Bible Commentaries

Genesis 35:13 — Not by local ascension; for he is everywhere; but in respect of that visible sign of his glory, which he now withdrew from over, or from upon Jacob. For the righteous are as God’s chariot, say the Hebrews on this text. Compare Song of Solomon 6:12 . Where he talked with him. — Prayer is a free and familiar conference or intercourse with God; a parling with his Majesty, as St Paul calls it; εντευξις , 1 Timothy 2:1 a standing upon interrogatories

Nehemiah 13:7 — came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And I came to Jerusalem — There was his heart before, Animus est ubi amat, non ubi animat (Aug. de Cir. Dei, 1.9, e. 16). No sooner, therefore, had he got his conge d’aller at court, but he flees to Jerusalem, as the doves do to their windows. Fugiendum est ad clarissimam patriam; ibi pater, ibi omnia, saith Plotinus, the philosopher: hasten we all to

Job 16:11 — God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. God hath delivered me to the ungodly — i.e. To the devil and his instruments, those Chaldean and Sabean robbers, Job 1:15 ; Job 1:17 , together with his hard hearted friends, who, for want of the true fear of God, added to his afflictions, Job 6:14 . See Trapp on " Job 6:14 " And turned me over, … — As a magistrate doth a malefactor to the executioner.

Psalms 16:5 — universal, all sufficient, and satisfactory, proportionable, and fitting to my soul; so that, having him, I am abundantly provided for. And of my cup — A phrase taken from those shares that every one had assigned unto him at feasts, Genesis 43:34 1 Samuel 1:4 ; 1 Samuel 9:23: q.d. Thou art my meat and my drink, Lord, and I am very well content with my condition, be it better or worse. That which gives quiet in any portion, is, First, The favour and presence of God; Secondly, That it is from the

Psalms 18:33 — like hinds’ feet; that is, not only swift, if I have occasion by flight to provide for myself, or to pursue mine enemies flying before me; but also steady, if I come into any dangerous places. Asahel was swift of foot as a wild roe, 2 Samuel 2:18 . Josephus saith of him, that he contended with horses in running. Saul and Jonathan are said to be swifter than eagles, 2 Samuel 1:23 . Achilles was ποδας ωκυς , saith Homer. The hind, when

Psalms 5:8 — or if I do, yet that I fall not; for he that stumbleth and falleth not gets ground. Because of mine enemies — Or, because of mine observers, who narrowly watch for my halting, that they might blaspheme thee, and thy religion through my default, 1 Samuel 18:9 . Saul fixed his eyes upon David, but for no good to him. So 1 Peter 2:12 ; 1 Peter 3:2 , wicked men spy, and pry accurately (as the word εποπτευσαντες signifieth)

Psalms 62:8 — [is] a refuge for us. Selah. Trust in him at all times — As well in the fail of outward comforts as in the abundance of them, trust him without a pawn; trust in a killing God, as Job did. Pour out your hearts before him — sc. In prayer, 1 Samuel 1:11 , first, rend your hearts, ut effundafur peccatum, saith Kimchi, and then pour them out as water, Lamentations 2:19 , not as oil, which sticks to the side of the vessel that held it, but as water, that will out every drop; make a plain and

Psalms 84:1 — the sons of Korah. » How amiable [are] thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! A Psalm — Or the same subject with the forty-second, and made when David was banished, either by Saul or Absalom, or else when busied abroad in his wars, 2 Samuel 8:1-14 , and so debarred from the use of God’s public ordinances. How amiable are thy tabernacles — viz. For thy word’s sake that is there preached, and thy worship there performed. The Protestants at Lyons, in France, called their place

Psalms 88:1 — Mahalath Leannoth — A musical instrument sounding heavily as a shaulm doth, and therefore called infirmity, for humbling, or for antiphenies. A fit title. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite — i.e. The instruction of Heman, who was a very wise man, 1 Kings 4:31 , descended of Zerah, the son of Judah, 1 Chronicles 2:4 , and thence called the Ezrahite, brother to Ethan, who penned the next psalm, 1 Chronicles 2:6 . Nobile par fratrum. O Lord God of my salvation — This is the only one expression

Proverbs 12:16 — ôúàí , suddenly, rashly, are from the same root. Like tow, he is soon kindled; like a pot, he soon boils; and like a candle whose tallow is mixed with brine, as soon as lighted he spits up and down the room. A fool uttereth all his mind. Proverbs 29:11 The Septuagint render it, All his anger - θυμον . For, as the Hebrews well note in a proverb they have, A man’s mind is soon discovered, bekis, bekos, becoynos ; - in loculis, in poculis, in ira; - in his purse, in

Proverbs 24:9 — to men. The thought of foolishness is sin. — The schools do well observe, that outward sins are maioris infamiae, of greater infamy; but inward heart sins are maioris reatus, of greater guilt, as we see in devils. See Trapp on " Proverbs 14:22 " And the scorner is an abomination to men. — Witness Julian, Lucian, Porphyry, Julius Scaliger, that proud hypercritic ( qui neminem prae se duxit hominem ), Laurentius Valla, who jeered at other logicians, and extolled his own logic

Proverbs 27:17 — countenance of his friend. Iron sharpeneth iron. — One edge tool sharpeneth another; so doth the face of a man his friend. Ipse aspectus viri boni delectat, saith Seneca. Let us "whet one another to love and good works," saith Paul, Hebrews 10:24 as boars whet their tusks, as mowers whet their scythes. Thus Paul was "pressed in spirit" by the coming of Timothy, Acts 18:5 and extimulates Timothy to "stir up ( αναζωπυρειν

Isaiah 52:13 — Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently. — Or, Shall prosper. Isaiah 53:10 Here some, Aug. De Civ. Dei, lib. xviii, cap. 29; Justin, contra Tryphon.; Orig., lib. i. contra Cels. and not unfitly, begin the next chapter, which hath Christ also for its subject, as the Chaldee paraphrast and some old Jewish doctors acknowledge.

Isaiah 63:9 — affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. In all their afflictions he was afflicted. — See Exodus 3:7 ; Exodus 3:9 Judges 10:16 Zechariah 2:8 Acts 9:4 Jeremiah 31:20 . O God, we may better say, than the poet did of Augustus - “ Est placidus, facilisque parens, veniaeque paratus: Et qui fulmineo saepe sine igne tonat. Qui rum triste aliquid statuit, fit tristis et ipse: Cuique

Lamentations 1:3 — Chaldees took the city when it had been first distressed with famine; and then the Jews that went down to Egypt for succour and shelter after Gedaliah’s death, they caught there, as mice in a trap, as this prophet had foretold them (Jeremiah 42:1-22 ; Jeremiah 43:1-13 ; Jeremiah 44:1-30 ), but they would not be warned. Mitsraim proved to be their Metsarim - i.e., Egypt their pound, or prison.

Ezekiel 3:17 — Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. Son of man. — So Christ constantly calleth this prophet, to keep him humble. See Ezekiel 2:1 . I have made thee a watchman. — I, who am the chief Bishop and Shepherd of souls, 1 Peter 2:25 have set thee in thy watch tower, with charge to look well to my flock with golden fleeces, precious souls, that none be lost for want of warning.

Zechariah 14:16 — Y sucederá que todos los que queden de todas las naciones que vinieron contra Jerusalén subirán de año en año para adorar al Rey, el SEÑOR de los ejércitos, y para celebrar la fiesta de los tabernáculos. Ver. 16. Todo lo que queda de todas las naciones ] es decir, que ha escapado de la plaga, Zacarías 14:12 , y ha mejorado su mente, como aquellos hunos que, vencidos por los cristianos, concluyeron que Cristo era el Dios verdadero. , y se convirtió en sus

Romans 9:18 — Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy , and whom he will he hardeneth. Therefore — God being a free agent, cannot be unjust; he is bound to none. Whom he will, he hardeneth — There is a threefold hardness of the heart: 1. Natural and hereditary, whereby all men are by nature not only averse from, but also adverse to, the motions of grace; this is called a neck possessed with an iron sinew, Isaiah 48:4 ; Isaiah 2:1-22 . Actual, adventitious, voluntary; which is, when,

Colossians 1:15 — Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Who is the image — The express image of his person, Hebrews 1:2 . Milk is not so like milk as this Son is like the Father. By whom also God (otherwise invisible) is manifested to us. And here, he that would see God must set the eyes of faith upon the manhood of Christ; for he "that seeth the Son, seeth the

James 4:1 — members? From whence come wars — That is, word wars, needless and endless strifes and contentions. The Greek word πολεμοι properly signifies quarrels that cause much bloodshed. Among you — Being, 1. Brethren; and that one consideration should quash all quarrels; and should be like the angel that stayed Abraham’s hand when the blow was coming. 2. Scattered brethren, James 1:1 ; and should not misery breed unity? Is it not enough, that blows