Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 5:6 — Sidon was a part of the territories of Hiram, and its inhabitants appear to have been the most expert workmen. It requires more skill to fell and prepare timber than is generally supposed. Vitruvius gives some rules relative to this, lib. ii., cap. 9, the sum of which is this:1. Trees should be felled in autumn, or in the winter, and in the wane of the moon; for in this season the trees recover their vigour and solidity, which was dispersed among their leaves, and exhausted by their fruit, in spring

1 Kings 6:2 — Verse 1 Kings 6:2. The length thereof was threescore cubits — A cubit, according to Bishop Cumberland, is 21 inches, and 888 decimals, or 1 foot, 9 inches, and 888 decimals. Yds. Ft. Inch. According to this, the length, 60 cubits, was . . . . . 36 1 5.28 The breadth, 20 cubits, was . . 12 0 5.76 The height, 30 cubits, was . . . 18 0 8.64 This constituted

2 Kings 2:1 — 6, 7. Elijah smites the waters with his mantle; they divide, and he and Elisha pass over on dry ground, 8. Elijah desires Elisha to ask what he should do for him; who requests a double portion of his spirit, which is promised on a certain condition, 9, 10. A chariot and horses of fire descend; and Elijah mounts, and ascends by a whirlwind to heaven, 11. Elisha gets his mantle, comes back to Jordan, smites the waters with it, and they divide, and he goes over, 12-14. The sons of the prophets see that

2 Kings 20:3 — overthrown. And therefore God promises that he will deliver the city out of the hands of the king of Assyria, at the same time that he promises him a respite of fifteen years, 2 Kings 20:6. His lamentation on this occasion may be seen in Isaiah, Isaiah 38:9-22.

Job 19:11 — Verse Job 19:11. And he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. — From the seventh to the thirteenth verse there seems to be an allusion to a hostile invasion, battles, sieges, c.1. A neighbouring chief, without provocation, invades his neighbour's territories,

Job 28:1 — from the earth, and stones of fire from under it, 5. He speaks of precious stones and gold dust, 6; of the instinct of fowls and wild beasts in finding their way, 7, 8; and of the industry and successful attempts of men in mining and other operations, 9-11: but shows that with all their industry, skill, and perseverance, they cannot find out true wisdom, 12; of which he gives the most exalted character, 13-22; and shows that God alone, the fountain of wisdom, knows and can teach it, 24-27; and in what

Job 4:8 — to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he who soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." And of the same nature is that other saying of the apostle, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly, 2 Corinthians 9:6.The same figure is employed by the Prophet Hosea Hosea 8:7: They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind; and Hosea 10:12-13: Sow to yourselves in righteousness; reap in mercy. Ye have ploughed wickedness; ye have reaped iniquity. The

Job 8:19 — Verse Job 8:19. Behold this is the joy of his way — A strong irony. Here is the issue of all his mirth, of his sports, games, and pastimes! See the unfeeling, domineering, polluting and polluted scape-grace, levelled with those whom he had despised, a servant

Psalms 20:1 — PSALM XX A prayer for the king in his enterprises, that his prayers may be heard, his offerings accepted, and his wishes fulfilled, 1-4. Confidence of victory expressed, 5, 6. Vain hopes exposed; and supplication made for the king. 7-9. NOTES ON PSALM XXIt is most likely that this Psalm was penned on the occasion of David's going to war, and most probably with the Ammonites and Syrians, who came with great numbers of horses and chariots to fight with him. See 2 Samuel 10:6-8; 1 Chronicles

Psalms 26:1 — desires to be brought to the Divine test in order to have his innocence proved, 1-3; shows that he had avoided all fellowship with the wicked, and associated with the upright, 4-8; prays that he may not have his final lot with the workers of iniquity, 9, 10; purposes to walk uprightly before God, 11, 12. NOTES ON PSALM XXVIThis Psalm, and the two following, are supposed by Calmet to be all parts of one ode, and to relate to the time of the captivity, containing the prayers, supplications, complaints,

Psalms 29:1 — psalmist calls upon the great and mighty to give thanks unto God, and to worship him in the beauty of holiness, on account of a tempest that had taken place, 1, 2. He shouts the wonders produced by a thunderstorm, which he calls the voice of God, 3-9. Speaks of the majesty of God, 10; and points out the good he will do to his people, 11. NOTES ON PSALM XXIXIn the Hebrew, this is called A Psalm for David. The Vulgate says, "A Psalm of David, when the tabernacle was completed." The Septuagint says:

Psalms 40:1 — PSALM XL The benefit of confidence in God, 1-3. The blessedness of those who trust in God, 4, 5. The termination of the Jewish sacrifices in that of Christ, 6-8. The psalmist's resolution to publish God's goodness, 9, 10: he prays to be delivered from evils, 11-13; against his enemies, 14, 15; and in behalf of those who are destitute, 16, 17. NOTES ON PSALM XLThe TITLE, "To the chief Musician," we have already seen, and it contains nothing worthy of particular

Psalms 46:1 — PSALM XLVI The confidence of believers in God, 1-3. The privileges of the Church, 4, 5; her enemies, and her helper, 6, 7. God's judgments in the earth, 8, 9. He will be exalted among the heathen, and throughout the earth, 10, 11. NOTES ON PSALM XLVIThe title in the Hebrew is, "To the chief musician for the sons of Korah; an ode upon Alamoth, or concerning the virgins:" possibly meaning a choir of singing

Numbers 21:1 — them, 6. They repent, and beg Moses to intercede for them, 7. The Lord directs him to make a brazen serpent, and set it on a pole, that the people might look on it and be healed, 8. Moses does so, and the people who beheld the brazen serpent lived, 9. They journey to Oboth, Ije-abarim, Zared, and Arnon, 10-13. A quotation from the book of the wars of the Lord, 14, 15. From Arnon they came to Beer, 16. Their song of triumph, 17-20. Moses sends messengers to the Amorites for permission to pass through

Numbers 28:2 — might be ignorant of these ordinances.In their due season — Moses divides these offerings into: -1. DAILY. The morning and evening sacrifices: a lamb each time, Numbers 28:3-4.2. WEEKLY. The Sabbath offerings, two lambs of a year old, Numbers 28:9, c.3. MONTHLY. At the beginning of each month two young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs of a year old, and a kid for a sin-offering, Numbers 28:11, &c.4. ANNUAL. 1. The passover to last seven days the offerings, two young bullocks, one ram, seven

Numbers 31:1 — Midianites, 1, 2. One thousand men are chosen out of each of the twelve tribes, and sent with Phinehas against the Midianites, 3-6. They slay all the males, 7; their five kings and Balaam, 8. They take all the women captives, with the flocks and goods, 9; burn their cities, and bring away the spoil, 10,11. They bring the captives, c., to Moses, who is wroth with the officers for sparing the women, who had formerly been the cause of their transgression and punishment, 12-16. He commands all the male

Deuteronomy 23:1 — why the Ammonites and Moabites were excluded, 4-6. Edomites and Egyptians to be respected, 7. Their descendants in the third generation may be incorporated with the Israelites, 8. Cautions against wickedness when they go forth against their enemies, 9. To keep the camp free from every defilement, and the reason why, 10-14. The slave who had taken refuge among them is not to be delivered up to his former master, 15, 16. There shall be no prostitutes nor sodomites in the land, 17. The hire of a prostitute

Deuteronomy 33:17 — ornament are his fine horns; these the inspired penman has particularly in view, as the following clause proves; and it is well known that in Scriptural language horns are the emblem of strength, glory, and sovereignty; Psalms 75:5; Psalms 75:10; Psalms 89:17; Psalms 89:24; Psalms 112:9; Daniel 8:3, c. Luke 1:69; Revelation 17:3, c.His horns are like the horns of unicorns — ראם reem, which we translate unicorn, from the μονοκερως monokeros of the Septuagint, signifies, according to Bochart, the

Judges 1:1 — THE BOOK OF JUDGES -Year before the common year of Christ, 1443. -Julian Period, 3271. -Year from the Flood, 904. -Year before the first Olympiad, 667. -Creation from Tisri, or September, 2561. CHAPTER I After the death of Joshua the Israelites purpose to attack the remaining Canaanites; and the tribe of Judah is directed to go up first, 1, 2. Judah and Simeon

Ruth 4:1 — kinsman refuses, and relinquishes has right to Boaz, 6. The manner of redemption in such cases, 7, 8. Boaz redeems the inheritance in the presence of the elders, and of the people, who witness the contract, and pray for God's blessing upon the marriage, 9-12. Boaz takes Ruth for wife, and she bears a son, 13. The people's observations on the birth of the child, 14, 15. It is given to Naomi to nurse, 16. The neighbouring women name the child, and the book concludes with the genealogy of David, 17-22.