Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 10:28 — And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price. And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt. — Which abounded with these commodities. Proverbs 7:16 Isaiah 31:1 ; Isaiah 31:3 Ezekiel 27:7 Received the linen yarn at a price. — And so got the trade and monopoly thereof, and of horses, into their own hand, for the king’s behoof and benefit.

1 Kings 11:34 — Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: Howbeit I will not. — See on 1 Kings 11:13 . But I will make him prince all the days, … — Jeroboam therefore was too hasty, if he attempted anything by word or deed in Solomon’s days.

1 Kings 13:28 — And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. And found his carcass. — See on 1 Kings 13:24 . Nor torn the ass. — Heb., Broken; though lions love to devour asses. All creatures are at God’s beck and call. The ass stands untouched, the man of God is torn, or broken.

1 Kings 15:2 — Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. His mother’s name was Maachah. — Called also Micalah; 2 Chronicles 13:2 we read likewise of a woman called Abijah. 2 Chronicles 29:1 The daughter of Abishalom. — Or, Absalom, whose daughter or niece by his daughter Tamar this Maachah may seem to have been: her husband’s name was Uriel of Gibeah. 2 Chronicles 13:2

1 Kings 17:15 — And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat [many] days. And her house. — Which till now we read not of, more than of a son only. See on 1 Kings 17:12 . Many days, — viz., Till the Lord gave rain, and the earth returned to its former fertility. When means may be had and used, miracles are not to be expected.

1 Kings 3:13 — And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. Both riches and honour. — Seek God’s kingdom first, and then other things shall seek us fast enough. Matthew 6:33 Piety hath plenty of these things cast into the bargain, as it were, and assured her. Proverbs 3:16 1 Timothy 4:8

1 Kings 4:30 — And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. The wisdom of all the children of the east. — The Arabians and Chaldeans, Matthew 2:1 Daniel 2:2 philosophers and astronomers. And all the wisdom of Egypt. — See Isaiah 19:11-12 Acts 7:22 . Pythagoras, Plato, and many others, fetched much of their learning from Egypt: but all theirs was acquired; Solomon’s infused.

Joshua 17:3 — But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these [are] the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. But Zelophehad. — These daughters of his are commended by their names, by their masculine faith, and by their modesty in suing for their portion. See their plea and success in Numbers 27:1-3 , …

Joshua 18:5 — And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north. And they shall divide it. — With all indifferency, and so prevent all suspicion of partiality in those that were afterward to divide it by lot. "Provide things honest in the sight of all men." Romans 12:17 "Give none offence." 1 Corinthians 10:32

Joshua 21:12 — But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. Gave they to Caleb. — Who was glad, no doubt, of the Levites’ so near neighbourhood and good company, to instruct him and his in the law of the Lord, and to exhort them to obedience, which the best are too backward to, and may need monitors and remembrancers. 2 Peter 1:12

1 Samuel 10:10 — And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. The Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied. — As it were for company. Good men, as civet or musk, cast a sweet scent about them, and perfume the air they breathe on. See Trapp on " 1 Samuel 10:6 " Bonitatem suam aliis affricant.

1 Samuel 14:18 — And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. And Saul said unto Ahiah. — See 1 Samuel 14:3 . Hypocrites in a strait repair to God, not so much to serve him, as to serve themselves upon him: for at another time they think themselves men good enough; and act as if they were petty gods within themselves.

1 Samuel 17:30 — And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. And he turned from him toward another. — When a man is provoked to wrath, and beginneth to kindle, it is wisdom to divert to some other company, place, and business: as did Jonathan, 1 Samuel 20:25 and Ahasuerus. Esther 7:7 This is a cooler, and will slake the fire.

1 Samuel 23:5 — So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. And brought away their cattle. — Which either they found about their camp, or fetched out of their country. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. — And therefore deserved a corona civica of them, but met with ill measure. 1 Samuel 23:12

1 Samuel 26:8 — Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not [smite] him the second time. God hath delivered, … — See on 1 Samuel 24:4 . I will not smite him the second time. — I desire to have but one blow at him, to give him his passport.

1 Samuel 29:11 — So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. To return into the land of the Philistines. — Not to defend their borders, as Josephus will have it; but to do God service at Ziklag, and there to receive such as resorted unto him to make him king. See 1 Chronicles 12:19-21 .

1 Samuel 30:21 — And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that [were] with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them. That they could not follow David. — Could not, or would not. See Trapp on " 1 Samuel 30:10 "

2 Samuel 21:18 — And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which [was] of the sons of the giant. There was again a battle. — “ Nunquam bella bonis, nunquam discrimina desunt: Et quicum certet, mens pia semper habet. ” At Gob. — Which was near unto Gezar. See 1 Chronicles 20:4 . Some a for Gob read Nob, but that is not right.

2 Samuel 23:11 — And after him [was] Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. Into a troop. — Or, For foraging. And the people fled. — As 2 Samuel 23:9 , for it seemeth that this exploit was achieved jointly by these two worthies at the same time. 1 Chronicles 11:14

2 Samuel 5:4 — David [was] thirty years old when he began to reign, [and] he reigned forty years. David was thirty years old. — So was Christ when he entered upon his kingdom, which he hath twofold: 1. Patientiae; of patience. 2. Potentiae, of power. Luke 3:22-23 And he reigned forty years. — Which consisting of four tens, signifieth the fulness of times, and perfection of things, saith Angelomus: wherein also David was a type of Christ.