Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 20:1 — CHAPTER XX The Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, invade Judah, 1, 2. Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast, and gathers the people together to seek the Lord, 3, 4. His prayer to God, 5-12. Great and small, male and female, seek the Lord, 13. Jahaziel predicts the downfall of their enemies, 14-17. The king, the Levites, and the people take courage; praise and magnify God; and go forth to meet their enemies, 18-21.

Nehemiah 4:23 — Verse Nehemiah 4:23. None of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing. — The Hebrew for all this is only אין אנחנו פשטים בגדינו איש שלחו המים ein anachnu poshetim begadeynu ish shilcho hammayim; which Montanus translates, Non nos

Job 1:1 — twenty years before the commencement of the Christian era, is inserted in the margin, not because it is the most probable, but because it is the most generally received. CHAPTER I Character of Job, 1. His family, 2. His substance, 3. Care of has family, 4, 5. Satan accuses him to God as a selfish person, who served God only for the hope of secular rewards, 6-11. Satan is permitted to strip him of all his children and property, 12-19. Job's remarkable resignation and patience, 20-22. NOTES ON CHAP. IVerse

Job 25:5 — compared with the unchangeable nature of God.Yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. — Whatever their excellence may be as stars, it is nothing in comparison with him from whom they have derived their being and splendour. See the notes on Job 4:18; Job 15:14-16. The Targum reads: "Behold, the moon is as yet spotted in her eastern part; the sun shines not; and the stars are not pure in his sight."Some think that by stars are meant those angels who kept not their first estate: this may be so,

Job 4:18 — Verse Job 4:18. Behold, he put no trust in his servants — This verse is generally understood to refer to the fall of angels; for there were some of those heavenly beings who kept not their first estate: they did not persevere to the end of their probation,

Psalms 11:6 — cup. — Cup is sometimes put for plenty, for abundance; but here it seems to be used to express the quantum of sorrow and misery which the wicked shall have on the earth. See Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17, Isaiah 51:21-23; Jeremiah 25:15; Jeremiah 49:12; Lamentations 4:21-22. It is also used in reference to the afflictions of the righteous, Matthew 20:22; Matthew 26:39, Matthew 26:42; John 18:11.We find a similar metaphor among the heathens. The following, from Homer, Il. xxiv., ver. 525, is in

Psalms 4:1 — come from נגן nagan, to strike; and probably may signify some such instruments as the cymbal, drum, c., and stringed instruments in general. But there is no certainty in these things. What they mean, or what they were, is known to no man.Verse Psalms 4:1. Hear me when I call — No man has a right to expect God to hear him if he do not call. Indeed, how shall he be heard if he speak not? There are multitudes who expect the blessings of God as confidently as if they had prayed for them most fervently

Psalms 5:2 — awakes in the morning, his heart, having a right direction, resumes its work.3. He meditates on God's goodness; and on his own happy state, though pursued by enemies, and only safe as long as God preserved him by an almighty hand and especial providence.4. This shows him the need he has of the continual protection of the Most High; and therefore he begins to form his meditation and the desires of his heart into words, to which he entreats the Lord to give ear.5. As he was accustomed to have answers to

Psalms 6:1 — PSALM VI This Psalm contains a deprecation of eternal vengeance, 1; a petition to God for mercy, 2. This is enforced from a consideration of the psalmist's sufferings, 3; from that of the Divine mercy, 4; from that of the praise and glory which God would fail to receive if man were destroyed, 5; from that of his humiliation and contrition, 6, 7. Being successful in his supplication, he exults in God, 8, 9; and predicts the downfall of all his enemies,

Numbers 10:1 — to make two silver trumpets for calling the assembly, 1, 2. On what occasions these trumpets should be sounded. First, for calling the assembly to the door of the tabernacle, 3. Secondly, to summon the princes and captains of the thousands of Israel, 4. Thirdly, to make the eastern camps strike their tents, 5. Fourthly, to make those on the south do the like, 6. No alarm to be sounded when the congregation only is to be assembled, 7. The sons of Aaron alone shall sound these trumpets, it shall be

Numbers 14:1 — CHAPTER XIV The whole congregation weep at the account brought by the spies, 1. They murmur, 2, 3; and propose to make themselves a captain, and go back to Egypt, 4. Moses and Aaron are greatly affected, 5. Joshua and Caleb endeavour to appease and encourage the people, 6-9. The congregation are about to stone them, 10. The glory of the Lord appears, and he is about to smite the rebels with the pestilence, 11,

Numbers 7:14 — Verse Numbers 7:14. One spoon — כף caph, a censer, on which they put the incense. See Exodus 25:29.It is worthy of remark that the different tribes are represented here as bringing their offerings precisely in the same order in which they encamped about the tabernacle.

Deuteronomy 25:4 — Verse Deuteronomy 25:4. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox, c. — In Judea, as well as in Egypt, Greece, and Italy, they make use of beeves to tread out the corn and Dr. Shaw tells us that the people of Barbary continue to tread out their corn after the custom of the East.

Deuteronomy 32:1 — CHAPTER XXXII The prophetical and historical song of Moses, showing forth the nature of God's doctrine, 1-3. The character of God, 4. The corruption of the people, 5, 6. They are called to remember God's kindness, 7, and his dealings with them during their travels in the wilderness, 8-14. Their ingratitude and iniquity, 15-18. They are threatened with his judgments, 19-28. A pathetic

Deuteronomy 4:9 — Verse Deuteronomy 4:9. Only take heed to thyself — Be circumspect and watchful.Keep thy soul diligently — Be mindful of thy eternal interests. Whatever becomes of the body, take care of the soul.Lest thou forget — God does his work that they may be had

Joshua 10:1 — CHAPTER X Adoni-zedec, king of Jerusalem, hearing of the capture of Ai, and that the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel, calls to his assistance four other kings to fight against Gibeon, 1-4. They join forces, and encamp against Gibeon, 5. The Gibeonites send to Joshua for succour, 6, who immediately marches to their relief, receives encouragement from God, and falls suddenly on the confederate forces, 7-9, and defeats them; they fly, and

Joshua 21:1 — CHAPTER XXI The Levites apply to Eleazar, Joshua, and the elders, for the cities to dwell in which Moses had promised, 1, 2. Their request is granted, 3. The priests receive thirteen cities out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, 4. The Levites receive ten cities out of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 5; and thirteen out of the other half tribe of Manasseh, and the tribes of Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali, 6. The children of Merari had twelve cities

1 Samuel 13:1 — CHAPTER XIII Saul chooses a body of troops, 1, 2. Jonathan smites a garrison of the Philistines, 3, 4. The Philistines gather together an immense host against Israel, 5. The Israelites are afraid; and some hide themselves in caves, and others flee over Jordan, 6, 7. Samuel delaying his coming, Saul offers sacrifice, 8, 9. Samuel comes and reproves him,

1 Samuel 14:1 — CHAPTER XIV Jonathan and his armour-bearer purpose to attack a garrison of the Philistines, 1. Saul and his army, with Ahiah the priest, tarry in Gibeah, 2, 3. Jonathan plans his attack of the Philistine garrison, 4-10. He and his armour-bearer climb over a rock: attack and rout the garrison, 11-15. Saul and has company, seeing confusion on the Philistine host, come out against them; as did the men who had hidden themselves; and the Philistines are defeated, 16-23.

1 Samuel 17:1 — Ephes-dammim, and Saul and his men pitch their camp near the valley of Elah, 1-3. Goliath of Gath, a gigantic man, whose height was six cubits and a span, defies the armies of Israel, and proposes to end all contests by single combat; his armour is described, 4-11. Saul and his host are greatly dismayed, 12. David, having been sent by his father with provisions to his brethren in the army, hears the challenge, inquires into the circumstances, thinks it a reproach to Israel that no man can be found to accept