Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 11:35 — I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, [even] ten tribes. But I will take the kingdom, … — And accordingly he did; 1 Kings 12:12-19 whence some begin the three hundred and ninety days in Ezekiel 4:5 . Others, distinguishing between God’s decree and his command, say that Jeroboam in revolting from the house of Solomon, and drawing off the ten tribes, is not to be excused; because he acted against God’s command, though according to

1 Kings 17:9 — friars stick not at a journey to China or Peru, if their superiors command them to go it. Which belongeth to Zidon. — And was inhabited by Gentiles; to figure out the rejection of the Jews, and vocation of the Gentiles, as our Saviour showeth. Luke 4:25

1 Kings 4:27 — table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. And for all that came unto king Solomon’s table. — Who were not a few, not only natives, but foreigners; not ambassadors only, but others, who came from all parts to hear his wisdom, 1 Kings 4:34 and so to be proselyted haply. But Josephus relateth of the Jews, that they were very careful how they received proselytes in Solomon’s time; because then the state of the Jews flourished.

1 Kings 7:23 — And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: [it was] round all about, and his height [was] five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. And he made a molten sea. — As a large laver for the priests to wash in. 2 Chronicles 4:6 the Hebrews used to call the gathering together of much water a sea. It signifieth both the exceeding filthiness of sin, requiring a sea for the cleansing of it, and the infinite virtue of Christ’s blood, …

1 Kings 8:9 — Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables. — That is, Nothing of the book of the law, saith Vatablus, but the decalogue: the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod were also in the ark, Hebrews 9:4 though Junius holdeth that εν η there relateth not to κιβωτου the ark, but to σκηνη the tabernacle.

2 Kings 10:36 — Israel in Samaria [was] twenty and eight years. Was twenty and eight years. — This was a longer time than any of his predecessors had reigned; his successors of his family reigned seventy-six years, which yet God calleth a little while, Hosea 1:4 and threateneth to break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel, Hosea 1:5 or, from Propter vallem Iezrehelis the valley of Jezreel; that is, for the slaughter of Ahab’s house there made by Jehu, as Junius readeth and senseth it.

2 Kings 17:26 — slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. Know not the manner of the god of the land. — They foolishly thought that each land had its proper god, whenas both they and their posterity worshipped they knew not what; John 4:22 worshipped devils. Revelation 9:20

2 Kings 19:24 — all the rivers of besieged places. I have digged and drunk strange waters, — Nihil est mihi impossibile. - Vat. i.e., Newly found waters, though thou hast endeavoured to stop from me and mine army the waters of the fountains. 2 Chronicles 32:3-4 And with the sole of my feet. — Thrasonica hyperbole; he proudly boasteth of his numerous army, and that with the trampling of his horse and horsemen he could dry up the pools about Jerusalem.

2 Kings 4:12 — And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. Call this Shunammite. — Gehazi it seemeth was sent to call her, but withal to acquaint her with the business, - viz., that if she had any suit to the king or his general, …, - and to bring back her answer; whereupon consulting with Gehazi what was to be done for her, and understanding by him that she had no child, Elisha bade Gehazi call her, as 2 Kings 4:15 .

Deuteronomy 32:9 — Dear to God, though despised of the world. They are the Lord’s "inheritance," Isaiah 19:25 "peculiar" ones, Exodus 19:5 the people of his purchase, that comprehended all his gettings, 1 Peter 2:9 his "glory," Isaiah 46:13 his "ornament," Ezekiel 7:20 his "throne," Jeremiah 4:17 his "diadem," Isaiah 62:3 "heirs of the kingdom," saith St James, James 2:5 heads destinated to the diadem, saith Tertullian.

Joshua 11:11 — breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. And he burnt Hazor with fire. — Which yet was rebuilt and reigned in by another Jabin, this man’s nephew haply, who therefore might, in revenge, the more cruelly tyrannise over the Israelites. Judges 4:2-3 Malice is commonly hereditary, and runs in the blood; and, as we used to say of runnet, the older it is, the stronger.

Joshua 24:14 — the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And put away the gods. — Deastros illos, which some of them secretly worshipped, as they did likewise in the wilderness. Amos 5:25-26 Acts 7:42-43 So in Josiah’s days, Baal had privily his "Chemarims," or chimney chaplains, yea, those that "worshipped the host of heaven upon the housetops," … Zephaniah 1:4-5

Joshua 24:20 — beneficia, flagitia, supplicia. From apostates God will take away his own and be gone, Hosea 2:9 he will curse their blessings, Malachi 2:2 blast their hopes, make them know the worth of his benefits by the want of them, making them cry out, as Jeremiah 4:13 , "Woe to us! for we are spoiled."

Joshua 6:4 — will by such means as the world judgeth absurd and ridiculous. And the seventh day. — Which, probably, was the Sabbath day, wherein, "by the foolishness of preaching," God still overturneth the strongholds of Satan, 2 Corinthians 10:4 by the priests blowing with their trumpets.

Joshua 9:11 — unto them, We [are] your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. And go to meet them, and say. — Seeing we are not able to match them, it is good policy to meet them with entreaties of peace. Let us do the like by Almighty God. Amos 4:12 Mittamus preces et lachrymas cordis legatos, saith Cyprian; Currat paenitentia ne praecurrat sententia, saith Chrysologus.

1 Samuel 12:11 — been noted. See Trapp on " Judges 13:25 " And Samuel. — He mentioneth himself, not out of vain glory, but to aggravate their ingratitude toward him, by whom they had been so lately and memorably delivered. 1 Samuel 7:9-10 ; 1 Samuel 8:4-5

1 Samuel 14:14 — And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow]. Was about twenty men. — Twenty men, plus minus. So John 4:6 , "It was about the sixth hour." In things whereof there is no necessity of speaking on a certainty, we must deliver ourselves accordingly. Within as it were an half acre. — Brevissimo spatio: Vat. in a small compass of ground these

1 Samuel 2:16 — And [if] any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and [then] take [as much] as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, [Nay]; but thou shalt give [it me] now: and if not, I will take [it] by force. Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, — q.d., Let God have his due first; Leviticus 3:3-4 but these men took no care to serve at the altar, but only to satisfy their gluttony: their gut was their god.

2 Samuel 21:21 — And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him. Jonathan the son of Shimei. — Whom some hold to be the same with that Jonadab, 2 Samuel 13:3 ; 2 Samuel 13:5 and then though he were witty and valiant, yet he was non nimus pius, not so honest as he should have been. So Joses Barnabas is by the Centurists thought to be the same with Joseph Barsabas, Acts 1:23 ; Acts 4:36 but a far better man he was than this Jonathan, alias Jonadab.

2 Samuel 7:11 — And as since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. That he will make thee an house, — i.e., Give thee a numerous and longlasting offspring to succeed thee in the throne. See Exodus 2:21 Ruth 4:11 1 Kings 2:24 . Scarce any of the Roman emperors had a son to succeed him: all or most of them, till Constantine, died unnatural deaths.