Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 14:7 — Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee. — God upbraideth not any unless it be in case of extreme ingratitude; as here, with James 1:5 . Qui exprobat reposcit. And made thee prince. — Antecessorem, a leader to others, a loade-star upon whom all should fix their eyes, and shape their course.

1 Kings 7:19 — And the chapiters that [were] upon the top of the pillars [were] of lily work in the porch, four cubits. Were of lily work. — As also of other flowers, leaves, and fruits, implexu coronario incursantibus. In the porch. — That was before the holy place; for there these pillars were set, 1 Kings 7:21 to show the stability of this house, and of the spiritual temple for ever: the Rabbis say, of the house of David.

Deuteronomy 30:14 — But the word [is] very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. Very nigh. — Nigher than the skin is to the flesh, or the flesh to the bones; it is within thy nature, and shall be in thy heart, λογος εμφυτος , an inbred or indwelling word. James 1:21 That thou mayest do it, — sc., By believing in Christ, John 6:24 and yielding the obedience of faith. Hebrews 8:10

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 .

Joshua 10:28 — And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that [were] therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho. And the king thereof he utterly destroyed. — Because his sins had done much harm: (1.) By imitation, for Magnates magnetes; ( 2.) By imputation, for plectunter Achivi.

Joshua 11:3 — [And to] the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and [to] the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and [to] the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh. In the land of Mizpeh. — Not that Mizpeh of Judah, Joshua 15:38 nor that of Benjamin, Joshua 18:26 nor Mizpeh of Moab; 1 Samuel 22:3 but that of Gilead, mentioned in Genesis 31:49 Judges 10:3 .

Joshua 22:30 — And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which [were] with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them. It pleased them. — Heb., It was good in their eyes; they showed themselves free from malignity and morosity: Romans 1:29 they were well satisfied, and well apaid that all was so well.

Judges 5:3 — Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, [even] I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing [praise] to the LORD God of Israel. Hear, O ye kings. — Hear and give ear, be not proud, cast down your crowns, and give glory to God. The altar of incense was compassed about with a crown of pure gold, Leviticus 3:1-17 to show that gratitude is a rich and royal virtue, best beseeming the best princes.

1 Samuel 12:6 — And Samuel said unto the people, [It is] the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron. — Heb., That made them; not only made them men, but great men. See the like, Deuteronomy 32:6 Isaiah 43:7 Ephesians 2:10 Revelation 1:6 . And that brought your fathers. — And so made, that is, exalted them too. Acts 13:17

1 Samuel 13:6 — When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. For the people were distressed. — Notwithstanding their having a king to save them. God will make the strongest sinew in the arm of flesh to crack, when once he taketh men to do. See 1 Samuel 13:3 .

1 Samuel 16:6 — And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed [is] before him. He looked on Eliab. — Who was of a goodly stature and presence, but proud and uncourteous. 1 Samuel 17:28 Fronti nulla fides. Samuel had seen how ill Saul proved, though proper and personable. And said, Surely, … — This he said by a human judgment, and not as a prophet. See the like, 2 Samuel 7:3 .

1 Samuel 23:3 — And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? And David’s men said unto him. — See a like discouraging speech of the disciples to our Saviour, John 11:8 and his resolute answer. 1 Samuel 23:9-10 God may be safely and must be faithfully followed, whithersoever he leads us: neither must we stand casting of perils.

1 Samuel 26:7 — So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. So David and Abishai came. — Ahimelech belike durst not venture, or else David was willing to have but only one with him, for secrecy sake. But Abner and the people lay round about him. — See on 1 Samuel 26:5 .

1 Samuel 9:4 — And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and [there they were] not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found [them] not. Through the land of Shalim. — Near Jordan, where afterwards John baptized. John 3:23 Called also the land of Shual, 1 Samuel 13:17 as Junius holdeth; haply because haunted by foxes.

2 Samuel 14:31 — Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto [his] house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? Then Joab arose. — Then he came speedily. Affliction hath whipped many a soul to heaven, whom, otherwise, prosperity had coached to hell. When God’s people leave this world they go to God; and when the world leaveth them, that is, when crosses come, they do the like; they arise and go to him. Hosea 6:1

2 Samuel 18:25 — And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he [be] alone, [there is] tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. — Tidings of victory likely; for if an army be beaten they flee by troops; and it is seldom seen that the newsbearer hath cause to say, "I only am escaped alone to tell thee," as Job 1:15-16 .

2 Samuel 19:31 — And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. And Barzillai the Gileadite came down. — He was one of those three that had brought provision to him. 2 Samuel 17:27-28 Of the other two we hear no more. Some suspect that David neglected them, being all for Barzillai. See 1 Kings 2:7 . There will be faults as long as there are men.

2 Samuel 2:18 — And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel [was as] light of foot as a wild roe. Light of foot as a wild roe. — Josephus saith he could make as much speed as a horse. Achilles was ποδας ωκυς , swift of foot; so was Jonathan. 2 Samuel 1:23 Harold, son of Canutus, the Dane, king of England, was surnamed Harefoot, for his agility and swiftness. This is excellent in a soldier.

2 Samuel 24:20 — And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. And Araunah looked and saw the king. — After that he had first seen the angel, 1 Chronicles 21:20 whom scarce any of the Israelites, except David, had yet seen. And Araunah went out, — sc., Out of the place where he had hid himself, together with his sons.

2 Samuel 9:12 — And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name [was] Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba [were] servants unto Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth had a younq son. — It was no small while, therefore, ere poor Mephibosheth was thought upon - see 2 Samuel 9:1 ; twenty years at least. Were servants unto Mephibosheth. — He was master of the house, and Ziba but steward; till, by his false and foolish calumnies, he had wormed out his master.