Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 7:46 — Verse 1 Kings 7:46. Cast them, in the clay ground — In this place he found that particular kind of clay that was proper for his purpose. Some suppose that the place where Hiram had his foundry was on the other side, some on this side, of Jordan. Calmet supposes that it was near Bethshan.

2 Kings 21:7 — Verse 2 Kings 21:7. He set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house — Every one may see that Asherah here must signify an idol, and not a grove; and for the proof of this see the observations at the end of the chapter. 2 Kings 21:26.

1 Chronicles 27:7 — Verse 1 Chronicles 27:7. Asahel the brother of Joab — This verse proves that the division and arrangement mentioned above were made before David was acknowledged king in Hebron; for Asahel, the brother of Joab, who was fourth captain, was slain by Abner, while Ishbosheth reigned over Israel at Mahanaim, 2 Samuel 2:19-23.

2 Chronicles 28:16 — Verse 2 Chronicles 28:16. The kings of Assyria to help him. — Instead of מלכי malchey; KINGS; the Vulgate, Syriac, Arabic, and Chaldee, one MS., and the parallel place, 2 Kings 16:7, have מלך melek, KING, in the singular number. This king was Tiglath-pileser, as we learn from the second book of Kings.

Ezra 7:12 — Verse 12. Artaxerxes, king of kings — This letter, from the beginning of this verse to the end of Ezra 7:12-26, is in the Aramitic or Chaldee language.This title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: [Persian] Ardsheer shahinshah, or [Persian] padshah, "Ardsheer, king of kings;" "great or supreme king, or emperor."

Nehemiah 3:7 — Verse Nehemiah 3:7. The throne of the governor — His house, and the place where he dispensed justice and judgment. Previously to the days of Nehemiah, Jerusalem was governed by a deputy from the Persian king; (see Nehemiah 5:15;) but after this time they were governed by governors and judges chosen from among themselves.

Nehemiah 4:7 — Verse Nehemiah 4:7. The walls of Jerusalem were made up — That is, they were made up to the half height of the wall; for the preceding verse seems to intimate that the whole wall was thus far built; not half of the wall completed, but the whole wall built to half its height.

Proverbs 14:7 — Verse Proverbs 14:7. When thou perceivest not - the lips of knowledge. — Instead of דעת daath, knowledge, several MSS. have שקר sheker, a lie. How this reading came I cannot conjecture. The meaning of the adage is plain: Never associate with a vain, empty fellow, when thou perceivest he can neither convey nor receive instruction.

Leviticus 1:7 — Verse Leviticus 1:7. Put fire — The fire that came out of the tabernacle from before the Lord, and which was kept perpetually burning; see Leviticus 9:24. Nor was it lawful to use any other fire in the service of God. See the case of Nadab and Abihu, Leviticus 10:1; Leviticus 10:2.

Leviticus 21:7 — Verse Leviticus 21:7. That is a whore — A prostitute, though even reclaimed.Profane — A heathen, or one who is not a cordial believer in the true God.Put away from her husband — Because this very circumstance might lead to suspicion that the priest and the divorced woman might have been improperly connected before.

Ecclesiastes 11:7 — Verse Ecclesiastes 11:7. Truly the light is sweet — Life is dear to every man as the light of the sun is to the eye. A man would give all that he has for his life, and it is particularly dear to him when he is in ease and affluence: but let each remember that,

Song of Solomon 7:8 — Verse Song of Solomon 7:8. I will go up to the palm tree — I will take hold on the boughs of this tree, and climb up by them, in order to gather the clusters of dates at the top. The rubric here in the old MS. interprets this of the cross of Christ.

Isaiah 39:6 — Verse Isaiah 39:6. To Babylon — בבלה babelah, so two MSS., (one ancient;) rightly, without doubt as the other copy (2 Kings 20:17) has it. This prediction was fulfilled about one hundred and fifty years after it was spoken: see Daniel 1:2; Daniel 1:3-7. What a proof of Divine omniscience!

Jeremiah 48:7 — Verse Jeremiah 48:7. Chemosh shall go forth into captivity — The grand national idol of the Moabites, Numbers 21:29; Judges 11:24. Ancient idolaters used to take their gods with them to the field of battle. This was probably in imitation of the Israelites, who took the ark with them in such cases.

Jeremiah 7:16 — Verse Jeremiah 7:16. Therefore pray not thou for this people — They have filled up the measure of their iniquity, and they must become examples of my justice. How terrible must the state of that place be, where God refuses to pour out the spirit of supplication on his ministers and people in its behalf!

Lamentations 1:3 — Verse Lamentations 1:3. Between the straits. — She has been brought into such difficulties, that it was impossible for her to escape. Has this any reference to the circumstances in which Zedekiah and the princes of Judah endeavoured to escape from Jerusalem, by the way of the gates between the two walls? Jeremiah 52:7.

Ezekiel 29:6 — Verse Ezekiel 29:6. They have been a staff of reed — An inefficient and faithless ally. The Israelites expected assistance from them when Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem; and they made a feint to help them, but retired when Nebuchadnezzar went against them. Thus were the Jews deceived and ultimately ruined, see Ezekiel 29:7.

Hosea 12:7 — Verse Hosea 12:7. He is a merchant — Or a Canaanite; referring to the Phoenicians, famous for their traffic. Ephraim is as corrupt as those heathenish traffickers were. He kept, as many in all ages have done, a weight and a weight; a heavy one to buy with and a light one to sell by.

Joshua 7:13 — Verse Joshua 7:13. Up, sanctify the people — Joshua, all the time that God spake, lay prostrate before the ark: he is now commanded to get up, and sanctify the people, i.e., cause them to wash themselves, and get into a proper disposition to hear the judgment of the Lord relative to the late transactions.

1 Samuel 8:7 — Verse 1 Samuel 8:7. They have rejected me — They wish to put that government in the hands of a mortal, which was always in the hands of their GOD. But hearken unto their voice-grant them what they request. So we find God grants that in his displeasure which he withholds in his mercy.