Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 14:17 — And Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: [and] when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died; And came to Tirzah. — A pleasant cry, Song of Solomon 6:4 but to her at this time dismal and dolorous: the door also thereof, - whereto when she came, the child died, - like the porta Scelerata in Rome, whereof see Florus, lib. i. cap. 12.

1 Kings 8:21 — And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein [is] the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. A place for the ark. — Even the best and innermost part of the temple, because it was the chiefest evidence of God’s presence, and is called God’s face, Psalms 105:4 yea, even God himself. Psalms 132:5

2 Kings 13:22 — But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. All the days of Jehoahaz. — For about fifty years in all had this tyrant oppressed them. But God had promised them a saviour, viz., Joash, 2 Kings 13:5 and this much about the time that Jehoahaz had besought the Lord, who was easily entreated to pity the low condition of his people. 2 Kings 13:4

2 Kings 20:20 — And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? How he made a pool and a conduit. — Of these, see 2 Kings 18:17 Nehemiah 3:15 2 Chronicles 32:4 ; 2 Chronicles 32:30 .

Psalms 105:13 — When they went from one nation to another, from [one] kingdom to another people; When they went from one nation to another — There were seven several nations in that land wherein they sojourned, flitting from place to place, and having no settled habitation, αστατουνρες , 1 Corinthians 4:11 . From one kingdom — Forced by famine, or other necessity. See Genesis 12:10 ; Genesis 20:1-7 Genesis 26:1-5

Psalms 109:10 — Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek [their bread] also out of their desolate places. Let his children be continually vagabonds — Let them wandering wander, as Genesis 4:12 Cain’s curse. Let them rogue about, - et timida voce rogare cibos. This is many times a token of God’s wrath. Out of their desolate places — Or, for that their places are desolate, and will afford them no help.

Psalms 119:176 — I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. I have gone astray, … — And of myself shall never return. Seek thy servant — Do all the offices of a good shepherd for me, Luke 15:4-7 For I do not forget — The root of the matter is still in me, I am recallable, and ready to hear thy voice, John 10:3 .

Psalms 119:56 — This I had, because I kept thy precepts. This I had — This comfort, or this remembrance, or this ability to keep thy law. Because I keep thy precepts — A strange reason, I kept it because I kept it; but every new act of obedience fitteth for a following act, Romans 6:19 . As in sin, so in grace, Mark 4:24 , acts increase habits, and facilitate the work.

Psalms 89:26 — He shall cry unto me, Thou [art] my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father — This was a royalty above all the rest, John 1:12 1 John 3:1 , and applied to Christ, the only begotten Son of God; it sets him above all the angels, Hebrews 1:4-8 My God — This is the beehive of heavenly honey.

Proverbs 3:29 — Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. Devise not evil against thy neighbour. — Heb. Plow not evil - i.e., plot not. One of the Rabbis renders it, suspect not; shun "evil surmises." 1 Timothy 6:4 Most unkindnesses among friends grow upon mistakes, misprisions; charity is candid, and takes everything in the best sense, and by the right handle. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Isaiah 29:3 — And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. And I will camp against thee round about. — I will bring the woe of war upon thee - a woe that no words, how wide soever, can possibly express. See this accomplished. 2 Kings 25:4 And will lay siege. — As the captain general of the Chaldees.

Jeremiah 46:22 — The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood. The voice thereof (of Egypt) shall go like a serpent. — Vox trepida et prae metu instar serpentum stridula. Submissa voce loquetur. She shall hiss and whisper, as being daunted and damped, scarce able to mutter or utter aught for fear. Isaiah 29:4

Deuteronomy 23:8 — The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation. In their third generation. — The Edomites for their consanguinity, - it is some privilege to be allied to the saints, to be "sister’s son to Barnabas," - the Colossians 4:10 Egyptians for their hospitality to God’s firstborn Israel. "God is not unrighteous," … Hebrews 6:10 See Trapp on " Hebrews 6:10 "

Judges 19:21 — So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink. And they washed their feet. — So they usually did in those hot countries before they sat down to eat; Genesis 18:4 ; Genesis 19:2 Luke 7:44 2 Samuel 11:8 1 Timothy 5:10 for men used, because of the great heat there, to go barefooted.

Judges 8:10 — Now Zebah and Zalmunna [were] in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand [men], all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. Were in Karkor. — A city beyond Jordan, where they thought themselves safe, and feared not a pursuer: but vengeance would not suffer them to live. Acts 28:4

Judges 9:51 — But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut [it] to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower. Thither fled all the men and women. — As all creatures in times of danger run to their refuges. Proverbs 30:26 ; Proverbs 18:11 Psalms 104:18 Daniel 4:10-11

1 Samuel 16:12 — And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and] withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance. — Not rufus, red haired, as Pellicau and Junius render it, but rubicundus, cherry-cheeked, as we say, Lamentations 4:7 Song of Solomon 5:10 sanguine and spiritful.

1 Samuel 16:3 — And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me [him] whom I name unto thee. And call Jesse to the sacrifice. — Who was grandchild to Ruth the Moabitess, Ruth 4:22 now grown a great lady in Bethlehem, great-grandmother to the king of Israel. So little is there lost by adhering to God and his people.

1 Samuel 17:10 — And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. I defy the armies of Israel. — This man’s insolence and self-confidence do plainly prove his heart to be nothing else but a piece of proud flesh. But God will shortly cut off those arrogant lips, and the "tongue that speaketh proud things." Psalms 12:3-4

1 Samuel 28:4 — And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And pitched in Shunem. — A city in the tribe of Issachar, ennobled afterwards by the good Shunamite with whom Elisha hosted. 2 Kings 4:8 Pitched in Gilboa. — Baleful and baneful to Saul and his sons: and therefore cursed by David. 2 Samuel 1:21