Bible Commentaries

Genesis 34:7 — odious anywhere; most of all among saints. A thistle is unseemly in a garden, filthiness in a vestal, baseness in a prince. And yet, by the malice of Satan, there are, many times, more scandals in the Church than else where: such incest at Corinth, 1 Corinthians 5:1 as not among heathens; such folly in Jacob’s family, as not at Shechem, or Seir. "Sodom, thy sister, hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters." Ezekiel 16:48 This is lamentable!

Genesis 9:13 — token of a covenant between me and the earth. I do set my bow in the cloud, … — There it was before, but not till now as a token of the covenant; as still it is applied for a sign of grace from God to his Church. Revelation 4:3 ; Revelation 10:1 Ezekiel 1:28 It is planted in the clouds, as if man were shooting at God, and not God at man. This bow with both ends downward, and back to heaven, must needs be an emblem of mercy; for he that shooteth, holdeth the back of the bow from him. Of God’s

1 Kings 13:2 — contingent - are known to God only. For prophecies this rule is given; when the prophets foretold things ut futura in seipsis, then they always fell out; but when they foretold them only as in their causes, they might fall out, or not, as Isaiah 38:1 1 Kings 21:20 John 3:4 . And men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. — Other men’s bones beside priests’. Jeroboam’s likely, who upon this prophecy should have made all "the stones of his altars as chalkstones that are

2 Kings 8:1 — spake Elisha. — Or, Elisha had spoken to the woman, so Junius rendereth it, sc., about the time of his raising her son to life: then he foretold her, by way of gratitude, this sore famine, the same, some think, with that spoken of by Joel, Joel 1:1-20 which soon after began, and lasted seven years, which was an ordinary time for great famines, as Genesis 41:27 2 Samuel 24:13 2 Kings 4:38 . Thou and thy household. — Her husband is not mentioned; either because he was now dead, or else so

2 Chronicles 11:16 — hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. And after them. — See the force of good example; and that there were not a few of these that thus fled, though Jeroboam way laid them. Hosea 5:1 See Trapp on " Hosea 5:1 " Augustine gathereth from hence, that in those most corrupt times of king Ahab there were found seven thousand that had not bowed their knees to Baal. Such as set their hearts. — Qui tradiderunt cor suum, who

2 Chronicles 21:12 — bearing the name of Elijah, because he came in the spirit of Elijah, that the writing might have the more authority and weight. This is rather to cut than to untie the knot. They do better who say, that Elijah the Tishbite, foreseeing by the Spirit 1 Kings 13:2 Isaiah 45:1 that Jehoram would do so wickedly, wrote this epistle whilst he was yet alive, and left it with Elisha, or some other trusty person, to be sent unto Jehoram when he should see his time. Let us consider that letters are sent to

2 Chronicles 32:31 — ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was [done] in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all [that was] in his heart. Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors. — See 2 Kings 20:12-14 . God left him, to try him. — As he oft doth his best children, Genesis 22:1 Job 1:12 ; Job 2:3 ; Job 2:6 but forsaketh them not utterly. Psalms 119:8 The humility that Hezekiah showed when the prophet admonished him, and his perseverance

Ezra 3:6 — into them. Began they to offer — And so held on: for this month had as many feasts in it as were celebrated in all the year besides: so, as the Sabbath was the queen of days ( Regina dierum ), so was this of months. See Trapp on " Ezra 3:1 " But the foundation of the temple — Heb. of the kingly palace, aula basilica, used here and elsewhere for the place where God’s honour dwelleth. God is a great King, Malachi 1:14 , and requires to be served like himself. Was not yet

Ezra 6:12 — and people, that shall put to their hand to alter [and] to destroy this house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed. And the God that hath caused his name — i. e. His word and true worship, Acts 9:15 Psalms 138:2 Micah 4:5 1 Kings 5:3 ; 1 Kings 5:5 . Destroy all kings and people — A dreadful curse, and such as God saith Amen to. Let all persecutors and church robbers look to themselves. God’s hand hath ever been very heavy upon such

Nehemiah 3:5 — And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. The Tekoites repaired — The common sort of them; for the nobles refused. The lesser fishes bite best; the poor are gospelized, Matthew 11:5 , destined to the diadem, James 2:5 . But their nobles put not their necks — So haughty they were and high minded, they thought it a business below their greatness; somewhat of that profane earl of Westmoreland’s mind, who said that he

Job 7:21 — be able to deal with it. Hence this vehement expostulation of his for remission and removal of sin first, and then of its evil consequents; for pardon of sin is a voluminous mercy; and being justified by faith, we can glory in tribulation, Romans 5:1 ; Romans 5:3 . For now shall I sleep in the dust — In the dust of death, Psalms 22:1 ; Psalms 22:5 , and therefore must have help presently, or not at all; since a man once departed is no more to be found in this world, though never so diligently

Numbers 20:11 — because an angry man goes out of himself, off from his reason; and when he is pacified, he is said redire ad se, to come again to himself. And the water came out abundantly. — This cleaving of the hard rock was a work of omnipotency. Psalms 78:15 The works of God are in contrariis medias. Luther. This rock was Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4 fitly compared to a rock; (1.) For despicable appearance; Isaiah 53:2-3 (2.) For exaltation and advancement; (3.) For firmness and stability; Matthew 16:18

Hebrews 11:5 — found — And yet the Lord killed him not, as the Chaldee hath,Genesis 5:24; Genesis 5:24 , but took him up in a whirlwind, say the Hebrew doctors, as Elijah was. He was changed as those shall be that are found alive at Christ’s second coming, 1 Corinthians 15:51 , the soul and body being separated, and in a moment reunited. Subitus erit transitus a natura corruptibili in beatam immortalitatem, saith Calvin there. That. he pleased God — ευηοεστηκεναι

Revelation 16:19 — her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And the great city — The whole Antichristian state. Divided into three parts — By the earthquake disjected and dissipated. Or, divided into three parts, that is, into three factions, 1. Stiff Papists; 2. Converts; 3. Neuters. And the cities of the nations — That came to aid Antichrist. And great Babylon — Augustine and other ancients do call Rome the Western Babylon; and do so compare them, as that Abraham was born in

Revelation 2:17 — white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it . Of the hidden manna — That is, of Christ, whom none of the princes of this world knew; but God hath revealed him to his hidden ones by the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:8 ; 1 Corinthians 2:10 cf. Psalms 83:3 , and given them to taste of that heavenly gift. A white stone — In token of absolution. With this white stone may the saints comfort themselves against all the black coals wherewith the world

Revelation 21:14 — And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the wall — A wall the Church hath about it, and a well within it, Revelation 21:6 ; "A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse a spring shut up, a fountain sealed," Song of Solomon 4:12 . This wall of the Church hath twelve foundations, that is, Christ the only foundation, 1 Corinthians 3:11 , laid by the twelve apostles;

Ruth 2:11 — thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. It hath fully been showed me. — Her faith to God and love to her mother-in-law was much noted and noticed. See 1 Thessalonians 1:8 . Fame "If there be any virtue, if any praise." - Philippians 4:8 . followeth virtue, as the shadow doth the body, at the heels. "Since thou hast been precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable." Isaiah 43:4

1 Samuel 28:6 — And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. And when Saul inquired of the Lord. — Which he did not with a true heart, Hebrews 10:23 and Ficta pro factis non habentur, saith the Civilian: Nec videtur fieri quod non legitime fit: hence 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 it is said that Saul inquired not of the Lord. He did, and he did not, because not uprightly nor constantly: and Nihil dicitur

1 Samuel 30:1 — Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; Were come to Ziklag on the third day. — For so long they were in coming from the camp of the Philistines. See 2 Samuel 1:2 . That the Amalekites had invaded the south. — Of Judea, David’s country, who had lately so slaughtered them, but not wholly destroyed them. It is said of Carthage, that Rome was more troubled with it when it was half destroyed, than when

2 Samuel 1:6 — but was happily disappointed. Indeed, he happening happed upon Saul now dead, and brought away his crown and bracelets, for the which he promised himself some great preferment: but why should he tell so many lies? assuens mendacium mendacio, as Psalms 119:69 - viz., that he leaned, or fell, upon his spear, when it was upon his sword, 1 Samuel 31:4 that he talked to him, when his armourbearer saw him dead first, 1 Samuel 31:5 that he should desire an uncircumcised Amalekite to do for him that which