Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 3:16 — Verse 1 Kings 3:16. Then came there two women-harlots — The word זנות zonoth, which we here, and in some other places, improperly translate harlots, is by the Chaldee (the best judge in this case) rendered פונדקין pundekayan, tavern-keepers. (See on Joshua 2:1).

2 Kings 15:3 — Verse 2 Kings 15:3. He did that which was right — It is said, 2 Chronicles 26:5, that he sought the Lord in the days of Zechariah the prophet, and God made him to prosper; that he fought against the Philistines; broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod;

2 Kings 24:8 — Verse 2 Kings 24:8. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old — He is called Jeconiah, 1 Chronicles 3:16, and Coniah, Jeremiah 22:24. In 2 Chronicles 36:9, be is said to be only eight years of age, but this must be a mistake; for we find that, having reigned only three months, he was carried captive to Babylon, and there he had wives; and it is very

Nehemiah 12:22 — Alexander was so struck with the appearance of the priest, that he forbore all hostilities against Jerusalem, prostrated himself before Jaddua, worshipped the Lord at the temple, and granted many privileges to the Jews. See Josephus, ANT. lib. xi., c. 3, and Prideaux's Connections, lib. 7, p. 695.To the reign of Darius the Persian. — Calmet maintains that this must have been Darius Codomanus, who was defeated by Alexander the Great: but Archbishop Usher understands it of Darius Nothus, in whose

Nehemiah 4:1 — CHAPTER IV Sanballat and Tobiah mock the Jews, and endeavour to prevent the completing of the wall, 1-3. Nehemiah prays against them, and the people complete one half of the wall, 4-6. The Arabians, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, conspire together, and come to fight against the Jews, 7, 8. The Jews commend themselves to God, and determine to fight for their

Nehemiah 9:1 — CHAPTER IX On the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, the people hold a solemn fast unto the Lord, and confess their sins, 1-3. The Levites give a general account of God's kindness and forbearance to them and to their fathers; and acknowledge God's mercies and judgments, 4-37. They make a covenant with the Lord, 38. NOTES ON CHAP. IXVerse Nehemiah 9:1. Now in the twenty and

Job 3:4 — Verse Job 3:4. Let that day be darkness — The meaning is exactly the same with our expression, "Let it be blotted out of the calendar." However distinguished it may have been, as the birthday of a man once celebrated for his possessions, liberality, and piety,

Job 38:3 — Verse Job 38:3. Gird up now thy loins — I will not confound thee with my terrors; dismiss all fearful apprehensions from thy mind; now act like a man, כגבר kegeber, like a hero: stand and vindicate thyself. For I will demand of thee - I will ask thee a series

Psalms 125:1 — PSALM CXXV The safety of those who trust in God, 1, 2. God's protecting providence in behalf of his followers, 3. A prayer for the godly, 4. The evil lot of the wicked, 5. NOTES ON PSALM CXXVThis Psalm is without a title: it belongs most probably to the times after the captivity; and has been applied, with apparent propriety, to the opposition which Sanballat

Psalms 143:1 — PSALM CXLIII The psalmist prays for mercy, and deprecates judgment, 1, 2. His persecutions, 3. His earnest prayer for deliverance, 4-9. Prays for God's quickening Spirit, 10, 11. And for the total discomfiture of his adversaries, 12. NOTES ON PSALM CXLIIIThe Hebrew and all the Versions attribute this Psalm to David; and the Vulgate, Septuagint,

Psalms 64:1 — PSALM LXIV The psalmist prays for preservation from the wicked, 1, 2; whom he describes, 3-6; shows their punishment, 7, 8; and the effect that this should have on the godly, 9, 10. NOTES ON PSALM LXIVThe title, To the chief Musician, or conqueror, A Psalm of David. The Syriac says, "composed by David when warned by Gad the prophet, who

Proverbs 22:17 — use of his past teachings. See on Proverbs 22:6.1. The wise man speaks; and all his words, not merely his sentiments, are to be carefully heard.2. He speaks knowledge - gives doctrines true in themselves, and confirmed by observation and experience.3. These are to be heard with humility and deep attention: "Bow down thine ear."4. They must not only be heard, but meditated and pondered: "Apply thine heart to my knowledge."

Proverbs 22:3 — Verse Proverbs 22:3. A prudent man foreseeth the evil — God in mercy has denied man the knowledge of futurity; but in its place he has given him hope and prudence. By hope he is continually expecting and anticipating good; by prudence he derives and employs means

Proverbs 3:1 — CHAPTER III An exhortation to obedience, 1-4; trust in God's providence, 5, 6; to humility, 7, 8; to charity, 9, 10; to submission to God's chastening, 11, 12. The profitableness of wisdom in all the concerns of life, 13-26. No act of duty should be deferred beyond the time in which it should be done, 27, 28. Brotherly love and forbearance should he exercised, 29, 30. We should not envy the wicked, 31, 32. The curse of God is in the house of the wicked; but the humble

Ecclesiastes 1:16 — researches, but not happy in my soul, though easy in my circumstances, I entered into my own heart, and there inquired the cause of my discontent. He found that, though -1. He had gotten wisdom beyond all men;2. Wealth and honours more than any other;3. Practical wisdom more than all his predecessors;4. Had tried pleasure and animal gratification, even to their extremes; yet after all this he had nothing but vexation of spirit.None of these four things, nor the whole of them conjoined, could afford

Ruth 3:4 — Verse Ruth 3:4. Uncover his feet, and lay thee down — It is said that women in the East, when going to the bed of their lawful husbands, through modesty, and in token of subjection, go to the bed's foot, and gently raising the clothes, creep under them up

Ruth 3:9 — Verse Ruth 3:9. Spread therefore thy skirt over thine hand maid — Hebrew, Spread thy wing. The wing is the emblem of protection, and is a metaphor taken from the young of fowls, which run under the wings of their mothers, that they may be saved from birds

1 Samuel 15:1 — CHAPTER XV Samuel sends Saul to destroy the Amalekites, and all their substance, 1-3. Saul collects an immense army and comes against their city, 4, 5. He desires the Kenites to remove from among the Amalekites, 6. He smites the Amalekites, and takes their king, Agag, prisoner, and saves the best of the spoil, 7-9. The Lord is displeased,

1 Samuel 22:1 — CHAPTER XXII David flees to the cave of Adullam, where he is joined by four hundred men of various descriptions, 1, 2. He goes afterwards to Moab; and by the advice of the prophet Gad, to the forest of Hareth, 3-5. Saul, suspecting his servants of infidelity, upbraids them, 6-8. Doeg informs him of David's coming to Nob; of his being entertained by Ahimelech; on which Saul slays Ahimelech and all the priests, to the number of eighty-five, and destroys the city

1 Samuel 7:3 — Verse 1 Samuel 7:3. And Samuel spake — We have heard nothing of this judge since he served in the tabernacle. He was now grown up, and established for a prophet in the land of Israel.If ye do return — From your backsliding and idolatry.With all your hearts