Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 14:1 — CHAPTER XIV Abijah, son of Jeroboam, falls sick, 1. Jeroboam sends his wife disguised to Ahijah the prophet, and with her a present, to inquire concerning his son, 2-4. Ahijah discovers her by a Divine intimation and delivers to her a heavy message concerning the destruction of Jeroboam's house, and the death of her son, 5-16. The child dies, according to the prediction of Ahijah, 17. Jeroboam's reign and death, 18-20.

1 Kings 17:21 — is supposed that he did this in order to communicate some natural warmth to the body of the child, in order to dispose it to receive the departed spirit. Elisha, his disciple, did the same in order to restore the dead child of the Shunammite, 2 Kings 4:34. And St. Paul appears to have stretched himself on Eutychus in order to restore him to life, Acts 20:10.Let this child's soul come into him again — Surely this means no more than the breath. Though the word נפש nephesh may sometimes signify

1 Kings 19:19 — upon him — Either this was a ceremony used in a call to the prophetic office, or it indicated that he was called to be the servant of the prophet. The mantle, or pallium, was the peculiar garb of the prophet, as we may learn from Zechariah 13:4; and this was probably made of skin dressed with the hair on. See also 2 Kings 1:8. It is likely, therefore, that Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha to signify to him that he was called to the prophetic office. See more on this subject below.

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,

1 Kings 4:34 — Verse 1 Kings 4:34. There came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon — We learn from 1 Kings 10:0, that the queen of Sheba was one of those visitants, and perhaps the most remarkable, as we have the particulars of her visit, but not of the others.It is

2 Kings 17:1 — CHAPTER XVII Hoshea's wicked reign, 1, 2. Shalmaneser comes up against him, makes him tributary, and then casts him into prison, 3, 4. He besieges Samaria three years; and at last takes it, and carries Israel captive into Assyria, and places them in different cities of the Assyrians and Medes, 5, 6. The reason why Israel was thus afflicted; their idolatry, obstinacy, divination, c.,

1 Chronicles 4:18 — Verse 1 Chronicles 4:18. And his wife Jehudijah — The Targum considers the names in this verse as epithets of Moses: "And his wife Jehuditha educated Moses after she had drawn him out of the water: and she called his name Jered, because he caused the manna to descend

Deuteronomy 10:12 — obey the whole; walking in God's ways, not your own, nor in the ways of the people of the land.3. That ye love him - have confidence in him as your father and friend, have recourse to him in all your necessities, and love him in return for his love.4. That you serve him - give him that worship which he requires, performing it with all your heart - the whole of your affections, and with all your soul - your will, understanding, and judgment. In a word, putting forth your whole strength and energy

Deuteronomy 12:1 — CHAPTER XII All monuments of idolatry in the promised land to be destroyed, 1-3; and God's service to be duly performed, 4-7. The difference between the performance of that service in the wilderness and in the promised land, 8-11. The people are to be happy in all their religious observances, 12. The offerings must be brought to the place which God appoints, and no blood

Deuteronomy 17:4 — Verse Deuteronomy 17:4. If it be told thee — In a private way by any confidential person. And thou hast heard of it; so that it appears to be notorious, very likely to be true, and publicly scandalous. And hast inquired diligently - sought to find out the truth of the

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

Deuteronomy 27:4 — Verse Deuteronomy 27:4. Set up these stones - in Mount Ebal — So the present Hebrew text, but the Samaritan has Mount Gerizim. Dr. Kennicott has largely defended the reading of the Samaritan in his second dissertation on the present state of the Hebrew text, and Dr.

Joshua 3:1 — CHAPTER III The Israelitish camp removes frown Shittim to Jordan, 1. The officers inform them how they are to pass 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

Judges 15:8 — their running away from him he kicked them down, and then trod them to death: thus his leg or thigh was against their hip hence the expression.The top of the rock Etam. — It is very likely that this is the same place as that mentioned 1 Chronicles 4:32; it was in the tribe of Simeon, and on the borders of Dan, and probably a fortified place.

Ruth 4:7 — Verse Ruth 4:7. A man plucked off his shoe — The law of such a case is given at large in Deuteronomy 25:5-9. It was simply this: If a brother, who had married a wife, died without children, the eldest brother was to take the widow, and raise up a family to

1 Samuel 10:4 — Verse 1 Samuel 10:4. And they will salute thee — ושאלו לך לשלום veshaalu lecha leshalom, "And they will inquire of thee concerning peace," i.e., welfare. In the East, if this salutation be given, then the person or persons giving it may be reckoned friends; if the

1 Samuel 26:1 — three thousand men, goes in pursuit of him, 2, 3. David sends out spies; and finds where Saul had pitched his camp; and he and Abishai come to the camp by night, find all asleep, and bring away Saul's spear, and the cruse of water that was at his head, 4-12. David goes to the opposite hill; awakes Abner, captain of Saul's host; chides him for being so careless of his master's life; and calls on Saul to send one of his servants for the spear; and severely chides him for his continued hostility to him,

2 Samuel 11:2 — et se cupit ante videri. In a Bengal town pools of water are to be seen everywhere, and women may be seen morning and evening bathing in them, and carrying water home. Thus David might have seen Bath-sheba, and no blame attach to her.Ver. 2 Samuel 11:4 shows us that this washing was at the termination of a particular period.

2 Samuel 18:14 — Verse 2 Samuel 18:14. I may not tarry thus with thee — He had nothing to say in vindication of the purpose he had formed.Thrust them through the heart of Absalom — He was determined to make sure work, and therefore he pierced his heart.Joab should have obeyed

2 Samuel 7:1 — CHAPTER VII David consults the prophet Nathan about building a temple for the Lord, and is encouraged by him to do it, 1-3. That night Nathan receives a revelation from God, stating that Solomon, not David, should build the temple, 4-16. Nathan delivers the Divine message, and David magnifies God for his mercies, and makes prayer and supplication, 17-29. NOTES ON CHAP. VIIVerse 2 Samuel 7:1. When the king sat in his house — That is, when he became resident in the palace which