Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 19:3 — Verse 2 Kings 19:3. The children are come to the birth — The Jewish state is here represented under the emblem of a woman in travail, who has been so long in the pangs of parturition, that her strength is now entirely exhausted, and her deliverance is hopeless,

2 Kings 3:15 — Verse 2 Kings 3:15. Bring me a minstrel. — A person who played on the harp. The rabbins, and many Christians, suppose that Elisha's mind was considerably irritated and grieved by the bad behaviour of the young men at Beth-el, and their tragical end, and by the

Esther 3:15 — Verse Esther 3:15. The posts — Literally, the couriers, the hircarrahs, those who carried the public despatches; a species of public functionaries, who have been in use in all nations of the world from the remotest antiquity.The decree was given at Shushan —

Job 33:19 — Verse Job 33:19. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, c. —IV. - AFFLICTIONS are a fourth means which God makes use of to awaken and convert sinners. In the hand of God these were the cause of the salvation of David, as himself testifies: Before I

Job 38:38 — Verse Job 38:38. When the dust groweth into hardness — That is, Who knows how the dust - the elementary particles of matter, were concreted; and how the clods-the several parts of the earth, continue to cohere? What is the principle of cohesion among the

Job 42:12 — their presents were the cause, under God of his restoration to affluence. This takes the subject by the other handle; and I think, as far as the text is concerned, by the right one.He had fourteen thousand sheep — The reader, by referring to Job 1:3, will perceive that the whole of Job's property was exactly doubled.

Psalms 100:1 — PSALM C All nations are exhorted to praise the Lord, 1, 2; to acknowledge him to be the Sovereign God and their Creator and that they are his people and the flock of his pasture, 3; to worship him publicly, and be grateful for his mercies, 4. The reasons on which this is founded; his own goodness, his everlasting mercy, and his ever-during truth, 5. NOTES ON PSALM CThis Psalm is entitled in the Hebrew מזמור לתודה mizmor lethodah,

Psalms 149:1 — PSALM CXLIX All the congregation are invited to praise God for his mercies, 1-3. Their great privileges, 4, 5. Their victories, 6-9. NOTES ON PSALM CXLIXThis seems to be an epinikion, or song of triumph, after some glorious victory; probably in the time of the Maccabees. It has been also understood as predicting the success of

Psalms 3:2 — Verse Psalms 3:2. No help for him in God. — These were some of the reproaches of his enemies, Shimei and others: "He is now down, and he shall never be able to rise. God alone can save him from these his enemies; but God has visibly cast him off." These reproaches

Psalms 76:1 — PSALM LXXVI The true God known in Judah, Israel, Salem, and Zion, 1, 2. A description of his defeat of the enemies of his people, 3-6. How God us to be worshipped, 7-9. He should be considered as the chief Ruler: all the potentates of the earth are subject to him, 10-12. NOTES ON PSALM LXXVIThe title, "To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm or Song of Asaph." See the titles

Psalms 83:7 — Verse Psalms 83:7. Gebal — The Giblites, who were probably the persons here designed, were a tribe of the ancient inhabitants of the land of Canaan, and are mentioned as unconquered at the death of Joshua, Joshua 13:5. They are called stone-squarers or Giblites,

Psalms 87:1 — PSALM LXXXVII The nature and glorious privileges of Zion and Jerusalem, 1-3. No other city to be compared to this, 4. The privilege of being born in it, 5, 6. Its praises celebrated, 7. NOTES ON PSALM LXXXVIIThe title, A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah, gives us no light into the author or meaning of this Psalm. It begins

Proverbs 2:4 — diligence in searching, washing out the soil, picking, c., in order to find such diamonds, and the greatest anxiety for success so precious is liberty to the human heart. This method of searching for gold and precious stones is alluded to in Proverbs 3:13-15. In this way Solomon wishes men to seek for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding; and he who succeeds finds the liberty of the children of God, and is saved from the slavery of sin and the empire of death.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 — Verse Ecclesiastes 12:14. For God shall bring every work into judgment — This is the reason why we should "fear God and keep his commandments."1. Because there will be a day of judgment.2. Every soul of man shall stand at that bar.3. God, the infinitely wise, the heart-searching God, will be judge.4. He will bring to light every secret thing - all that has been done since the creation, by all men; whether forgotten or registered; whether done in secret or in public.5. All the works

Song of Solomon 5:1 — CHAPTER V The bridegroom calls on his spouse to admit him, 1-3. She hesitates; but arising finds him gone, seeks him, and is treated unworthily by the city watch, 4-7. Inquires of the daughters of Jerusalem, who question her concerning her beloved, 8, 9. This gives her occasion to enter into a fine description

Joshua 17:1 — CHAPTER XVII The lot of the half tribe of Manasseh, 1, 2. Case of the daughters of Zelophehad, 3-6. The borders of Manasseh described, 7-11. The Canaanites dwell among them, but are laid under tribute, 12, 13. The children of Joseph complain of the scantiness of their lot, 14-16. Joshua authorizes them to possess the mountainous wood country of

Judges 1:16 — father-in-law — For an account of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, see Exodus 18:1-27; Numbers 10:29, c.The city of palm trees — This seems to have been some place near Jericho, which city is expressly called the city of palm trees, Deuteronomy 34:3 and though destroyed by Joshua, it might have some suburbs remaining where these harmless people had taken up their residence.The Kenites, the descendants of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, were always attached to the Israelites: they remained

Judges 11:24 — it up." The ground of Jephthah's remonstrance was sound and good.1. The Ammonites had lost their lands in their contests with the Amorites.2. The Israelites conquered these lands from the Amorites, who had waged a most unprincipled war against them.3. God, who is the Maker of heaven and earth had given those very lands as a Divine grant to the Israelites.4. In consequence of this they had possession of them for upwards of three hundred years.5. These lands were never reclaimed by the Ammonites,

Judges 8:1 — CHAPTER VIII The Ephraimites are angry with Gideon because he did not call them particularly to his assistance; he pacifies them, 1-3. Gideon and his three hundred men pass over Jordan, pursuing the Midianites; and, being faint, ask victuals from the princes of Succoth, but are refused, 4-7. They make the like application to the people of Penuel, and are also refused, 8, 9. Gideon

2 Samuel 3:39 — Verse 2 Samuel 3:39. I am this day weak — Had Abner lived, all the tribes of Israel would have been brought under my government.Though anointed king — I have little else than the title: first, having only one tribe under my government; and secondly, the