peculiar consecration, in order to qualify a person to offer sacrifices for sin, like that great sacrifice, the paschal lamb, that typified the atonement made by Christ, none of it was to be left till the morning

1 Kings 4:1 — CHAPTER IV An account of Solomon's chief officers, 1-6. Names of the twelve officers that were over twelve districts, to provide victuals for the king's household monthly, 7-19. Judah and Israel are very populous; and Solomon reigns over many provinces, 20, 21. The daily provision for his family, 22, 23. The extent and peace of his dominions, 24, 25. His horses, chariots, and dromedaries; with the provision made for them,

2 Kings 11:10 — κατελαβε. "And Jehoiada having opened the arsenal in the temple, which David had prepared, he divided among the centurions, priests, and Levites, the spears, (arrows,) and quivers, and all other kinds of weapons which he found there." - Ant. lib. ix., c. 7, s. 8.

2 Kings 7:12 — Verse 2 Kings 7:12. The king arose in the night — This king had made a noble defence; he seems to have shared in all the sufferings of the besieged, and to have been ever at his post. Even in vile Ahab there were some good things!They know that we be hungry —

2 Chronicles 14:1 — CHAPTER XIV Asa succeeds his father Abijah, reigns piously, and has peace for ten years, 1. He makes a great reformation in Judah, and builds cities of defense, 2-7. His military strength, 8. He is attacked by Zerah the Ethiopian, with an immense army; Asa cries to the Lord, attacks the Ethiopians, and gives them a total overthrow, 9-12. He takes several of their cities, their cattle, &c., and returns to Jerusalem,

2 Chronicles 5:1 — of the cherubim, 4-10. The Levites, singers, and trumpeters praise God; and his glory descends and fills the house, so that the priests cannot stand to minister, 11-14. NOTES ON CHAP. VVerse 2 Chronicles 5:1. Brought in all the things — 1 Kings 7:51.

Nehemiah 6:1 — CHAPTER VI Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, insidiously desire a conference with Nehemiah, which he refuses, 1-4. They then charge him with the design of rebelling, and causing himself to be made king, 5-7; which he denies, and prays to God for support, 8, 9. A false prophet is hired by Tobiah and Sanballat, to put him in fear; he discovers the imposture, and defeats their design, 10-13. He prays to God against them, 14. The wall is finished in fifty-two

Nehemiah 7:3 — Verse Nehemiah 7:3. Until the sun be hot — The meaning of this is, the gates were not to be opened before sunrise, and always shut at sunset. This is the custom to the present day in many of the cities of the East if a traveller arrives after sunset, he finds

Job 7:19 — Verse Job 7:19. Till I swallow down my spittle? — This is a proverbial expression, and exists among the Arabs to the present day; the very language being nearly the same. It signifies the same as, Let me draw my breath; give me a moment's space; let me have

Psalms 17:7 — Verse Psalms 17:7. Show thy marvellous lovingkindness — David was now exposed to imminent danger; common interpositions of Providence could not save him; if God did not work miracles for him, he must fall by the hand of Saul. Yet he lays no claim to such miraculous

Psalms 4:7 — Verse Psalms 4:7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart — Thou hast given my soul what it wanted and wished for. I find now a happiness which earthly things could not produce. I have peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost; such inward happiness as they cannot

Leviticus 1:6 — then presented the parts and the blood to the priest, that he might burn the one, and sprinkle the other upon the altar. But it is certain that the priests also, and the Levites, flayed the victims, and the priest had the skin to himself; see Leviticus 7:8, and 2 Chronicles 29:34. The red heifer alone was not flayed, but the whole body, with the skin, &c., consumed with fire. See Numbers 19:5.

Leviticus 12:1 — mother to be considered unclean for forty days, 4. After the birth of a daughter, fourscore days, 5. When the days of her purifying were ended, she was to bring a lamb for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon or a turtle-dove for a sin-offering, 6, 7. If poor, and not able to bring a lamb, she was to bring either two turtle-doves or two young pigeons, 8. NOTES ON CHAP. XII

Numbers 36:1 — recommendation of certain chiefs of the tribe of Joseph, who stated the case of the daughters of Zelophehad, 1-4. The daughters of Zelophehad are commanded to marry in their own tribe, 5, 6; which is to be an ordinance in all similar circumstances, 7-9. The daughters of Zelophehad marry their father's brother's sons, and thus their inheritance is preserved in their own tribe, 10-12. The conclusion of the commandments given by the Lord to the Israelites in the plains of Moab, 13. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXVI

Deuteronomy 20:8 — such a permission, could turn his back upon his enemies and his brethren. However, such were the troops commanded by Gideon in his war against the Midianites; for after he gave this permission, out of 32,000 men only 10,000 remained to fight! Judges 7:3. There could be no deception in a business of this kind; for the departure of the 22,000 was the fullest proof of their dastardliness which they could possibly give.

Deuteronomy 8:1 — God's past mercies, 1, 2. Man is not to live by bread only, but by every word of God, 3. How God provided for them in the wilderness, 4. The Lord chastened them that they might be obedient, 5, 6. A description of the land into which they were going, 7-9. Cautions lest they should forget God in their prosperity, 10-16, and lest they should attribute that prosperity to themselves, and not to God, 17,18. The terrible judgments that shall fall upon them, should they prove unfaithful, 19, 20. NOTES ON

Ruth 2:1 — CHAPTER II Ruth goes to glean in the field of Boaz, 1-3. Boaz finds her, and inquires who she is, 4-7. He speaks kindly to her, gives her permission to follow his reapers, and orders them to use her well, 8-16. She returns in the evening to Naomi, and tells her of her fare; from whom she receives encouragement and advice, 17-23. NOTES ON CHAP. IIVerse

1 Samuel 7:9 — Verse 1 Samuel 7:9. Samuel took a sucking lamb — This sucking lamb must have been eight days under its mother before it could be offered, as the law says, Leviticus 22:27.Though Samuel was not a priest, yet he offered this sacrifice; or he might have ordered Eleazar

2 Samuel 6:7 — Verse 2 Samuel 6:7. Smote him there for his error — Uzzah sinned through ignorance and precipitancy; he had not time to reflect, the oxen suddenly stumbled; and, fearing lest the ark should fall, he suddenly stretched out his hand to prevent it. Had he touched the