Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 23:1 — the idolatrous priests; breaks down the houses of the sodomites, and the high places; defiles Topheth; takes away the horses of the sun; destroys the altars of Ahaz; breaks in pieces the images; and breaks down and burns Jeroboam's altar at Beth-el, 4-15. Fulfils the word of the prophet, who cried against the altar at Beth-el, 16-18. Destroys the high places in Samaria, slays the idolatrous priests, and celebrates a great passover, 19-23; and puts away all the dealers with familiar spirits, c., 24.

2 Kings 24:1 — CHAPTER XXIV Nebuchadnezzar brings Jehoiakim under subjection; who, after three years, rebels, 1. Bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, invade the land, 2-4. Jehoiakim dies, and Jehoiachin his son reigns in his stead, 5, 6. The Babylonians overcome the Egyptians, 7. Nebuchadnezzar takes Jehoiachin and his family, and all his treasures, and those of the temple, and all the chief people and artificers, and

2 Chronicles 19:8 — Chronicles 19:8. And for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. — Who were they that returned to Jerusalem? Some suppose that it means Jehoshaphat and his courtiers, who returned to Jerusalem after the expedition mentioned 2 Chronicles 19:4: but if this were so, or if the text spoke of any person returning to Jerusalem, would not לירושלם lirushalem, TO Jerusalem, and not the simple word ירושלם Yerushalem, without the preposition, be used?Learned men have supposed, with great plausibility,

2 Chronicles 25:1 — CHAPTER XXV Amaziah succeeds his father Joash, and begins his reign well, 1, 2. He slays his father's murderers but spares their children, 3, 4. He reviews and remodels the army, 5; and hires a hundred thousand soldiers out of Israel, whom, on the expostulation of a prophet, he sends home again, without bringing them into active service; at which they are greatly offended, 6-10. He attacks

Nehemiah 12:1 — CHAPTER XII Account of the priests and Levites that come up with Zerubbabel, 1-7. Of the Levites, 8-21. The Levites in the days of Eliashib, 22-26. Of the dedication of the wall, and its ceremonies, 27-43. Different officers appointed, 44-47. NOTES ON CHAP. XIIVerse Nehemiah 12:1. Now these are the priests — Not the whole, but the chief of them, as we are informed, Nehemiah 12:7; Nehemiah 12:22-24. The Septuagint omit ver. 3, except the word Shechaniah;

Job 29:4 — Verse Job 29:4. The days of my youth — The original word rather means in the days of my winter, חרפי charpi, from חרף charaph, "to strip or make bare." Mr. Harmer supposes the rainy season is intended, when the fields, c., parched up by long drought, are revived

Job 4:1 — despondence in the time of adversity, 1-6; asserts that no innocent man ever perished, and that the wicked are afflicted for their sins, 7-11; relates a vision that he had, 12-16, and what was said to him on the occasion, 17-21. NOTES ON CHAP. IVVerse Job 4:1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered — For seven days this person and his two friends had observed a profound silence, being awed and confounded at the sight of Job's unprecedented affliction. Having now sufficiently contemplated his afflicted

Psalms 147:1 — PSALM CXLVII The psalmist praises God for his goodness to Jerusalem, 1-3; shows his great mercy to them that trust in him, 4-6; he extols him for his mercies, and providential kindness, 7-11; for his defence of Jerusalem, 12-15; For his wonders in the seasons, 16-18; and his word unto Jacob, 19, 20. NOTES ON PSALM CXLVIIThis Psalm, which is without title in the Hebrew, Chaldee,

Psalms 150:4 — Verse Psalms 150:4. Praise him with the timbrel — תף toph, drum, tabret, or tomtom, or tympanum of the ancients; a skin stretched over a broad hoop; perhaps something like the tambarine. Anglo-Saxon; [A.S.] the glad pipe. Taburne; Old Psalter.And dance — מחול

Psalms 4:6 — Verse Psalms 4:6. Who will show us any good? — This is not a fair translation. The word any is not in the text, nor any thing equivalent to it; and not a few have quoted it, and preached upon the text, placing the principal emphasis on this illegitimate word.The

Psalms 43:1 — PSALM XLIII The psalmist begs God to take his part against his enemies, 1, 2; to send his light and truth to guide him to the tabernacle, 3; promises, if brought thither, to be faithful in the Divine service, 4; chides himself for despondency, and takes courage, 5. NOTES ON PSALM XLIIIThere is no title to this Psalm in the Hebrew, nor in the Chaldee. The Syriac says it was composed "by David when Jonathan told him that Saul intended to slay him." The Arabic

Psalms 53:1 — PSALM LIII The sentiments of atheists and deists, who deny Divine Providence; their character: they are corrupt, foolish, abominable, and cruel, 1-4; God fills them with terror, 5; reproaches these for their oppression of the poor, 5. The psalmist prays for the restoration of Israel, 6. NOTES ON PSALM LIIIThe title, To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, an instructive Psalm of David. The word מחלת

Psalms 66:1 — PSALM LXVI The psalmist exhorts all to praise God for the wonders he has wrought, 1-4; calls on Israel to consider his mighty acts in behalf of their fathers, 5-7; his goodness in their own behalf, 8-12; he resolves to pay his vows to God, and offer his promised sacrifices, 13-15; calls on all to hear what God had done for his soul,

Psalms 68:4 — Verse Psalms 68:4. Extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH — "Extol him who sitteth on the throne of glory, in the ninth heaven; YAH is his name; and rejoice before him." - Targum.בערבות baaraboth, which we render in the high heavens, is here of

Psalms 74:1 — PSALM LXXIV The psalmist complains of the desolations of the sanctuary, and pleads with God, 1-3; shows the insolence and wickedness of their enemies, 4-8; prays to God to act for them as he had done for their fathers, whom, by his miraculous power, he had saved, 9-17; begs God to arise, and vindicate his own honour against his enemies, and the enemies of his people, 18-23. NOTES ON PSALM LXXIVThe

Psalms 85:1 — PSALM LXXXV Thanksgiving to God for restoration to the Divine favour, 1-3; prayer for farther mercies, 4-7; the psalmist waits for a gracious answer in full confidence of receiving it, 8. He receives the assurance of the greatest blessings, and exults in the prospect, 9-13. NOTES ON PSALM LXXXVThe title of this Psalm we have seen before, Psalms 42:1.

Proverbs 25:7 — Verse Proverbs 25:7. Come up hither — Our Lord refers to this, see Luke 14:8, and the notes there. Be humble; affect not high things; let those who are desperate climb dangerous precipices; keep thyself quiet, and thou shalt live at ease, and in peace. Hear the speech of a wise heathen on this subject: - Quid fuit, ut tutas

2 Samuel 14:2 — Verse 2 Samuel 14:2. Joab sent to Tekoah — Tekoah, according to St. Jerome, was a little city in the tribe of Judah, about twelve miles from Jerusalem.There are several circumstances relative to this woman and her case which deserve to be noticed:-1. She was a

2 Samuel 18:1 — people, and gives the command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, 1, 2. On his expressing a desire to accompany them to the battle, they will not permit him, 3. He reviews them as they go out of the city, and gives commandment to the captains to save Absalom, 4, 5. They join battle with Absalom and his army, who are discomfited with the loss of twenty thousand men, 6-8. Absalom, fleeing away, is caught by his head in an oak; Joab finds him, and transfixes him with three darts, 9-15. The servants of David are

2 Samuel 20:1 — CHAPTER XX Sheba raises an insurrection, and gains a party in Israel, 1, 2. David shuts up the ten concubines who were defiled by Absalom, 3. Amasa is sent to assemble the men of Judah, 4, 5. And in the mean time Abishai is sent to pursue Sheba, 6, 7. Joab treacherously murders Amasa, 8-12. Joab and the army continue the pursuit of Sheba, 13, 14. He is besieged in Abel; and, by the counsels of a wise woman, the people of Abel cut off