Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 20:1 — CHAPTER XX Joab smites the city of Rabbah; and David puts the crown of its king upon his own head, and treats the people of the city with great rigour, 1-3. First battle with the Philistines, 4. Second battle with the Philistines, 5. Third battle with the Philistines, 6, 7. In these battles three giants are slain, 8. NOTES ON CHAP. XXVerse 1 Chronicles 20:1. After the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle] About the spring

1 Chronicles 4:23 — Verse 1 Chronicles 4:23. These were the potters — "These are the disciples of the law, for whose sake the world was created; who preside in judgment, and establish the world; and they build and perfect the fallen down house of Israel: they dwelt there with the Shechinah

2 Chronicles 28:1 — CHAPTER XXVIII Ahaz succeeds his father Jotham, and reigns wickedly for sixteen years, 1. He restores idolatry in its grossest forms, 2-4; and is delivered Into the hands of the kings of Israel and Syria, 5. Pekah slays one hundred and twenty thousand Jews in one day, and carries away captive two hundred thousand of the people, whom, at the instance of Oded the prophet, they restore to

2 Chronicles 29:21 — Verse 2 Chronicles 29:21. They brought seven bullocks, c. — This was more than the law required see Leviticus 4:13, c. It ordered one calf or ox for the sins of the people, and one he-goat for the sins of the prince but Hezekiah here offers many more. And the reason appears sufficiently evident: the law speaks only of sins of ignorance; but here were sins of

2 Chronicles 7:1 — CHAPTER VII Solomon having ended his prayer, the fire of the Lord comes down from heaven and consumes the offerings, 1. The people and the priests see this, and glorify God, and offer sacrifices, 2-4. Solomon offers twenty-two thousand oxen, and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep; and the priests and Levites attend in their offices, 5, 6. He keeps the feast seven days, and the dedication of the altar seven days, and dismisses the people, 7-11.

Ezra 10:1 — CHAPTER X The people are greatly afflicted by Ezra's prayer, 1. Shechaniah proposes that all who have taken strange wives should 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

Ezra 3:1 — CHAPTER III 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

Nehemiah 4:5 — Verse Nehemiah 4:5. Let not their sin be blotted out — These are the most terrible imprecations; but probably we should understand them as declaratory, for the same form of the verb, in the Hebrew, is used as precative and imperative. Turn their reproach - Their

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.

Job 15:4 — Verse Job 15:4. Thou castest off fear — Thou hast no reverence for God.And restrainest prayer — Instead of humbling thyself, and making supplication to thy Judge, thou spendest thy time in arraigning his providence and justifying thyself.When a man has

Job 4:20 — Verse Job 4:20. They are destroyed from morning to evening — In almost every moment of time some human being comes into the world, and some one departs from it. Thus are they "destroyed from morning to evening."They perish for ever — יאבדו yobedu; peribunt,

Job 5:21 — terms which we use when endeavouring to express the baleful influence and effects of that member, which is a world of fire, kindled from the nethermost hell. The Scripture abounds with invectives and execrations against it. See Psalms 31:20; Psalms 52:2-4; Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 14:3; James 3:1-8.Neither shalt thou be afraid — "Thou shouldst have such strong confidence in God, that even in the presence of destruction thou shouldst not fear death," the God of life and power being with thee.

Psalms 128:1 — PSALM CXXVIII The blessedness of the man that fears the Lord, 1. He is blessed in his labour, 2; in his wife and children, 3, 4; in the ordinances of God, 5; and in a long life and numerous posterity, 6. NOTES ON PSALM CXXVIIIThis Psalm has no title, either in the Hebrew or any of the Versions; though the Syriac supposes it to have been spoken of Zerubbabel, prince of Judah,

Psalms 13:1 — Psalm contains the sentiments of an afflicted soul that earnestly desires succour from the Lord. The psalmist complains of delay, 1-3; prays for light and comfort, because he finds himself on the brink of death, 3; dreads the revilings of his enemies, 4; anticipates a favourable answer, and promises thanksgiving, 5, 6. NOTES ON PSALM XIIIThere is nothing particular in the inscription. The Psalm is supposed to have been written during the captivity, and to contain the prayers and supplications of the

Psalms 130:1 — PSALM CXXX The prayer of a penitent to God, with confession of sin, 1-3. Confidence in God's mercy, and waiting upon him, 4-6. Israel is encouraged to hope in the Lord, because of his willingness to save, 7, 8. NOTES ON PSALM CXXXThis Psalm has no title nor author's name, either in the Hebrew, or in any of the Versions; though the Syriac says it was spoken of Nehemiah the

Psalms 146:1 — PSALM CXLVI The psalmist, full of gratitude, purposes to praise God for ever, 1, 2; and exhorts not to trust in man, not even the most powerful; for which he gives his reasons, 3, 4. The great advantage of trusting in God, 5. The mercies which they who trust in God may expect, 6-9. The Divine government is everlasting, 10. NOTES ON PSALM CXLVIThis is the first of the Psalms called Hallelujah Psalms, of which there are five, and

Psalms 25:4 — Verse Psalms 25:4. Show me thy ways — The psalmist wishes to know God's way, to be taught his path, and to be led into his truth. He cannot discern this way unless God show it; he cannot learn the path unless God teach it; and he cannot walk in God's truth unless

Psalms 35:4 — Verse Psalms 35:4. Let then be confounded — Let none of their projects or devices against me succeed. Blast all their designs.The imprecations in these verses against enemies are all legitimate. They are not against the souls or eternal welfare of those sinners,

Psalms 63:7 — not allude to the overshadowing of the mercy-seat by the extended wings of the cherubim, he may have in view, as a metaphor, the young of fowls, seeking shelter, protection, and warmth under the wings of their mothers. See the same metaphor, Psalms 61:4. When a bird of prey appears, the chickens will, by natural instinct, run under the wings of their mothers for protection.The old Psalter translates, And in hiling of thi wenges I sall joy. The paraphrase is curious. "Thou art my helper, in perels;

Psalms 8:4 — Verse Psalms 8:4. What is man — מה אנוש mah enosh, what is wretched, miserable man; man in his fallen state, full of infirmity, ignorance, and sin?That thou art mindful of him? — That thou settest thy heart upon him, keepest him continually in thy merciful