Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 25:10 — that [were with] the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. And all the army of the Chaldees. — Hic lege, et luge. Those of the captivity bewailed the destruction of Jerusalem by an annual fast. Zechariah 7:5 Psalms 137:1-9 The Jews at this day, when they build a house, leave one part of it unfinished, in remembrance that Jerusalem and the temple lie desolate. At least they leave about a yard square of the house unplastered, on which they write in great letters,

1 Chronicles 5:20 — cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. And they were helped against them. — Helped from heaven, by means of some manifest miracle. For they cried to God in the battle. — So did Jabez; 1 Chronicles 4:10 Jehoshaphat; 2 Chronicles 20:3 the thundering legion; the late king of Sweden, whose prayer before the great battle of Lutzen - where he fell, - was, "Jesus, vouchsafe this day to be my strong helper; and give me courage to fight

2 Chronicles 26:15 — he was marvellously helped (by God) till he was strong. — And then he served him a slippery trick, as we say. Hypocrites have God in admiration only for advantage; when they have what they would have, they start aside like a broken bow. Hosea 7:16 2 Chronicles 12:1

Nehemiah 10:32 — shekel — Beside the poll money, the half shekel required, Exodus 38:26 . The third part of a shekel was no great sum, yet somewhat more than what Saul and his servant presented the seer with, whom they could not but know to be the judge of Israel, 1 Samuel 9:8 . These had learned that thankfulness was measured, both by God and good men, not by the weight, but by the will of the retributor. God doth highly accept the small offerings of his weak servants when he seeth them to proceed from great love.

Nehemiah 8:7 — the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place. Also Jeshua, and Bani, …, caused the people to understand the law — As the audience was great, so, great was the company of preachers, Psalms 68:11 . The people were too many to be taught by one; therefore they made sundry companies and congregations, and had several teachers; as had likewise those primitive Christians, Acts 6:1 , when once they grew numerous. And the people stood in their places

Job 22:1 — Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said — Abruptly, without any preface, he sets upon Job (as doth likewise Bildad, Job 25:1-6 ), acting the part of a spiteful caviller rather than of an ingenuous accuser; reckoning and ranking just Job among the wicked, not covertly, as before, but overtly and expressly; and then thinking to salve all by an exhortation to repentance, backed

Psalms 12:2 — saith of Ulysses (Ode. 6, Animus versutulus et versatilis ). The prophet here meaneth that they had one heart in their body, and another in their mouth, being desperate dissemblers, such as the French are said to be. Those men of Zebulun were none such, 1 Chronicles 12:33 .

Psalms 27:2 — a cannibal; or as a lion doth a sheep, inhumanissime, ferarumque more, saith Junius, barbarously and beastly. They stumbled and fell — Irritis conatibus corruerunt, they utterly lost their design, as did those Amalekites who had sacked Ziklag, 1 Samuel 30:16-19 , and Saul often. If a man stumble and fall not, he gets ground; but if after much blundering he kiss the ground, he falleth with a force. David’s enemies did so, corruerunt et conciderunt; they were irreparably ruined.

Psalms 38:20 — They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] good [is]. They also that render evil for good — While they rejoice at my misery, who fasted for them in their adversity, Psalms 35:15 . Are mine adversaries — Heb. They satanically hate me, as if they were transformed into so many breathing devils. Because I follow the thing that good is — This was devil-like indeed; this was to hate and persecute God in David (Tertul.).

Psalms 39:2 — the clear water that runs down a current. Intellige de bono licito, non de bono necessario et praecepto. And my sorrow was stirred — Heb. troubled; though I had somewhat to do to do it. Corruption must be curbed and kept in by violence, James 1:26 .

Psalms 44:12 — not made thy best of them; but given them away, for whom thou wast wont to give great nations, Isaiah 43:3 . All the comfort in this case was, that yet they were dear to God as his sons, though sold for slaves to the enemies, as may be seen, Isaiah 50:1 ; Isaiah 52:3 .

Psalms 49:6 — and yet it is wondrous hard to have wealth, and not in some measure to trust in it; that is, to think ourselves simply the better and the safer for it, as our Saviour showeth, and his disciples, after some wonderment, at length understood him; so Mark 10:23-24 . Hence that strict charge, 1 Timothy 6:17 . And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches — Contrary to Jeremiah 9:23 . This psalm sets forth the better gloriation of a believer in the grace of God, and in his blessed condition,

Psalms 5:1 — « To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. » Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. To the chief Musician — See Trapp on title for " Psalms 4:1 " Upon Nehiloth — Upon wind instruments. Pneumatica, tribulata. The Rabbis say that this psalm was made and appointed to be sung concerning Doeg and Ahithophel. Give ear to my words, O Lord — David knew him to be a prayer hearing God,

Psalms 50:10 — mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills. For every beast of the forest is mine — God is the great proprietary; and all is his by primitive right. It is but of his own, therefore, that any man giveth him aught; as David freely acknowledgeth, 1 Chronicles 29:14 ; and that great emperor, who, dedicating his rich communion table to Jesus Christ, wrote upon it τα σο εκ των σων σοι προσφερομεν

Psalms 50:6 — And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God [is] judge himself. Selah. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness — Those catholic preachers, whose voice goeth out aloud to the end of the world, Psalms 19:4 ; Psalms 50:4 . For God is Judge himself — And from him is no appeal; every transgression and disobedience from him shall receive a just recompense of reward, Hebrews 2:2 , even those corruptions that are most inward, and lie up in the heart

Psalms 52:7 — wickedness. Lo, this is the man — Or, rather, now the monster to be pointed at; once so mighty, now so miserable, O quantum haec Niobe, …, what a strange change is here, … As the true Israelite is pointed out with a Behold, for imitation, John 1:47 , so is this counterfeit Israelite for detestation. That made not God his strength — But carried the matter as if he had been some petty god within himself. But trusted in the abundance, … — Never true to those that trusted them. And

Psalms 62:4 — endeavours against me; there is no reclaiming of them. Deus quos destruit dementat. They delight in lies — Not only he that maketh a lie, but he that loveth and delighteth in it when made by another, shall be shut out of heaven, Revelation 22:15 Romans 1:32 . They bless with their mouths — Heb. with his mouth, that is, every one doth so; neither is there ever a better of these glavering companions, dissembling scrubs.

Psalms 62:5 — a quicksand, will sink and perish as certainly as he that standeth with both feet on a quicksand. David knew this, and therefore calleth earn and earnestly upon his soul (for his business lay most within doors) to trust only upon God. See Psalms 62:1 . For my expectation is from him — If he will not help me, none else shall; but it is he that saith, Look unto me and be saved, for I am God, and there is none else, Isaiah 45:22 .

Psalms 68:16 — dwell in — This low, little, barren hill of Sion; and God’s election maketh the difference, as it did of Aaron’s rod from the rest, and doth still of the Church from the rest of the world. The Lamb Christ is on Mount Sion, Revelation 14:1 .

Psalms 85:8 — God giveth to my prayer, and patiently wait a good issue of my troubles. For he will speak peace unto his people — viz. By his promises, and by his providences. And, to his saints — For all God’s people are righteous ones, Isaiah 60:21 , justified and sanctified, 1 Corinthians 6:11 . But let them not turn again to folly — i.e. To the ways of the world and of carnal reason, lest they smart for their rashness, and God never take their words again.