Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 9:13 — Took every man his garment — This was a ceremony by which they acknowledged him as king; and it was by such a ceremony that the multitudes acknowledged Jesus Christ for the Messiah and King of Israel, a little before his passion: see Matthew 21:7, and the note there. The ceremony was expressive: "As we put our garments under his feet, so we place every thing under his authority, and acknowledge ourselves his servants."On the top of the stairs — The Chaldee, the rabbins, and several interpreters,

Psalms 11:1 — advise him to flee to the wilderness from Saul's fury, 1-3. He answers that, having put his trust in God, knowing that he forsakes not those who confide in him, and that he will punish the ungodly, he is perfectly satisfied that he shall be in safety, 4-7. NOTES ON PSALM XIThe inscription is, To the chief Musician, A psalm of David. By the chief musician we may understand the master-singer; the leader of the band; the person who directed the choir: but we know that the word has been translated, To the

Psalms 114:1 — PSALM CXIV Miracles wrought at the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, at the Red Sea, and at Jordan, 1-6; and at the rock of Horeb, 7, 8. NOTES ON PSALM CXIVThis Psalm has no title. The word Hallelujah is prefixed in all the Versions except the Chaldee and Syriac. It seems like a fragment, or a part of another Psalm. In many MSS. it is only the beginning of the following; both making

Psalms 115:4 — between thy statue and that of Bathyllus."This irony will appear the keener, when it is known that Bathyllus was a fiddler and player, whose image by the order of Polycrates, was erected in the temple of Juno at Samos. See Isaiah 41:1. c. Isaiah 46:7; Jeremiah 10:4-5, c. and Psalms 135:15; Psalms 135:16.

Psalms 5:7 — Verse Psalms 5:7. In the multitude of thy mercy — David considered it an inexpressible privilege to be permitted to attend public worship; and he knew that it was only through the multitude of God's mercy that he, or any man else, could enjoy such a privilege.

Psalms 84:1 — PSALM LXXXIV The psalmist longs for communion with God in the sanctuary, 1-3. The blessedness of those who enjoy God's ordinances, 4-7. With confidence in God, he prays for restoration to his house and worship, 8-12. NOTES ON PSALM LXXXIVThe title here is the same as that of Psalms 81:1, only that was for Asaph, this for the sons of Korah. This person was one of the chief rebels against

Psalms 96:1 — PSALM XCVI All the inhabitants of the earth are invited to praise the Lord, 1-3. His supreme majesty, 3-6. The tribes of Israel are invited to glorify him, 7-9; and to proclaim him among the heathen, 10. The heavens and the earth are commanded to rejoice in him, 11-13. NOTES ON PSALM XCVIThis Psalm has no title, either in the Hebrew or Chaldee. The Syriac: "Of David. A prophecy of the advent of Christ and

Proverbs 1:7 — Verse Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the Lord — In the preceding verses Solomon shows the advantage of acting according to the dictates of wisdom; in the following verses he shows the danger of acting contrary to them. The fear of the Lord signifies that religious reverence

Isaiah 3:7 — Verse Isaiah 3:7. In that day shall he swear - "Then shall he openly declare"] The Septuagint, Syriac, and Jerome, read וישא veyissa, adding the conjunction, which seems necessary in this place.I will not be a healer — I am not a leche. - Old MS. Bible. Leech

Isaiah 9:1 — implements of war, 4, 5. The person and character of this great Deliverer are then set forth in the most magnificent terms which the language of mankind could furnish, 6. The extent of his kingdom is declared to be universal, and the duration of it eternal, 7. The prophet foretells most awful calamities which were ready to fall upon the Israelites on account of their manifold impieties, 8-21. NOTES ON CHAP. IX Verse Isaiah 9:1. Dimness - "Accumulated darkness"] Either מנדחה menuddechah, fem. to agree with

Jeremiah 32:10 — not to be sealed, but to lie open for the inspection of those concerned, in some public place where it might be safe, and always to be seen.6. The original, which was sealed up, was put in an earthen pitcher, in order to be preserved from accidents.7. This was delivered by the purchaser into the hands of a third party, to be preserved for the use of the purchaser, and witnesses were called to attest this delivery.8. They subscribed the book of the purchase, perhaps a town book, or register, where

Jeremiah 7:1 — where the ark of God once resided, 12-15. The iniquities of Judah are so great in the sight of God that the prophet is commanded not to intercede for the people, 16; the more especially as they persisted in provoking God by their idolatrous practices, 17-20. The Jewish sacrifices, if not accompanied with obedience to the moral law, are of no avail, 21-24. Notwithstanding the numerous messages of mercy from the time of the exodus, the people revolted more and more; and have added to their other sins

Deuteronomy 33:19 — Several ancient writers inform us that there were havens in the coasts of the Zebulunites in which the vitreous sand, or sand proper for making glass, was found. See Strabo, lib. xvi.; see also Pliny, Hist. Nat. l. xxxvi., c. 26; Tacitus, Hist. l. v., c. 7. The words of Tacitus are remarkable: Et Belus amnis Judaico mari illabitur; circa ejus os lectae arenae admixto nitro in vitrum excoquuntur. "The river Belus falls into the Jewish sea, about whose mouth those sands, mixed with nitre, are collected,

Joshua 1:1 — extent of the land to be possessed, 3, 4. Joshua is assured of victory over all his enemies, and is exhorted to courage and activity, 5, 6; and to be careful to act, in all things, according to the law of Moses, in which he us to meditate day and night, 7, 8. He is again exhorted to courage, with the promise of continued support, 9. Joshua commands the officers to prepare the people for their passage over Jordan, 10, 11. The Reubenites, Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, are put in mind of their engagement

Joshua 1:2 — hundred and twenty furlongs, it first passes by the city Julias, and then passes through the middle of the lake Gennesareth, after which, running a long way over the desert, it empties itself into the lake Asphaltites." - WAR, book iii. chap. x., sect. 7. Numbers 34:12.

Joshua 13:6 — Verse Joshua 13:6. Misrephoth-maim — Joshua 11:7.These will I drive out — That is, if the Israelites continued to be obedient; but they did not, and therefore they never fully possessed the whole of that land which, on this condition alone, God had promised them: the Sidonians were never expelled

Joshua 6:1 — seven priests blowing with their trumpets; and to give a general shout, while marching round it on the seventh, and promises that then the walls of the city shall fall down, 2-5. Joshua delivers these directions to the priests and to the people, 6, 7. The priests and people obey; the order of their procession, 8-16. He commands them to spare the house of Rahab, 17, and not to touch any part of the property of the city, the whole of which God had devoted to destruction, 18, 19. On the seventh day

Joshua 7:6 — Verse Joshua 7:6. Joshua rent his clothes, c. — It was not in consequence of this slight discomfiture, simply considered in itself, that Joshua laid this business so much to heart but1. Because the people melted, and became as water, and there was little hope

1 Samuel 17:7 — Verse 1 Samuel 17:7. The staff on his spear was like a weaver's beam — Either like that on which the warp is rolled, or that on which the cloth is rolled. We know not how thick this was, because there were several sorts of looms, and the sizes of the beams very

1 Samuel 23:1 — CHAPTER XXIII David succours Keilah, besieged by the Philistines; defeats them, and delivers the city, 1-6. Saul, hearing that David was at Keilah, determines to come and seize him, 7, 8. David inquires of the Lord concerning the fidelity of the men of Keilah towards him; is informed that if he stays in the city, the men of Keilah will betray him to Saul, 9-12. David and his men escape from the city, and come to the wilderness of