Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 1:43 — Verse 1 Kings 1:43. Jonathan answered — He was properly a messenger about the court; we have met with him and Ahimaaz before, 2 Samuel 15:36. He had now been an observer, if not a spy, on all that was doing, and relates the transactions to Adonijah, in the very

1 Kings 4:21 — Verse 1 Kings 4:21. Solomon reigned over all kingdoms — The meaning of this verse appears to be, that Solomon reigned over all the provinces from the river Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, even to the frontiers of Egypt. The Euphrates was on the east

2 Kings 15:12 — executed the Divine purpose with an uncommanded cruelty, therefore God cut his family short, according to his word by Hosea, I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu; and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel, Hosea 1:4.

1 Chronicles 29:28 — living could be desirable, and having in the main enjoyed good health.2. Full of days; having lived till he saw every thing that he lived for either accomplished or in a state of forwardness.3. Full of riches; witness the immense sums left for the temple.4. Full of honorer; having gained more renown than any crowned head ever did, either before his time or since-laurels that are fresh to the present hour.

2 Chronicles 5:1 — assembles the elders and chiefs of Israel and the Levites, in order to bring up the ark from the city of David, 2, 3. They bring it and its vessels; and having offered innumerable sacrifices, place it in the temple, under the wings 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 13:4 — Verse Nehemiah 13:4. Eliashib the priest — Perhaps this was a different person from Eliashib the high priest; but there is no indubitable evidence that he was not the same. If he was high priest, he was very unfaithful to the high charge which he had received; and

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

Nehemiah 8:4 — Verse Nehemiah 8:4. Stood upon a pulpit of wood — מגדל migdal, a tower, a platform, raised up for the purpose, to elevate him sufficiently for the people both to see and hear him; for it is said, Nehemiah 8:5, that he was above all the people. This is the first

Job 11:4 — Verse Job 11:4. My doctrine is pure] לקחי likchi, "my assumptions." What I assume or take as right, and just, and true, are so; the precepts which I have formed, and the practice which I have founded on them, are all correct and perfect. Job had not exactly said,

Job 22:1 — CHAPTER XXII Eliphaz reproves Job for his attempts to clear his character and establish his innocence, 1-4. Charges him with innumerable transgressions; with oppressions towards his brethren, cruelty to the poor, hard-heartedness to the needy, and uncharitableness towards the widow and the orphan; and says it is on these accounts that snares and desolations

Job 5:4 — Verse Job 5:4. His children are far from safety — His posterity shall not continue in prosperity. Ill gotten, ill spent; whatever is got by wrong must have God's curse on it.They are crushed in the gate — The Targum says, They shall be bruised in the

Psalms 10:17 — Lord, thou hast heard — Thou hast not permitted thy tempted and afflicted followers to pray in vain.Thou wilt prepare their heart — See the economy of the grace of God:1. God prepares the heart;2. Suggests the prayer;3. Hears what is prayed;4. Answers the petition.He who has got a cry in his heart after God, may rest assured that that cry proceeded from a Divine preparation, and that an answer will soon arrive. No man ever had a cry in his heart after salvation, but from God. He who continues

Psalms 18:11 — Verse Psalms 18:11. He made darkness his secret place — God is represented as dwelling in the thick darkness, Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalms 97:2. This representation in the place before us is peculiarly proper; as thick heavy clouds deeply charged, and with lowering aspects, are always the forerunners and attendants of a tempest, and greatly heighten the horrors of the appearance:

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

Psalms 46:4 — Verse Psalms 46:4. There is a river, the streams whereof — The Chaldee understands the river, and its streams or divisions, as pointing out various peoples who should be converted to the faith, and thus make glad the city of God, Jerusalem, by their flowing

Psalms 48:4 — Verse Psalms 48:4. For, lo, the kings were assembled — Many of the neighbouring potentates, at different times, envied the prosperity of the Jewish nation, and coveted the riches of the temple; but they had no power against it till the cup of Jewish transgression

Ruth 2:4 — Verse Ruth 2:4. Boaz came from Beth-lehem — This salutation between Boaz and his reapers is worthy of particular regard; he said, יהוה עמחם Yehovah immachem, "Jehovah be with you!" They said, יברכך יהוה yebarechecha Yehovah, "May Jehovah bless thee!" Can a pious

2 Samuel 10:4 — Verse 2 Samuel 10:4. Shaved off the one half of their beards — The beard is held in high respect in the East: the possessor considers it his greatest ornament; often swears by it; and, in matters of great importance, pledges it. Nothing can be more secure than a

2 Samuel 19:4 — Verse 2 Samuel 19:4. The king covered his face — This was the custom of mourners.O my son Absalom — Calmet has properly remarked that the frequent repetition of the name of the defunct, is common in the language of lamentation. Thus VIRGIL, act. v., ver. 51:

2 Samuel 4:6 — Verse 2 Samuel 4:6. As though they would have fetched wheat — The king's stores were probably near his own dwelling; and these men were accustomed to go thither for provisions for themselves, their cattle, and their men. This supposition which is natural, renders