Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 15:12 — And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. And he took away the sodomites. — See 1 Kings 14:24 . How far from this zeal of good Asa was Pope Sixtus Quartus, qui lupanar utriusque Veneris Romae condidit, et tribus mensibus anni calidioribus, Iunio, Iulio, et Augusto, toti familiae Cardinalis Sanctae Luciae masculam venerem permisit

1 Kings 20:20 — horse with the horsemen. And the Syrians fled … and Benhadad escaped on a horse. — So that it might now have been well said unto him, as once Zebul said unto Gaal. Judges 9:38 Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou boastest so great things. 1 Kings 20:10 Is not this the people that thou hast despised? Go out, I pray now, and fight with them. But it is well observed, that those who vaunt most, have oft the least courage: as those creatures who have the greatest hearts of flesh, are the most

1 Kings 5:3 — the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. For the wars that were about him. — He saith not for his shedding of blood, which elsewhere is made the reason why David might not build a house, 1 Chronicles 28:3 but only for his continual wars, by reason whereof he had not time to do it. The best things are to be spoken of parents: to speak evil to them, κακολογων . or of them, was death

1 Kings 8:25 — that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. Keep with thy servant David. — Solomon knew well that such as would obtain the accomplishment of the promises, must put them in suit, as Jacob did, Genesis 32:9 , … and David, Psalms 119:49 and Elijah. 1 Kings 18:41 Note here how Solomon pleadeth the performance of one promise, that he may prevail for another. Let us learn in this holy manner to encroach upon God.

2 Kings 17:30 — of heathenish deities are Syriac and Chaldee. Nergol significth a woodcock, or a rooster (roostcock); Asima, a goat or wolf; Nibhaz, a dog; Tartak, an ass. Adrammelech and Anammelech were idols made in the shape of a horse and a mule. See here Romans 1:23 verified, and bless God who hath taught us better. Gildas saith that our forefathers were gross idolaters, and that their gods were portenta diabolica, poene numero Aegyptiaca vincentia, devilish fray-bugs (bogies), as many in number almost as those

2 Kings 2:19 — the water is naught, and the ground barren. — Heb., Making to miscarry. The cause whereof was not either that ancient malediction of Joshua, or the neighbourhood of that noisome lake of Sodom, but the recent sins of the inhabitants, - see Psalms 107:34 , - and particularly Hiel’s presumption in rebuilding it. 1 Kings 16:34

2 Kings 20:5 — my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. The captain of my people, — Antecessor. See on 1 Samuel 9:16 . The God of David. — To whom I promised a continued succession on the throne of Judah; and will therefore lengthen thy life, and give thee a son. To the house of the Lord. — Hezekiah’s both duty and disposition, as a right

2 Kings 21:8 — commanded them. According to all that I have commanded them, — viz., In the moral law: of which God might say, as once Joseph did to his brethren in another case, "Behold, your eyes see that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you," Genesis 45:12 and as Paul to Philemon, Philemon 1:19 "I," the Lord, "have written it with mine own hand." And according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded. — The ceremonial and judicial laws.

2 Kings 4:4 — those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. Thou shalt shut the door upon thee. — It was time to shut the door, saith a reverend man, when many greater vessels must be supplied from one little one. But why must the door be shut? (1.) That she might be the more free to pray; Matthew 6:6 (2.) That she might manifest her own faith, and not be hindered by the unbelief of others; see Mark 6:5-6 (3.) That it might not be thought that the oil was by anybody secretly conveyed into the

1 Chronicles 23:14 — of Levi. Now concerning Moses the man of God. — Who was so familiar with God, and his ambassador to the people. We must think and speak honourably of the saints departed. His sons were named of the tribe of Levi. — Chief of the Levites, 1 Chronicles 26:23 but below the sons of Aaron, the priests. And here A Lapide hath this good note, Mira fuit Moysis resignatio et humilitas, … Wonderful was the self-denial and humility of Moses in submitting to God’s appointment herein,

1 Chronicles 7:21 — forefathers for an inheritance, they would needs take possession thereof before the time, which rash adventure of these sons of Ephraim cost them their lives, and perhaps occasioned that cruel decree of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, against the Israelites. Exodus 1:9-11 See to this purpose, Psalms 78:9 . This happened about the birth of Aaron. It is not safe to break God’s prison.

2 Chronicles 18:31 — Jehoshaphat cast himseff into; as likewise the valiant Hunniades did, at the battle of Varna, where he was worsted, and afterwards taken prisoner by Dracula, for joining with that perjured Popish king of Hungary. And the Lord helped him. — See 1 Kings 22:32 , where yet this precious passage is not; but is here added by the penman of this book, who relateth things formerly set down, but oft with usury.

2 Chronicles 24:6 — Jerusalem the collection, [according to the commandment] of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness? Why hast thou not? — Wonder that Jehoiada should need a chiding from Joash. See 2 Kings 12:7 . The collection, according to the commandment of Moses. — Heb., The collection of Moses, i.e., such as Moses used. Exodus 30:12 ; Exodus 30:16 ; Exodus 25:2-9 to the which this was somewhat like, and therefore thus called. See the like, 2

Ezra 2:55 — Sophereth, the children of Peruda, The children of Solomon’s servants — These also were strangers, that had been employed by Solomon, and becoming proselytes, were incorporated into the commonwealth of Israel. God is no respecter of persons, Acts 10:34 . He takes where he likes; strangers shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, when the children of the kingdom shall be cast out, Matthew 8:11-12 ; Solomon’s servants may have a name and a nail in God’s house, when his sons may

Nehemiah 9:31 — complete number) hath to a unity. Thou didst not utterly consume them — God will repent for his people, when he seeth their power is gone, Deuteronomy 32:36 , and be jealous with a great jealousy when the enemy goes beyond his commission, Zechariah 1:14-15 . For thou art a gracious and merciful God — And this is most seen when misery weighs down, and nothing but mercy turneth the scale.

Job 34:35 — inscite, He hath outlashed and overshot himself in some words against God; yea, amidst his complaints, he hath let slip not a few lavish and loose speeches; which thing also, being reproved by God, he doth ingenuously acknowledge, Job 40:3-5 ; Job 42:1-6 . And his words were without wisdom — Heb. Not in wisdom; and this he here heareth of on both ears, being barely told of it again and again, and not without some bitterness, in the close of this chapter. Some warmth there must be in a reproof

Job 4:15 — Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: Then a spirit passed before my face — Some render it a wind, as a messenger or forerunner of God near at hand, as 1 Kings 19:11 . But better, a good angel in some bodily shape, Psalms 104:4 Luke 24:37 ; for else how could he be seen of Eliphaz, gliding rather than going, as a ship upon the face of the waters? The hair of my flesh stood up — Horripilatus sum.

2 Samuel 16:13 — composedness set himself above the flight of the injurious claw, wherein also he became a type of Christ, "who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously." 1 Peter 2:23

2 Samuel 17:22 — est, sed lex ita scripta est, saith the civilian. Soldiers must suffer hardship. There lacked not one of them. — This was comfortable: "Unto the righteous there ariseth light in darkness." Christ likewise loseth not any of his. John 17:12 Baptism, figured out by Jordan, sayeth us. 1 Peter 3:21

2 Samuel 24:2 — people. That I may know the number of the people. — As I have lately taken notice and made a catalogue of my worthies, and the forces under their command. This Augustus Caesar might do for his pleasure, and carry it away without punishment. Luke 2:1 Not so David. God will take that from others that he will not bear with in his own. Amos 3:2 The Philistines might cart the ark, but David smarted for so doing.