Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 22:2 — And David commanded to gather together the strangers that [were] in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. To gather together the strangers. — A notable type of the calling of the Gentiles: and the like we may say of the temple’s being built on the ground of a Jebusite, and by the help of Tyrians and Zidonians, and adorned with the spoils of various nations. 1 Chronicles 18:7-11

2 Chronicles 13:6 — Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord. Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon. — But such a servant, as being delicately brought up by him, and courteously dealt with, would needsly become his son at length, as Proverbs 29:21 , rising up and rebelling against his lord, as he is justly charged, though God foretold that he should be king. 1 Kings 11:35

2 Chronicles 29:1 — Hezekiah began to reign [when he was] five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. Hezekiah began to reign. — See 2 Kings 18:1-2 . And his mother’s name was Abijah. — He was the better man for the good instructions of his mother, though she could do no good on her husband Ahaz; such was his pertinacy, not moved at all by her piety.

2 Chronicles 4:5 — And the thickness of it [was] an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; [and] it received and held three thousand baths. Three thousand baths. — See on 1 Kings 7:26 . There it is said "two thousand baths": Dicendum hic addi, …, salth Vatablus. This prophet addeth what is wanting in the other; ea enim est mens autheris huius libri, for that is the design of this our author.

2 Chronicles 7:6 — And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy [endureth] for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. To praise the Lord, — sc., With Psalms 136:1-26 See 2 Chronicles 5:13 . The rest of the Israelites stood by the priests and Levites, praising God in their hearts.

Psalms 101:4 — froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked [person]. A froward heart shall depart from me — i.e. Say some, I will endeavour to put off the old man with the lusts thereof, Ephesians 4:22 , the old crooked frame shall be dissolved, and a better erected. I will not know evil, that is, regard, or allow it, Psalms 1:6 . Others understand the text of rotten hearted and wicked counsellors, whom David would abhor and abandon.

Psalms 102:16 — When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. When the Lord shall build up Zion — Isaiah had foretold that the second temple should be more glorious than the first, Isaiah 54:11 ; Isaiah 60:17 , the stones whereof were types of those living stones whereof that spiritual temple was to be built, 1 Peter 2:5 , and wherein God would manifest more of his glory than ever he had done in all the world besides.

Psalms 106:44 — Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: Nevertheless he regarded their affliction — See for proof hereof the whole Book of Judges, and take notice of God’s philanthropy, who heareth men’s afflictions, as he did Hagar’s, Genesis 16:11 , and is oft found of them that seek him not, Isaiah 65:1 . See 2 Kings 14:26-27 . When he heard their cry — Heb. their shrill outcry; not for joy (as the word is mostly taken), but for grief.

Psalms 113:9 — He maketh the barren woman to keep house, [and to be] a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. He maketh the barren woman to keep house — Heb. to dwell in a house, that is, to have a house full of children, and so to build her husband’s house, Ruth 4:11 . This is applied to the Church (which is the theatre of the world, wherein God showeth his special providence and power), Isaiah 54:1 Galatians 4:26-27 .

Psalms 119:75 — I know, O LORD, that thy judgments [are] right, and [that] thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right — That is, that I suffer deservedly. To thee, O Lord, belongeth righteousness, …, Daniel 9:7 And that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me — That thou mayest be true to my soul, and not suffer me to run on to my utter ruin; or, in faithfulness, that is, in measure, as 1 Corinthians 10:13 .

Psalms 142:3 — When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me — Or, covered over, with grief, as the Greek expoundeth it. Then thou knewest my path — sc. That I neither fretted nor fainted; or, thou knewest how to make a way to escape, 1 Corinthians 10:13 . The Lord knoweth how to deliver his, 2 Peter 2:9 .

Psalms 29:10 — The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. The Lord sitteth upon the flood — He reigned in that general deluge in Noah’s days, Genesis 6:7 , and doth still over those horrible inundations that follow upon thunder and strong tempests; ruling that raging element, and governing all by his providence and sovereign power. Yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever — And over all; therefore all, even the mightiest, should give him glory, as Psalms 29:1 .

Psalms 31:2 — Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. Bow down thine ear to me, deliver me — This repetition of his petition is no vain babbling, as Matthew 6:9 , but an effect and an evidence of greatest earnestness, as Matthew 26:44 . For an house of defence — Where the enemy can as little hurt me as when I was in the hold, 1 Samuel 22:4 .

Psalms 41:11 — By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. By this I know that thou favourest me — This is the triumph of trust and the fruit of faithful prayer; ever answered, sometimes before it is uttered, sometimes in, and sometimes alter the act; but we may be sure of an unmiscarrying return if we pray and not faint, Luke 18:1 , even such as shall bring us word that God favoureth our persons.

Psalms 59:12 — [For] the sin of their mouth [and] the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying [which] they speak. For the sin of their mouth, … — The Arabians have this proverb, Take heed lest thy tongue cut thy throat. Many a man’s mouth is a purgatory to the master. Hard words must be reckoned for, Judges 1:15 ; the Jews find it so, and will do. And for cursing, … — Cursing men are cursed men.

Psalms 89:4 — Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. Thy seed will I establish for ever — David’s for a long time, but Christ’s for ever and aye. And build up thy throne to all generations — Christ’s kingdom hath no end, Isaiah 9:7 Luke 1:33 . This is very comfortable. The Jews understanding this promise of David’s kingdom, have oft attempted the restoration of it; but in vain, and to the ruin of their nation.

Psalms 96:6 — Honour and majesty [are] before him: strength and beauty [are] in his sanctuary. Honour and majesty are before him — These are his harbingers, and they go often coupled, as Psalms 104:1 Psalms 111:3 Psalms 145:5 Job 40:10 , … By the former, seemeth to be meant outward port and splendour; by the latter, inward reverence and respect following thereupon. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary — God’s glory shineth more in his Church than in all the world besides.

Psalms 98:2 — The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. The Lord hath made known his salvation — His way of saving his people by his Son, Christ, Matthew 1:21: this mystery, so long kept secret, is now made known to all nations for the obedience of faith, Romans 16:25-26 . His righteousness — Made ours by imputation; this the Jews to this day deride, and the Papists call it putative, in a jeer.

Proverbs 1:21 — She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, [saying], In the chief place of concourse. — Veritas non quaerit angulos. Christ, as his manner was, preached in the synagogues; Paul disputed in the market with whomsoever he met, and preached in the midst of Mars hill. Acts 17:17-22 And at Rome his "bonds in Christ were manifest in all Caesar’s court, and in all other places." Philippians 1:13

Proverbs 24:4 — And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. With all precious and pleasant riches. — Riches imply (1.) Plenty of that which is precious and pleasant. (2.) Propriety; they must be good things that are our own; and hereunto economical prudence much conduceth. God bestoweth abundance on the wicked ex largitate, only out of a general providence; but upon his people that are good husbands ex promisso, by virtue of this and the like promises.