Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 15:14 — 15:14. The high places were not removed — He was not able to make a thorough reformation; this was reserved for his son Jehoshaphat.Asa's heart was perfect — He worshipped the true God, and zealously promoted his service; see on 1 Kings 15:3. And even the high places which he did not remove were probably those where the true God alone was worshipped; for that there were such high places the preceding history amply proves, and Jarchi intimates that these were places which individuals had

2 Kings 12:3 — Verse 2 Kings 12:3. The high places were not taken away — Without the total destruction of these there could be no radical reform. The toleration of any species of idolatry in the land, whatever else was done in behalf of true religion, left, and in effect fostered, a seed which springing up, regenerated in time the whole infernal system. Jehoiada did not use his influence as he might have done; for as he had the king's heart and hand with him, he might have done what he pleased.

2 Kings 14:28 — Verse 28. How he warred, and - recovered Damascus — We learn from 1 Chronicles 18:3-11, that David had conquered all Syria, and put garrisons in Damascus and other places, and laid all the Syrians under tribute; but this yoke they had not only shaken off, but they had conquered a considerable portion of the Israelitish territory, and

2 Kings 19:32 — Verse 32. He shall not, c. — Here follow the fullest proofs that Jerusalem shall not be taken by the Assyrians.1. He shall not come into this city2. He shall not be able to get so near as to shoot an arrow into it;3. He shall not be able to bring an army before it,4. Nor shall he be able to raise any redoubt or mound against it;5. No; not even an Assyrian shield shall be seen in the country; not even a foraging party shall come near the city.

2 Kings 3:13 — Verse 2 Kings 3:13. Get thee to the prophets of thy father — This was a just, but cutting reproof.Nay — The Chaldee adds here, I beseech thee, do not call the sins of this impiety to remembrance, but ask mercy for us; because the Lord hath called, c. The Arabic has, I beseech thee, do not mention of our transgressions, but use kindness towards us. It is very likely that some such words were spoken on the occasion but these are the only versions which make this addition.

2 Kings 3:25 — Verse 2 Kings 3:25. On every good piece of land — On all cultivated ground, and especially fields that were sown.Only in Kir-haraseth — This was the royal city of the Moabites, and, as we learn from Scripture, exceedingly strong; (see Isaiah 16:7; Isaiah

1 Chronicles 16:22 — Verse 1 Chronicles 16:22. Touch not mine anointed — By this title the patriarchs are generally understood: they had a regal and sacerdotal power in the order of God. In the behalf of the patriarchs God had often especially interfered: in behalf of Abraham, Genesis 12:17; Genesis 20:3; and of Jacob, Genesis 31:24; Genesis 34:26; Genesis 35:5. But the title may be applied to all the Jewish people, who were the anointed, as they were the elect and peculiar people of God. See on Hebrews 11:26.

1 Chronicles 3:24 — Verse 1 Chronicles 3:24. And Anani — "This is the King Messiah who is to be revealed." - T. Jarchi says the same, and refers to Daniel 7:13: Behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds (ענני ananey) of heaven. For this application of the word he gives a fanciful reason, not worthy to be repeated. The Syriac and Arabic omit several names in this table, and make only twenty-three verses in the chapter: but such differences are frequent in the books of Chronicles.

2 Chronicles 13:1 — CHAPTER XIII Abijah begins to reign over Judah, and has war with Jeroboam, 1-3. His speech from Mount Zemaraim to Jeroboam, before the commencement of hostilities, 4-12. While thus engaged, Jeroboam despatches some troops which come on the rear of Abijah's army, 13. Perceiving this, they cry unto the Lord, and the Israelites are

2 Chronicles 35:3 — Verse 2 Chronicles 35:3. Put the holy ark in the house — It is likely that the priests had secured this when they found that the idolatrous kings were determined to destroy every thing that might lead the people to the worship of the true God. And now, as all appears to be well established, the ark is ordered to be put into its own place.For an ample account of this passover and the reformation that was then made, see on 2 Kings 23:1, &c., and the places marked in the margin.

Ezra 9:3 — Verse Ezra 9:3. I rent my garment and my mantle — The outer and inner garment, in sign of great grief. This significant act is frequently mentioned in the sacred writings, and was common among all ancient nations.Plucked off the hair — Shaving the head

Nehemiah 2:3 — Verse Nehemiah 2:3. Let the king live for ever — Far from wishing ill to my master, I wish him on the contrary to live and prosper for ever. AELIAN, Hist. Var. lib. i. c. 32, uses the same form of speech in reference to Artaxerxes Mnemon, one of the Persian kings,

Nehemiah 9:2 — Verse Nehemiah 9:2. The seed of Israel separated themselves — A reformation of this kind was begun by Ezra, Ezra 10:3; but it appears that either more were found out who had taken strange wives, or else those who had separated from them had taken them again.And stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. — They acknowledged that they

Esther 7:1 — CHAPTER VII The king at the banquet urges Esther to prefer her petition, with the positive assurance that it shall be granted, 1, 2. She petitions for her own life, and the life of her people, who were sold to be destroyed, 3, 4. The king inquires the author of this project, and Haman is accused by the queen, 5, 6. The king is enraged: Haman supplicates for his life; but the king orders him to be hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, 7-10. NOTES ON CHAP. VII

Judges 3:30 — Verse Judges 3:30. The land had rest fourscore years. — This is usually reckoned from the deliverance under Othniel, that being a term from which they dated every transaction, as in other cases they dated from the exodus, from the building of Solomon's temple,

Ruth 3:7 — Verse Ruth 3:7. When Boaz had eaten and drunk — The Targum adds, "He blessed the name of the Lord, who had heard his prayer, and removed famine from the land of Israel."Went to lie down — As the threshing-floors of the Eastern nations are in general in the open air, it is very likely that the owner or some confidential person continued in the fields till the grain was secured, having a tent in the place where the corn was threshed and winnowed. Boaz seems to have acted thus.

1 Samuel 10:19 — Verse 1 Samuel 10:19. Present yourselves - by your tribes — It appears that, in order to find out the proper person who should be made their king, they must determine by lot:1. The tribe.2. The thousands or grand divisions by families.3. The smaller divisions by families. And,4. The individual.When the lot was cast for the tribe, Benjamin was taken; when for the thousand, the division of Matri was taken; when for the family, the family of Kish was taken; when for the individual, Saul,

1 Samuel 4:4 — Verse 1 Samuel 4:4. The Lord of hosts — See on 1 Samuel 1:3.Dwelleth between the cherubims — Of what shape the cherubim were, we know not; but there was one of these representative figures placed at each end of the ark of the covenant; and between them, on the lid or cover of that ark, which was called

2 Samuel 10:1 — CHAPTER X The king of Ammon being dead, David sends ambassadors to comfort his son Hanun, by 2. Hanun, misled by his courtiers, treats the messengers of David with great indignity, 3-5. The Ammonites, justly dreading David's resentment, send, and hire the Syrians to make war upon him, 6. Joab and Abishai meet them at the city of Medeba, and defeat them, 7-14. The Syrians collect another army, but are defeated by David with great

2 Samuel 10:2 — Verse 2 Samuel 10:2. I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash — We do not know exactly the nature or extent of the obligation which David was under to the king of the Ammonites; but it is likely that the Nahash here mentioned was the same who had attacked Jabesh-gilead, and whom Saul defeated: as David had taken refuge with the Moabites, (1 Samuel 22:3), and this was contiguous to the king of the Ammonites, his hatred to Saul might induce him to show particular kindness to David.