Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 2:1 — CHAPTER II David leaves his dying charge with Solomon, relative to his own personal conduct, 1-4; to Joab, 5, 6; to Barzillai, 7; to Shimei, 8, 9. He dies, and Solomon is established in the kingdom, 10-12. Adonijah requests to have Abishag to wife, and is put to death by Solomon, 13-25. Abiathar the priest is banished to his estate at Anathoth, 26, 27. Joab, fearing for his life, flees to the

1 Kings 9:1 — the throne of Israel, provided he and they would keep his statutes and judgments, 1-5; but if they should transgress and forsake the Lord, then they should be cast off, the temple itself abandoned, and their enemies permitted to prevail over them, 6-9. Solomon having finished the temple and the king's house, about which he was employed twenty years, and having received assistance from Hiram king of Tyre, he gave him in return twenty cities in Galilee, with which he was not pleased, 10-14. Solomon's

1 Kings 9:18 — Verse 1 Kings 9:18. And Tadmor in the wilderness — This is almost universally allowed to be the same with the celebrated Palmyra, the ruins of which remain to the present day, and give us the highest idea of Solomon's splendour and magnificence. Palmyra stood

2 Kings 16:9 — Verse 2 Kings 16:9. The king of Assyria hearkened unto him — It is said, 2 Chronicles 28:20, that Tilgath-pilneser distressed him, but strengthened him not. Though he came against the Syrians, and took Damascus, and slew Rezin, yet he did not help Ahaz against the

2 Kings 25:10 — in the city, and all that had fled over formerly to Nebuchadnezzar, and all the common people of the city, with all the king's treasures, those of the nobles, and the whole furniture of the temple, did Nebuzar-adan carry off to Babylon. See Jeremiah 39:8-9; Jeremiah 52:14; Jeremiah 52:23. And thus was Judah carried away out of her own land, four hundred and sixty-eight years after David began to reign over it; from the division of the ten tribes three hundred and eighty-eight years; and from the destruction

1 Chronicles 2:55 — Spirit of prophecy. These Salmaei were the children of Zipporah, who were numbered among the Levites who came from the stock of Moses, the master of Israel, whose righteousness profited them more than chariots and horses." - T. See on 1 Chronicles 4:9-10.Is the above explanation of Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Suchathites, the Targumist refers to the import of the Hebrew roots, whence these names are derived. See 1 Chronicles 4:10. In this chapter many names of cities are given as the names of men.

1 Chronicles 8:29 — Verse 1 Chronicles 8:29. And at Gibeon — This passage to the end of the 38th verse is found with a little variety in the names, 1 Chronicles 9:35-44.The rabbins say that Ezra, having found two books that had these passages with a variety in the names, as they agreed

2 Chronicles 26:1 — Philistines, and takes and dismantles some of their chief cities, 6; prevails over the Arabians and Mehunims, 7; and brings the Ammonites under tribute, 8. He fortifies Jerusalem, and builds towers in different parts of the country, and delights in husbandry, 9, 10. An account of his military strength, warlike instruments, and machines, 11-15. He is elated with his prosperity, invades the priest's office, and is smitten with the leprosy, 16-20. He is obliged to abdicate the regal office, and dwell apart from

Ezra 10:1 — put them away, and the children they had by them; and make a covenant to serve God, 2-4. Ezra is encouraged; and make a proclamation to collect the people, to find who had transgressed, 5-8. They come together on the twentieth day of the ninth month, 9. Ezra exhorts them to put away their strange wives, 10. The people agree to it, and require time, 11-14. This being granted, the business is completed by the first of the first month, 15-17. Some of the priests had taken strange wives; their names,

Ezra 3:1 — The altar of burnt-offerings is set up, 1-3. They keep the feast of tabernacles, 4-6. They make provision for rebuilding the temple; and lay its foundation in the second month of the second year, 7, 8. Ceremonies observed in laying the foundation, 9-11. Some weep aloud, and others shout for joy, 12-18. NOTES ON CHAP. IIIVerse Ezra 3:1. When the seventh month was come — The month Tisri, which answers to the latter part of our September, and beginning of October. It seems that the Israelites

Nehemiah 4:9 — Verse Nehemiah 4:9. We made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch — The strongest confidence in the protection and favour of God does not preclude the use of all or any of the means of self-preservation and defence which his providence has put in our power. While

Job 17:1 — complains of the injustice of his friends, and compares his present state of want and wo with his former honour and affluence, 1-6. God's dealings with him will ever astonish upright men; yet the righteous shall not be discouraged, but hold on his way, 7-9. Asserts that there is not a wise man among his friends, and that he has no expectation but of a speedy death, 10-16. NOTES ON CHAP. XVIIVerse Job 17:1. My breath is corrupt — Rather, My spirit is oppressed, רוחי חבלה ruchi chubbalah: My days

Job 34:8 — for, if a man be righteous, he is not benefited by it, for God does not vindicate a just man's cause against his oppressors." By adopting so much of their creed, he intimates that Job is taking the steps that lead to fellowship with them. See Job 34:9.

Deuteronomy 10:1 — ten commandments, and Moses lays them up in the ark, 3-5. The Israelites journey from Beeroth to Mosera, where Aaron dies, 6; and from thence to Gudgodah and Jotbath, 7. At that time God separated the tribe of Levi for the service of the sanctuary, 8, 9. How long Moses stayed the second time in the mount, 10, 11. What God requires of the Israelites, 12-15. Their heart must be circumcised, 16. God's character and conduct, 17, 18. They are commanded to love the stranger, 19; to fear, love, and serve

Deuteronomy 16:1 — CHAPTER XVI The month of Abib to be observed, 1. The feast of the passover and of unleavened bread, 2-8. The feast of weeks, 9-12. The feast of tabernacles, 13-15. All the males to appear before the Lord thrice in the year, none to come empty, each to give according to his ability, 16, 17. Judges and officers to be made in all their cities, 18. Strict justice shall be executed,

Deuteronomy 19:19 — Verse Deuteronomy 19:19. Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother — Nothing can be more equitable or proper than this, that if a man endeavour to do any injury to or take away the life of another, on detection he shall be caused to

Deuteronomy 21:1 — CHAPTER XXI If a man be found slain in a field, and the cause of his death be unknown, the murder shall be expiated by the sacrifice of a heifer in an uncultivated valley, 1-4. The rites to be used on the occasion, 5-9. The ordinance concerning marriage with a captive, 10-14. The law relative to the children of the hated and beloved wives: if the son of the hated wife should be the first-born he shall not be disinherited by the son of the beloved wife, but shall have

Joshua 3:1 — the river, and the distance they are to keep from the ark, 2 4. Joshua directs the people, 5, 6; and the Lord gives directions to Joshua, 7, 8. He delivers the Lord's message to the people, and foretells the miraculous passage and division of Jordan, 9-13. The priests, bearing the ark, enter the river, and immediately the waters are cut off, and the priests stand on dry ground, in the bed of the river, till all the camp passes over, 14-17. NOTES ON CHAP. IIIVerse Joshua 3:1. Joshua rose early —

Joshua 7:19 — Verse Joshua 7:19. My son, give - glory to the Lord God — The person being now detected, Joshua wishes him to acknowledge the omniscience of God, and confess his crime. And doubtless this was designed, not only for the edification of the people, and a vindication

1 Samuel 21:1 — CHAPTER XXI David comes to Ahimelech at Nob, receives provisions from him, and the sword of Goliath; and is noticed by Doeg, one of the servants of Saul, 1-9. He leaves Nob, and goes to Achish, king of Gath, 10. But on being recognised as the vanquisher of Goliath by the servants of Achish, he feigns himself deranged, and Achish sends him away, 11-15. NOTES ON CHAP. XXIVerse 1 Samuel 21:1. Then came David