Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 17:5 — Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land. — Like an overflowing flood; having first seized upon the country of the Moabites, that he might leave nothing behind him that might be to his prejudice, Ar and Kirharaseth being destroyed, as had been foretold three years before. See Isaiah 16:1-14 cum notis Tremellii.

2 Kings 18:9 — And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which [was] the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. In the fourth year, … — See on 2 Kings 18:1 . That Shalmaneser, … — At which time Hezekiah sat in safety, and might keep a passover for his preservation. To teach us thus much it is, saith Pellican, that Israel’s ruin is here repeated.

1 Chronicles 2:3 — The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: [which] three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him. The sons of Judah. — These are first set down, (1.) For the royal dignity; (2.) For the descent of the Messiah. Was evil in the sight of the Lord. — Quem nihil latet , Who seeth and punisheth secret sins.

1 Chronicles 4:14 — And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen. For they were craftsmen. — Opifices Deo curae sunt. God takes notice of, and care for poor handicraftsmen, who live by their hard labour, who get it and eat it. Yea, the apostle Peter showeth that a poor servant, when he suffereth hard words and ill usage from his master, doth herein find acceptance with God. 1 Peter 2:19-20

2 Chronicles 11:13 — And the priests and the Levites that [were] in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. And the priests and the Levites. — This was to be like their worthy predecessors. Exodus 32:26 For Jeroboam and his sons. — Who were as active against the truth as their father. See 1 Kings 12:28 . One main reason might be, to possess their cities and lands. The church bread is sweet bread, said William Rufus.

2 Chronicles 18:11 — And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king. And all the prophets prophesied. — See 1 Kings 22:12 . With as much confidence as Jesuits offer to pawn their souls for the truth of their assertions, and tell us, that if we be not damned, they will be damned for us. Event, the master of fools, confuted these bold affirmers.

Nehemiah 11:7 — And these [are] the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah. Nehemiah 11:8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight. Ver. 7,8. Little Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes of Israel, 1 Samuel 9:21 , yields more by half than Judah. Jerusalem stood in both these tribes.

Job 35:16 — Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge. Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain — Dilatat, divaricat, rictum diducit ut bellua. An open mouth is oft a purgatory to the master; digito compesce labellum. He multiplieth words without knowledge — Eliphaz had charged Job with malice and blasphemy, Job 22:1-30 Elihu, only with vanity and ignorance. We may not make the worst of things, but give a favourable interpretation.

Job 6:23 — hand? … — Rescue me, ransom me from those that have robbed and wronged me; fetch back my lost goods by price or force. The word rendered mighty signifieth also formidable, terrible, breach makers. The word is opened by St Paul, Philippians 1:28 ; where he useth a metaphor from horses snorting ( πτυρομενοι ) and starting when frighted.

Psalms 105:4 — Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Seek the Lord, and his strength — That is, his ark, at the remove whereof to Jerusalem this psalm was sung, 1 Chronicles 16:7-36 , … Called it is God’s strength and God’s face here; yea, even God himself, Psalms 132:5 . It is as if he should say, Frequent holy assemblies, as ever you desire to draw nigh to God, and to have your faith in him confirmed.

Psalms 120:2 — Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, [and] from a deceitful tongue. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips — This was David’s distress, and it lay heavy upon his spirit; so it did upon Job’s, and Jeremiah’s, Jeremiah 20:10 ; the scourge of tongues he felt as sharp as scorpions. Of the mischief of an evil tongue see James 3:1-9 Psalms 52:2-4 Psalms 12:3 . See Trapp on " Psalms 12:3 "

Psalms 143:6 — I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul [thirsteth] after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. I stretch forth my hands unto thee — As a poor beggar for an alms. Beggary here is not the easiest and poorest trade, but the hardest and richest of all other. My soul thirsteth after thee — And is therefore a fit subject for thy Spirit of grace and comfort to be poured upon, Isaiah 44:3 ; Isaiah 55:1 .

Psalms 22:18 — They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. They part my garments among them, and cast lots — A very clear testimony to us that our crucified God (as they scornfully term him) was the true Messiah, so long since fore prophesied of, and accordingly accomplished, Luke 23:34 Job 20:24 . Such texts as this we should make much of, as the best and surest evidences of our Christian faith, 2 Peter 1:19 .

Psalms 41:7 — All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. All that hate me, whisper together against me — Heb. Mussitant, they mutter, as charmers use to do. These whisperers are dangerous fellows, Romans 1:29 , like the wind that creepeth in by chinks in a wall or cracks in a window. A vento percolato, et iuimico reconciliato, libera nos, Domine, saith the Italian. Against me do they devise — Cogitant quasi coagitant.

Psalms 63:4 — Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. Thus will I bless thee while I live — I will divide my time between praises and prayers, and so drive a holy trade between heaven and earth. See Psalms 18:3 . I will lift up my hands — i.e. Pray, as Psalms 141:2 1 Timothy 2:8 . In thy name — i.e. Cleaving to thy goodness and mercy. Fretus tuo auxilio.

Psalms 64:2 — Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked — Or, from the mystery of evil doers, from the Church malignant, that mystery of iniquity. See the contrary, Psalms 111:1 . From the insurrection, … — Heb. from their tumult, their hurricum, their open force, as well as from their secret fraud. Let thy protection equal their projects, who turn every stone to undo me.

Psalms 69:13 — But as for me, my prayer [is] unto thee, O LORD, [in] an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord — So St Paul, "Being defamed," saith he, "we pray." Christ in like case committed himself to God in well-doing, 1 Peter 2:15 In an acceptable time — Or, there will be an acceptable time.

Psalms 77:15 — Thou hast with [thine] arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people — viz. Out of the bondage of Egypt, that memorable mercy; but nothing to that of ours and theirs from sin’s thraldom. The sons of Jacob and Joseph — Joseph is instanced, quia nobilis inter fratres, vel in malis quae pendit, vel in bonis quae rependit, as Austin hath it (De Doct. Christ. 1. iv. c. 6).

Proverbs 24:7 — Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. Wisdom is too hard for a fool. — Heb., Too high; his pericranium comprehends it not, "neither indeed can" do. 1 Corinthians 2:14 He puts off the study of it, pretending the impossibility of reaching to it. He openeth not his mouth in the gate. — He were two fools if he should, for while he holds his tongue he is held wise.

Proverbs 30:32 — If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] thine hand upon thy mouth. Lay thy hand upon thy mouth. — That is, Better examine thyself, commune with thine own heart and be still. Repent thee, as Job did in like case. Job 42:1-6 Quem poenitet peccasse, pene est innocens. Senec., Agram. It is not the falling into the water that drowns one, but the lying in it.