Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 19:21 — academical characters are by their gowns and square caps. The pallium was as common among the Greeks as the toga was among the Romans. Each of these was so peculiar to those nations, that Palliatus is used to signify a Greek, as Togatus is to signify a Roman.5. Was it from this act of Elijah, conveying the prophetic office and its authority to Elisha by throwing his mantle upon him, that the popes of Rome borrowed the ceremony of collating an archbishop to the spiritualities and temporalities of his see,

1 Kings 3:1 — CHAPTER III Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter, 1, 2. He serves God, and offers a thousand burnt-offerings upon one altar, at Gibeon, 3, 4. God appears to him in a dream at Gibeon; and asks what he shall give him, 5. He asks wisdom; with which God is well pleased, and promises to give him not only that, but also riches and honour; and, if obedient, long life, 6-14. He comes back to Jerusalem; and offers burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and makes a feast for

Job 9:35 — Verse Job 9:35. But it is not so with me. — I am not in such circumstances as to plead with my Judge. I believe the sense of these words is nearly as Coverdale has expressed it: - For as longe as I am in soch fearfulnesse, I can make no answere. A natural picture

Psalms 122:9 — I. Expresses his joy that he might join with the Church in God's service, Psalms 122:1-2.II. Commends the Church, under the name of Jerusalem, for her unity, Psalms 122:3; religious worship, Psalms 122:4; civil and ecclesiastical policy, Psalms 122:5.III. Exhorts all to pray for its peace and prosperity, Psalms 122:6; and puts the form of prayer into their mouths, Psalms 122:7.IV. Shows his own readiness to do this, and offers up his supplications, Psalms 122:8-9.I. The psalmist congratulates himself

Psalms 126:1 — PSALM CXXVI The joy of the Israelites on their return from captivity, and the effect their deliverance had upon the heathen, 1-3. The prayer which they had offered up, 4. The inference they draw from the whole, 5, 6. NOTES ON PSALM CXXVIThis Psalm is not of David, has no title in the Hebrew or any of the Versions, and certainly belongs to the close of the captivity. It might have been composed by Haggai and Zechariah, as the Syriac supposes; or by Ezra, according

Psalms 143:12 — A prayer for remission of sin, grounded on God's promise, Psalms 143:1; not on his own worthiness, Psalms 143:2.II. A narration of the sad state of his affairs, Psalms 143:3-4.III. The comfort he received in his sad condition, and whence, Psalms 143:5-6.IV. His petition, containing many particulars and reasons, Psalms 143:7-12.I. He prays for audience: "Hear my prayer, O Lord," c. He does not plainly express the matter he prayed for but it may be gathered from the context that it was for remission

Psalms 148:14 — Jesus is thy Mediator. He has taken thy humanity, and placed it on the throne! He creates all things new; and faith in his blood will bring thee to his glory! Amen! hallelujah! The beautiful morning hymn of Adam and Eve, (Paradise Lost, book v., line 153, c.,) - "These are thy glorious works, Parent of good Almighty, thine this universal frame," c. has been universally admired. How many have spoken loud in its praises, who have never attempted to express their feelings in a stanza of the hundred

Psalms 34:22 — praises God, and expresses himself thus: - 1. I will bless the Lord. 2. His praise shall be in my mouth. 3. It shall be in my mouth continually. 4. It shall be expressed by a tongue affected by the heart: "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord." 5. And so long would he continue it till others should be moved to do the like: "The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad."2. Upon which he calls upon others to join with him: "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." And to

Psalms 39:13 — considered, it was even less, of no consideration: "Mine age is as nothing before thee."4. It was full of vanity: "Verily, every man at his best estate (in his strength, riches, power) is altogether vanity." His labours promise much, perform little.5. It is unstable and uncertain, as a shadow. "Surely, every man walketh in a vain shadow."6. It is full of trouble and inquietude: "Surely, they are disquieted in vain."7. Man labours for he knows not whom: "He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who

Psalms 4:8 — be getting forward to heaven.ANALYSIS OF THE FOURTH PSALMThere are THREE parts in this Psalm: -I. An entrance, or petition for audience, Psalms 4:1.II. An apostrophe to his enemies, which is, 1. Reprehensive, Psalms 4:2-3. 2. Admonitory, Psalms 4:4-5.III. A petition for himself and God's people, Psalms 4:6-8.I. He proposes his request and suit for audience. "Hear me when I call;" and this he founds on four arguments:1. God has promised to hear me when I call: "Call upon me in trouble, and I will

Psalms 47:9 — clap your hands, all ye people." 3. Vocally: "Shout unto God with the voice of triumph." 4. Frequently: "Sing praises - sing praises - sing praises - sing praises," Psalms 47:6, and again "sing praises," Psalms 47:7. It cannot be done too frequently. 5. Knowingly and discreetly: "Sing ye praises with understanding;" know the reason why ye are to praise him.3. Now these reasons are drawn from his greatness and from his goodness.1. He is GREAT. 1. He is the Lord Most High; 2. He is terrible; 3. He is

Isaiah 6:1 — most holy place from the holy or outermost part of the temple, is here supposed to be taken away; for the prophet, to whom the whole is exhibited, is manifestly placed by the altar of burnt-offering, at the entrance of the temple, (compare Ezekiel 43:5-6,) which was filled with the train of the robe, the spreading and overflowing of the Divine glory. The Lord upon the throne, according to St. John (John 12:41,) was Christ; and the vision related to his future kingdom when the veil of separation was

Isaiah 63:1 — driven the Edomites out of their country; who upon that took possession of the southern parts of Judea, and settled themselves there; that is, in the country of the whole tribe of Simeon and in half of that of Judah. See Prideaux, ad. an. 740 and 165. And the metropolis of the Edomites, and of the country thence called Idumea, which Judas took, was Hebron, 1Macc. 5:65, not Bozrah.I conclude, therefore, that this prophecy has not the least relation to Judas Maccabeus. It may be asked, to whom, and

Matthew 24:51 — Verse Matthew 24:51. Cut him asunder — This refers to an ancient mode of punishment used in several countries. Isaiah is reported to have been sawed ASUNDER. That it was an ancient mode of punishment is evident from what Herodotus says: that Sabacus, king of Ethiopia,

Matthew 9:38 — for a day and night. This fast is indispensable, and occurs twenty-nine times in the year.2. The person fasts during the day, and eats at night.3. The person eats nothing but fruits, and drinks milk or water.4. He eats once during the day and night.5. Eats one particular kind of food during the day and night, but as often as he pleases.6. Called Chanderaym, which is, to eat on the first day, only one mouthful; two on the second; and thus continue increasing one mouthful every day for a month, and

Romans 7:7 — insufficiency of the law under colour of vindicating it. He knew that the Jew would take fire at the least reflection on the law, which he held in the highest veneration; and therefore he very naturally introduces him catching at that expression, Romans 7:5, the motions of sins, which were by the law, or, notwithstanding the law. "What!" says this Jew, "do you vilify the law, by charging it with favouring sin?" By no means, says the apostle; I am very far from charging the law with favouring sin. The law

1 Corinthians 8:1 — CHAPTER VIII. The question of the Corinthians concerning meats offered to idols, and the apostle's preface to his instructions on that head, 1-3. The nature of idolatry, 4, 5. Of genuine worship, 6. Some ate of the animals that had been offered to idols knowingly, and so defiled their conscience, 7. Neither eating nor abstinence in themselves recommend us to God, 8. But no man should use his Christian liberty so as to put

Galatians 1:24 — them be accursed. How awful is this! Let every man who officiates as a Christian minister look well to this. His own soul is at stake; and, if any of the flock perish through his ignorance or neglect, their blood will God require at the watchman's hand.5. St. Paul well knew that, if he endeavoured to please man, he could not be the servant of Christ. Can any minor minister hope to succeed, where even an apostle, had he followed that line, could not? The interests of Christ and those of the world are

Hebrews 1:6 — distinguished from κοσμος, which signifies the terraqueous globe, independently of its inhabitants; though it often expresses both the inhabited and uninhabited parts. Our Lord's first coming into the world is expressed by this latter word, Hebrews 10:5: Wherefore when he cometh into the world, διο εισερχομενος εις τον κοσμον, and this simply refers to his being incarnated, that he might be capable of suffering and dying for man. But the word is changed on this second coming, I mean his resurrection,

Jude 1:1 — THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JUDE. Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle. -Year of the Constantinopolitan era of the world, or that used by the Byzantine historians, and other eastern writers, 5573. -Year of the Alexandrian era of the world, 5567. -Year of the Antiochian era of the world, 5557. -Year of the world, according to Archbishop Usher, 4069. -Year of the world, according to Eusebius, in his Chronicon, 4291. -Year of the minor Jewish