Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 17:12 — waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store. And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly. — Heb., He was going and growing. "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life." Proverbs 22:4 And he built in Judah castles. — Bironeoth, πυργους , turres. So did the Burgundians, and thence had their names And cities of store. — Granaries; in the Hebrew they have their name from their

2 Chronicles 36:4 — And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt. 2 Chronicles 36:5 Jehoiakim [was] twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD his God. Ver. 4, 5. See on 2 Kings 23:34-35 , …

Job 34:16 — If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. If now thou hast understanding, hear this — Hear it, and know it for thy good, as Job 4:2-7 , if at least thou hast any wit for thyself or care of thine own well doing. This is a stinging apostrophe to Job. Si vel mica est in te bonae mentis; unless thou hast buried thy brains and lost thy senses, listen as for life.

Psalms 105:23 — Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. Israel also came into Egypt — Whither he feared to go, till God promised him his presence and protection, Genesis 46:3-4 . God saith the same in effect to us, when to descend into the grave, Fear not to go down, I will go down with thee, and be better to thee than thy fears. Jacob’s best and happiest days were those he spent in Egypt.

Psalms 112:3 — Wealth and riches [shall be] in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. Wealth and riches — Wealth enough, as the word Hon signifieth, a well contented sufficiency. His "chambers shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches," Proverbs 24:4 . His righteousness endureth for ever — He is not the worse for his wealth, nor drawn aside by the deceitfulness of riches, which yet is hard and happy. Et cum tot Croesos viceris, esse Numam (Martial).

Psalms 120:2 — Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, [and] from a deceitful tongue. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips — This was David’s distress, and it lay heavy upon his spirit; so it did upon Job’s, and Jeremiah’s, Jeremiah 20:10 ; the scourge of tongues he felt as sharp as scorpions. Of the mischief of an evil tongue see James 3:1-9 Psalms 52:2-4 Psalms 12:3 . See Trapp on " Psalms 12:3 "

Psalms 130:7 — Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD [there is] mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption. Let Israel hope in the Lord — Hope and yet fear, as Psalms 130:4 (with a filial fear); fear, and yet hope. Plenteous redemption — Are our sins great? with God there is mercy, matchless mercy. Are our sins many? with God is plenteous redemption, multa redemptio; he will multiply pardons as we multiply sins, Isaiah 55:7 .

Psalms 146:6 — Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein [is]: which keepeth truth for ever: Which made heaven, and earth, … — And, therefore, can help, doubtless. Which keepeth truth for ever — And, therefore, will; since he will not suffer his faithfulness to fail, nor alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth, Psalms 89:33-37 And this "for ever" is opposed to that mortality and mutability of earthly princes, Psalms 146:4 .

Psalms 148:14 — He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; [even] of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD. He also exalteth the horn — i.e. He graceth them singularly. A people near unto him — And in that respect happy above all people on the earth, Deuteronomy 4:7 ; Deuteronomy 33:29 , because in covenant with him and near allied to him, as the word here importeth.

Psalms 31:17 — Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave. Let me not be ashamed — i.e. Disappointed of my hopes. Let the wicked be ashamed — For they call not upon God, but shame those that do, Psalms 14:4 ; Psalms 14:6 . Let them be silent in the grave — Let their large spoken mouths be stopped with a spadeful of mould.

Psalms 43:2 — For thou [art] the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? For thou art the God of my strength — As being in covenant with me, both offensive and defensive. In the Lord Jehovah is a Rock of ages, or everlasting strength, Isaiah 26:4 , for God of my strength, Psalms 42:9 , is my rock. Why go I mourning — See Psalms 42:9 .

Psalms 86:9 — All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. All nations whom thou hast made shall come, … — It were fit they should, Revelation 4:11 ; it is to be hoped they shall, Isaiah 11:10 ; Isaiah 43:9 ; not by change of place, but of heart, renouncing their irreligions, and yielding unto Christ the obedience of faith. Some understand this text of that general assembly at the last day.

Proverbs 19:23 — The fear of the LORD [tendeth] to life: and [he that hath it] shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. The fear of the Lord tendeth to life, … — Life, saturity, Saturatus pernoctabit, He shall not go supperless to bed. and security from evil (from the hurt, if not from the smart of it) are all assured here to those that fear God. Who would not then turn spiritual purchaser? See Proverbs 22:4 .

Proverbs 31:16 — She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She considereth a field and buyeth it. — Here is the fruit of her pains and providence. The manus motitans, the "stirring hand maketh rich," Proverbs 10:4 and "a wise woman buildeth her house." Proverbs 14:1 See Trapp on " Proverbs 14:1 " She considers the convenience of this field, and then casts about how she may compass it.

Jeremiah 2:4 — Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Hear ye the word of the Lord. — This is often inculcated in both Testaments, to procure attention. "I received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you." 1 Corinthians 11:23 "This we say unto you by the word of the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Thus to preach, is to preach cum privilegio, with authority.

Numbers 1:4 — And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers. A man of every tribe. — These were men of renown. Numbers 1:16 To "do worthily in Ephrata," is the way to be "famous in Bethlehem." Ruth 4:11 It is said of a great statesman, in Queen Elizabeth’s days, that he was in the number of those few that both lived and died with glory. Camden’s Elisab.

Numbers 12:15 — And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in [again]. And the people journeyed not. — But stayed for her restoration. She had once stayed for Moses, saith Jarchi, when he was cast into the river, Exodus 2:4 therefore the people stay for her. There is a memorandum set upon this leprosy of Miriam, Deuteronomy 24:9 like as afterwards was upon Lot’s wife’s transformation. Luke 17:32

Deuteronomy 3:26 — But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Speak no more. — Christians must be sober in prayer. 1 Peter 4:7 Socrates, a heathen, could say, We should pray for no more but this, that good things may be given us of God, who best knoweth what is best for us to receive.

Deuteronomy 32:31 — For their rock [is] not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves [being] judges. For their rock is not as our rock. — We may well say, Who is a God like unto thee? Micah 7:18 Contemno minutulos istos deos, mode Iovem (Iehovam) mihi propitium habeam; I care not for those dunghill deities, so I may have the true God to favour me. Even our enemies. — Exodus 14:25 Numbers 23:8 ; Numbers 23:12 1 Samuel 4:8 .

Judges 5:18 — Zebulun and Naphtali [were] a people [that] jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. That jeoparded their lives. — Or, Devoted, exposed; and are therefore worthily renowned and never enough commended. They that "do worthily in Ephrata," shall be "famous in Bethlehem." Ruth 4:11 What a name hath Seanderbeg, Hunniades, Zisca, the Black Prince, who was so called, not of his colour, but of his dreaded acts in battle! Speed.