Bible Commentaries

Genesis 18:12 — carnally, as that unbelieving lord 2 Kings 7:2 storms at God’s offers, as Naaman at the message 2 Kings 5:11 looks upon God’s Jordan with Syrian eyes, as he, and after all, cries out with Nicodemus, "How can these things be?" John 3:4 measuring God by its own model; and casting him into its own mould. After I am waxed old, shall I lust? — Old and cold, is our English proverb; and the Greek word for an old body signifies one in whom natural heat is extinct. Pρεσβυς,

Genesis 2:17 — citissimeque morieris And without doubt every man should die the same day he is born: the wages of death should be paid him presently. But Christ begs their lives for a season. For which cause he is said to be "the Saviour of all men," 1 Timothy 4:10 not of eternal preservation, but of temporal reservation. In which respect, also, God is said "so to have loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son," … John 3:16 It was a mercy to all mankind that the Messiah was promised

Genesis 24:67 — love; (2.) A wife of God’s providing; a mate meet for him; none in all the world so meet; (3.) She was love-worthy, because fair, courteous, virtuous: and as meat pleaseth us better in a clean dish, so doth virtue in comely persons, saith Hugo; (4.) She forgot her father’s house, and forsook all her friends for him, … And Isaac was comforted. — If God takes away one comfort, he will give another. Cheer up, therefore.

Genesis 3:11 — Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? Who told thee. — His own conscience, awakened and cited by God’s voice, "told him" - as the woman of Samaria said of our Saviour - "all John 4:29 that ever he did." Before and in the acting of sin, we will hear nothing; but afterwards, conscience will send forth a shrill and sharp voice, that shall be heard all the soul over; such as was that of Reuben to his brethren: "Spake I not

Genesis 4:15 — his misery; he might not be killed by any, that he might everyday is dying, having a hell in his conscience, and standing in fear of every man he met with. He that would not hearken to God, so sweetly inciting and enticing him to do well, ( Genesis 4:7 has now Pavor and Pallor for his gods, as Lanctantius Lanctan. Instit. reports of Tullius Hostilius, who had profanely derided the devotions of his predecessor Numa, as here Cain had done his brother Abel’s.

Genesis 49:15 — the times, to know what Israel ought to do," 1 Chronicles 12:32 and were therefore in great account with David. But for action, it seems they were heavy-spirited, dull-mettled men; much like those "potters," mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:23 , "that dwelt among plants and hedges"; the base brood of their degenerated forefathers in Babylon. "He, he, come forth, and flee from the land of the north," said the Lord unto them. Zechariah 2:6 Cyrus also had proclaimed liberty

Genesis 49:8 — chief herald, proclaims his victory with a world of solemnity and triumph, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 and calls upon all his brethren to bow down before him, Philippians 2:10 as they do, Revelation 12:10 casting down their crowns at his feet, Revelation 4:10 and setting the crown upon his head, - as the manner was among the Romans, that the saved should crown their saviours, and honour them as their fathers all their lives long, being wholly at their service. Apud Romam siqui servati essent, solebant

1 Chronicles 4:10 — evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. And Jabez called on the God of Israel. — Upon the point of some warlike exploit: or in some great exigency. And hence he was "more honourable"; 1 Chronicles 4:9 he prayed earnestly, and sped accordingly. Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed. — Heb., If blessing thou wilt bless me: q.d., then shalt thou have mine utmost service, and I will wholly devote myself to thy fear. This was to "pray in

2 Chronicles 15:8 — heard these words. — He was zealous for God before, but now his heart, was all on a light flame for God. "Did not our hearts burn within us, whilst he opened unto us the Scriptures?" said those two disciples travelling to Emmaus. Luke 24:32 Together with Christ’s words there went forth a power. Luke 5:15 And the prophecy of Oded. — That is, Of Azariah, son of Oded. He put away the abominable idols. — St Peter speaketh of "abominable idolatry." 1 Peter 4:3

2 Chronicles 31:1 — the Lord, which was their strength, and graciously lifted up in the Lord’s ways, as 2 Chronicles 17:6 , they returned not home, till they had first done these zealous acts. And brake the images in pieces. — They with their king. 2 Kings 18:4 In Ephraim also and Manasseh. — Such cities therein as were subject to Hezekiah. Or if they went further, they looked upon Hoshea then king of Israel as a usurper: and he being rather an atheist than idolater, suffered the people haply to do herein

Job 6:11 — sores and sicknesses which, if they continue but a while, will certainly make an end of me. And what is mine end — i.e. The later part of my life, what is that else but trouble and sorrow? See this elegantly set forth by Solomon, Ecclesiastes 12:2-4 , … That I should prolong my life? — That I should desire my life to be prolonged or eked out to that? Rather let it be my care, with Varro, ut sarcinas colligam antequam proficiscar e vita, to be ready for death, which seemeth so ready

Numbers 17:8 — flourisheth in the hearts of God’s elect; - and surely fruitfulness is the best argument of our election, and that we are called of God, for not only all the plants of his setting, but the very boughs cut off from the body of them will flourish; (4.) For a lively representation of a glorious resurrection. At the French massacre, Aug. 25, 1572, in the churchyard of St Innocent at Paris, a certain bush suddenly bloomed about the middle time of that bloody day, at an unusual time of the year. Epitome

Joshua 18:1 — children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them. Assembled together at Shiloh. — Ut enim שׁìí pacificam denotat et tranquillam, Genesis 34:21 Nahum 1:12 ita et שׁìä . Daniel 6:1 Unde et Messias "Shiloh" appellatur. Which, both by the signification of the name, and by the situation of the place, seemeth to some to be the same with Salem, Melchizedek’s city,

Joshua 7:1 — Propter arctam coniuactionem. For Achan, the son of Carmi, … — He was well descended, but became a stain to his ancestors by his covetousness, which was the worse in him, because he had, of his own, oxen, asses, sheep, … Joshua 6:24 Proverbs 6:30 The devil knew his temper, felt which way his pulse beat, and accordingly fitted him with an object, set a prize before him: hence he is called "the tempter" Matthew 4:3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children

Judges 16:3 — [them] upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that [is] before Hebron. And arose at midnight. — From the bed of fornication, where the Spirit had screeched out unto him, "Oh, do not this abominable thing!" Jeremiah 44:4 Nevertheless he did it; and yet by the instinct of the same Spirit, who might justly have loathed his lodging, he arose and prepared to be gone. God dealeth not with his people according to their sins, but beareth long with their evil manners. And

Judges 19:22 — tantum, by speech only, not by reason; men compact of mere incongruities and absurdities Aποποι . 2 Thessalonians 3:2 unreasonable wicked men; flagitious fellows. Beset the house round about. — Sodomite like. Genesis 19:4 Domus tutissimum cuique refugium atque receptaculum, saith the civil law. A man’s house is his castle, say we. But this old man could not be quiet in his own house for these beastly ruffians, qui gyraverunt circa domum, who beset the house and

Revelation 20:10 — conversion of the Jews, the Turks and other states of the East shall be brought to embrace the gospel, being first taught thereto by some notable foil. What to think of this I know not; but cannot but like well of Diodate’s note upon Revelation 20:4 ; that in all this prophecy it is better and more sure to expect and stay for the explication by the event than to give it without any certain ground. And shall be tormented — Gr. βασανισθησονται

Revelation 20:6 — death to the joys of eternal life, where is mirth without mourning, riches without rust, … But they shall be priests — See Trapp on " Revelation 1:6 " They shall reign — The righteous are kings, Matthew 13:17 ; cf. Luke 10:24 ; "Many righteous" is the same with "many kings." See Trapp on " Revelation 20:4 " A thousand years — These thousand years begin (saith Mr Brightman) where the former ended, that is, in the year 1300, whereby continuance

Revelation 5:5 — informed by a tentmaker, and a great apostle be comforted by an ordinary Roman,Acts 8:26; Acts 8:26 ; Romans 1:12 . This elder in the text seems to be the patriarch Jacob (saith one), because from his prophecy the name of lion is given to Christ,Genesis 49:9; Genesis 49:9 . Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah — So Moses sets forth our Saviour. And fitly, 1. For the excellency of his strength. 2. For his heroical spirit. 3. For his principality; the lion is the king of beasts. 4. For his vigilancy;

1 Samuel 18:1 — suitableness of their natures and manners; for likeness maketh love. That the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. — Corporibus geminis spritus unus erat. So the primitive Christians were "of one heart and of one soul." Acts 4:32 Animo animaque inter se miscebantur, saith Tertullian. So were Basil and Nazianzen, Eusebius and Pamphilus, Minutius Faelix and Octavianus, as themselves witness. And Jonathan loved him as his own soul. — A sweet mercy of God to David to have