Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 13:25 — hereby see that he was indeed a prophet of God - whose hand was so heavy upon him for not persevering to obey this command - and that therefore whatsoever he had foretold, should in due time be fulfilled, as the old prophet also herehence concluded. 1 Kings 13:32

1 Kings 15:18 — since no necessity urged him thereunto. And the treasures of the king’s house. — Which were much augmented doubtless by the great spoils of the Ethiopians and Lubims, lately beaten by him. The son of Hezion. — Alias Rezon, of whom see 1 Kings 11:23 .

1 Kings 22:48 — Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. To go to Ophir for gold. — See 1 Kings 9:28 . For his ships were broken. — This cross was in great mercy to Jehoshaphat. "Thou in very faithfulness hast afflicted me," saith David. This should be a patienting consideration; as it is said to have been to Philip, king

1 Kings 5:12 — architectonicam, tanquam Idaeam futuri aedificii, wisdom for the present purpose, skill in contriving and building, a notion of the future edifice. And they two made a league together. — A brotherly covenant, which though Tyre some while forgot, Amos 1:9 and insulted over Jerusalem, yet it was foretold - and accordingly fulfilled - that Tyre, when converted, should leave hoarding and heaping her wealth, and should find another manner of employment for it, viz., to feed and clothe God’s saints.

Judges 10:1 — thrust not himself into the office, as Abimelech, that usurper, had done; but was raised up by God, and accordingly qualified. A man of Issachar. — The men of this tribe are little memorised. Deborah, indeed, celebrateth them in her song, Judges 5:15 and David made great account of them, because "they had understanding of the time, to know what Israel ought to do." 1 Chronicles 12:32 This Tola, likely, was such a one, by a specialty.

Judges 11:24 — not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess. That which Chemosh thy god giveth thee. — Namely, The land of the Zanzummims, Deuteronomy 2:19-20 which their god Chemosh had not in very deed given them, for "we know that an idol is nothing in the world," 1 Corinthians 8:4 and nothing he can give, Jeremiah 10:5 but only the king of Ammon thought so; like as in 2 Chronicles 28:23

1 Samuel 1:10 — And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed. — Herein she took a right course to get comfort. So did David, Psalms 109:4 and Paul, 1 Corinthians 4:13 "being defamed we pray." If she should have rendered to Peninnah railing for railing, there would have been somewhat to do. Prayer and patience are the best antidotes against contempt and contumelies; the one

1 Samuel 11:11 — either side, with wonderful celerity; so that he might well say as Caesar did, Veni, vidi, vici, I no sooner came, but overcame. And slew the Ammonites. — Together with Nahash their king, saith Josephus; but some think otherwise, from 2 Samuel 10:1 .

1 Samuel 13:1 — and when he had reigned two years over Israel, Saul reigned one year, — i.e., Well and orderly; he reigned the two first years, till he was rejected of God, and bereft of his Spirit; for then he turned tyrant, holding the kingdom by violence, 1 Samuel 14:47 and ruling with rigour. Now although he reigned many years, yet the two first only are reckoned on. In God’s account, a man liveth no longer than he liveth well Sic, Qui diu vixit, nec profecit ad bonos mores, non diu vixit, sed diu

1 Samuel 14:13 — And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet. — See 1 Samuel 14:4 . Faith in God’s power and promises will eat its way over all Alps of opposition. Magna facinora, magnis periculis emuntur, saith the historian. Dionys. Halicar. Great acts are bought with great hazards. And they fell before Jonathan.

1 Samuel 14:20 — the people that [were] with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great discomfiture. Every man’s sword was against his fellow. — See on 1 Samuel 14:16 . So Judges 7:22 2 Chronicles 20:23 . And there was a very great discomfiture. — Notwithstanding Saul’s sin, Samuel’s departure, and the people’s diffidence, God wrought for his own name’s sake: and lest the

1 Samuel 16:11 — confession of their sins, Are here all? There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. — Him God called "from following the ewes great with young, to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance." Psalms 78:71 See Trapp on " Psalms 78:71 " Our vocation likewise to glory and virtue is gratuita, et inopinata Ephesians 1:5

1 Samuel 2:28 — reposcit: God doth not upbraid any, but only in case of abuse of his benefits, which he accounts a very great indignity. Beneficium postulat officium. All the offerings made by fire. — A very liberal and an honourable maintenance. Leviticus 6:17 Deuteronomy 18:1

1 Samuel 2:7 — bringeth low, and lifteth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich. — De pauperat et ditat: It is he that stoppeth that hole in the bottom of the bag, those secret drains and issues of expense, at which other men’s estates run out. Haggai 1:6 He bringeth low, and lifteth up. — Job, for instance; and our Henry VI, in whom it appeared that mortality was but the stage of mutability; for today he was a most potent monarch, tomorrow not the master of a mole hill. How suddenly was Joseph

1 Samuel 23:12 — said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver [thee] up. Will the men of Keilah. — Here is a second inquiry. God loveth to be often sought unto by his praying people, Luke 18:1 and therefore answereth them by degrees, that he may frequently hear from them. Thus the cloud emptieth not itself at a sudden burst, but dissolveth upon the earth drop after drop. They will deliver thee up. — Trust not to them; lest upon trial

1 Samuel 25:21 — for good. Now David had said, — viz., Either before he set forth, or else whilst he was upon the way: and so, haply, Abigail might overhear him, and thereupon fall down at his feet and say, "Upon me, upon me be this iniquity," … 1 Samuel 25:24 And he hath requited me evil for good. — This is gross ingratitude, and doth mainly provoke. Such was that of Michael Balbus to Leo Armenius, the emperor, of Parry to Queen Elizabeth, of Bonner to Bishop Ridley, …

1 Samuel 3:2 — And it came to pass at that time, when Eli [was] laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, [that] he could not see; At that time. — Much about that time that the aforesaid prophet had spoken to Eli, 1 Samuel 2:27-36 or not long after. Clouds cluster against a storm. Or rather, At that time when the word of God was precious. That he could not see. — Tηλαυγες , clearly, and far off. The Rabbins interpret

2 Samuel 15:23 — good times lasted not long. The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron. — Which had its name from darkness, and was the town ditch. Herein he became a type of Christ, who passed over the same brook, when he was in danger of the Jews. John 18:1 Toward the way of the wilderness. — The wilderness of Jericho.

2 Samuel 5:3 — made a league with them, — sc., That he would be their liege-lord, as they would be his liege-people; that is, as the word signifieth, mutually bound each to other. In Hebron. — Where, haply, Abraham’s altar still continued. Compare 1 Samuel 15:7 . And they anointed David king. — As other nations crowned their kings, so the Israelites anointed them as types of the Messiah, who was "anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows," and for them also.

2 Samuel 7:17 — to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. So did Nathan speak unto David. — He unsaid what he had said before, 2 Samuel 7:3 and thought it no such disgrace - since God had now revealed his mind to the contrary - as Jonah did, Jonah 4:1-3 swelling, till he was ready to burst again. See the like piety and modesty in Isaiah 38:5 . Augustine also is famous for his book of "Retractations"; wherein none had imitated him in Ludovicus Vives’s time. Bellarmine hath since written