Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 9:15 — borrowed from him (Hiram not being willing to take the Galilean cities mentioned above; or, having taken them, soon restored them again) he was obliged to lay a tax upon the people; and that this was a grievous and oppressive tax we learn from 1 Kings 12:1-4, where the elders of Israel came to Rehoboam, complaining of their heavy state of taxation, and entreating that their yoke might be made lighter.And Millo — This is supposed to have been a deep valley between Mount Sion and what was called the

2 Kings 23:4 — Verse 2 Kings 23:4. The priests of the second order — These were probably such as supplied the place of the high priest when he was prevented: from fulfilling the functions of his office. So the Chaldee understood the place - the sagan of the high priests. But the

1 Chronicles 21:1 — CHAPTER XXI David is tempted by Satan to take the numbers of the people of Israel and Judah, 1, 2. Joab remonstrates, but the king is determined, and Joab pleads in vain, 3, 4. He returns, and delivers in the number to the king, but reckons not Levi and Benjamin, 5. The Lord is displeased, and sends Gad to offer David his choice of three great national calamities; famine, war, or pestilence, 6-12. David submits himself to

1 Chronicles 9:2 — speaking, the divisions mentioned in this verse constituted the whole of the Israelitish people, who were, ever since the days of Joshua, divided into the four following classes:1. The priests.2. The Levites.3. The common people, or simple Israelites.4. The Nethinim, or slaves of the temple, the remains of the Gibeonites, who, having deceived Joshua, were condemned to this service Joshua 9:21, &c. In David's time it is probable that other conquered people were added, as the successors of the Gibeonites

Esther 4:16 — Verse Esther 4:16. Fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days — What a strange thing, that still we hear nothing of prayer, nor of God! What is the ground on which we can account for this total silence? I know it not. She could not suppose there was

Job 2:4 — Verse Job 2:4. Skin for skin — That is, A man will part with all he has in the world to save his life; and he will part with all by piecemeal, till he has nothing left on earth, and even be thankful, provided his life be spared. Thou hast only destroyed his

Numbers 35:12 — perpetual asylum; It was only a pro tempore refuge, till the case could be fairly examined by the magistrates in the presence of the people, or the elders their representatives; and this was done in the city or place where he had done the murder, Joshua 20:4; Joshua 20:6. If he was found worthy of death, they delivered him to the avenger that he might be slain, Deuteronomy 19:12; if not, they sent him back to the city of refuge, where he remained till the death of the high priest, Numbers 35:25. Before

Deuteronomy 19:1 — refuge to be appointed in the midst of the promised land; the land being divided into three parts, a city is to be placed in each, a proper way to which is to be prepared, 1-3. In what cases of manslaughter the benefit of those cities may be claimed, 4-6. Three cities more to be added should the Lord enlarge their coasts, and the reasons why, 7-10. The intentional murderer shall have no benefit from these cities, 11-13. The landmark is not to be shifted, 14. One witness shall not be deemed sufficient

Deuteronomy 2:11 — kind of wandering free-booters, who lived by plunder. (See on the preceding verse.) It must be granted, however, that there were several men of this race of extraordinary stature. And hence all gigantic men have been called Rephaim. (See on Genesis 6:4, and Genesis 14:5.) But we well know that fear and public report have often added whole cubits to men's height. It was under this influence that the spies acted, when they brought the disheartening report mentioned Numbers 13:33.

Deuteronomy 32:4 — Verse Deuteronomy 32:4. He is the Rock — The word צור tsur is rendered Creator by some eminent critics; and [Arabic] khalyk is the reading in the Arabic Version. Rab. Moses ben Maimon, in his valuable work, Moreh Nebochim, observes that the word צור tsur, which is ordinarily

Joshua 12:18 — Verse Joshua 12:18. Aphek — There were several cities of this name: one in the tribe of Asher, Joshua 19:30, another in the tribe of Judah, 1 Samuel 4:1; 1 Samuel 29:1; and a third in Syria, 1 Kings 20:26, and 2 Kings 13:17. Which of the two former is here intended cannot be ascertained.Lasharon — There is no city of this name known. Some consider the ל lamed in the word לשרון lashsharon to

Joshua 19:27 — book of Joshua was written after the days of David. The town in question is supposed to be the same which Josephus in his Life calls χωβουλω Choboulo, and which he says was situated by the sea-side, and nigh to Ptolemais. De Bell. Jud., lib. iii., c. 4.

Joshua 23:2 — degrees of civil distinction mentioned here:1. זקנים zekenim, the elders or senate, the PRINCES of the tribes.2. ראשים rashim or rashey aboth, the CHIEFS or HEADS of families.3. שפטים shophetim, the JUDGES who interpreted and decided according to the law.4. שטרים shoterim, the OFFICERS, serjeants, c., who executed the decisions of the judges.Whether this assembly was held at Timnath-serah, where Joshua lived, or at Shiloh, where the ark was, or at Shechem, as in Joshua 24:1, we cannot tell. Some think

Judges 14:1 — CHAPTER XIV Samson marries a wife of the Philistines, 1-4. Slays a young lion at Timnath, in the carcass of which he afterwards finds a swarm of bees, 5-9. He makes a feast; they appoint him thirty companions, to whom he puts forth a riddle, which they cannot expound, 10-14. They entice his wife to get the

Ruth 1:11 — affecting in the address of Naomi to her daughters-in-law. Let us observe the particulars: -1. She intimates that she had no other sons to give them.2. That she was not with child; so there could be no expectation.3. That she was too old to have a husband.4. That though she should marry that night, and have children, yet they could not wait till such sons were marriageable; she therefore begs them to return to their own country where they might be comfortably settled among their own kindred.

1 Samuel 16:18 — Verse 1 Samuel 16:18. I have seen a son of Jesse — Dr. Warburton supposes the story is anticipated from 1 Samuel 16:14-23, and that the true chronology of this part of David's life is the following: -1. David is anointed by Samuel;2. Carries provisions to his brethren in the army;3. Fights with and kills Goliath;4. Is received into the king's court,5. Contracts a friendship

1 Samuel 4:18 — Verse 1 Samuel 4:18. When he made mention of the ark of God — Eli bore all the relation till the messenger came to this solemn word; he had trembled before for the ark, and now, hearing that it was captured, he was transfixed with grief, fell down from his seat,

2 Samuel 1:1 — THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL -Year from the Creation, 2949. -Year before the Incarnation, 1055. -Year before the first Olympiad, 279. -Year before the building of Rome, 302. -Year of the Julian Period, 3659. -Year of the Dionysian Period, 467. -Cycle of the Sun, 19. -Cycle of the Moon, 11. CHAPTER I An Amalekite

2 Samuel 19:1 — CHAPTER XIX David continues his lamentation for his son, and the people are greatly discouraged, 1-4. Joab reproves and threatens him with the general defection of the people, 5-7. David lays aside his mourning, and shows himself to the people, who are thereby encouraged, 8. The tribes take counsel to bring the king back to Jerusalem, 9-12. He makes

2 Samuel 23:4 — Verse 2 Samuel 23:4. He shall be as the light of the morning — This verse is very obscure, for it does not appear from it who the person is of whom the prophet speaks. As the Messiah seems to be the whole subject of these last words of David, he is probably the person