Bible Commentaries

Genesis 40:8 — them, [Do] not interpretations [belong] to God? tell me [them], I pray you. And there is no interpreter. — The superstitious Egyptians did curiously observe their dreams; and commonly repaired to the soothsayers for an interpretation. Genesis 41:8 Joseph calls these idolaters from their superstitions vanities to the living God; as Isaiah did those of his time, Isaiah 8:19-20 and Daniel those of his. Daniel 2:28 ; Daniel 5:18 He had consulted with God by prayer, and with the Scripture, which

Exodus 1:21 — And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. Because the midwives feared God. — There is no necessity of granting that the midwives told the king a lie. see Exodus 1:19 But if they did, St Austin saith well, Non remunerata fuit iis fallacia, sed benevolentia; benignitas mentis, non iniquitas mentientis. Their lie was not rewarded, but their kind heartedness. That he made them houses, — i.e., He gave them posterity.

Exodus 3:14 — ειμι ο ων , I am He that is. Agreeably hereunto, Plato calleth God το ον and το ον οντως . This name of God is fully opened in Revelation 16:5 . It imports two of God’s incommunicable attributes: (1.) His eternity, when he saith, I will be; ( 2.) His immutability, when he saith, That I will be. As Pilate said, "What I have written, I have written"; I will not alter it. But

Exodus 34:18 — Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt. In the month Abib. — So called from the new fruits, or ears of corn, then first appearing. See Exodus 12:1 ; Exodus 13:4 . God here repeateth divers laws. It was a token of reconciliation to the people after their apostasy, in that he treats with them again, after their repentance, about his solemn worships. So, for a testimony of his reconciliation to

Numbers 28:9 — Sabbath our devotion should be doubled. Debet totus dies festivus a Christiano expendi in operibus sanctis, said Robert Grosthead, Bishop of Lincoln, long since. In Decalog. Praecep., 30. The whole Sabbath should be spent in God’s service. Psalms 92:1 , titled, A Psalm for the Sabbath, mentions morning and evening performances. Psalms 92:2 Variety of duties may very well take up the whole day with delight. Besides, God gives us six whole days. Now, to sell by one measure and buy by another, is the

Deuteronomy 10:8 — makes that sacred and tremendous function of the ministry to be as mere an imposture, as very a mystery of iniquity, as arrant a fruad, as the Papacy itself. Now the Lord rebuke thee, Satan. To stand before the Lord. — As also the angels do. Luke 1:19

Deuteronomy 26:17 — do, when with highest estimation, most vigorous affections, and utmost endeavours we bestow ourselves upon God, giving up our names and hearts to the profession of truth. And this our choosing God for our God, Psalms 73:25 is a sign he first chose us. 1 John 4:19 Mary answers not "Rabboni," till Christ hath said "Mary" to her. It is he that brings us into the bonds of the covenant. Ezekiel 20:37 He first cries out, Who is on my side? who? and then gives us to answer, as Isaiah 44:5

Judges 13:4 — breasts; since the sanctifying of thy son must take beginning from thyself; beware therefore for his sake, and inure him to abstinence and sobriety of a little child. See also that he nourish his hair, which is the crown of his Nazariteship, Numbers 6:1-27 and that he come not at funerals, … Quintilian requireth in him that shall be an orator, that by his parents, nurses, attendants, he be inured to the best words well pronounced, and that from his infancy; that so he may soon become Vir bonus

Judges 15:15 — and our enemies. And slew a thousand men therewith. — So did Shamgar six hundred with an ox-goad; David, Goliath, with a sling and stone. God can effect great matters by small means. How many thousands perish by a pestilential air, as 2 Samuel 1:25 . The great cardinal of Lorraine was lighted to his lodging and to his long home at once by a poisoned torch. Bucholc.

Judges 18:6 — ye go. Go in peace: before the Lord is your way. — A doubtful answer; as the wary devil useth to be λοξις , equivocal, in his oracles: Ite bonis avibus. that, which way soever things go, he may save his credit; as 1 Kings 22:12 , "For the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the king." Yea, but of which king, thou lying spirit? - the king of Israel, or the king of Syria? So, Croesus Halyn penetrans magnam disperdet opum vim. And, Aio te Aeacida Romanos

Judges 4:6 — him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, [saying], Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? And she sent and called Barak. — She sent; not went: for, (1.) She was a judge in Israel, and of great authority; (2.) It is not fit for women to wander up and down. Ambrose saith Barak was her son, others her husband, but neither is likely. Ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali. — In which tribe

Judges 9:45 — ανελεης σφαγη , a merciless massacre, the streets running down with blood. Appian. And beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. — Milan was so served by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, A.D. 1162, but rebuilt not long after, Sigon. Naucler. as was likewise Shechem by Jeroboam. 1 Kings 12:25 But here the bramble, or thistle, made good his motto, Nemo me impune lacessit. He dealt most barbarously with his native country, turning the place of

1 Samuel 1:12 — came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. And she continued praying. — Heb., Multiplied to pray; as resolved not to give over her suit. Prayer, like those arrows of deliverance, should be multiplied. Luke 18:1 Misericordiam extorquemas, said those primitive Christians. We wring out of God’s holy hands that mercy which he with an unwilling willingness withholdeth for a while, that we may be the more importunate. Eli marked her mouth. — Saw her

1 Samuel 23:6 — rather than choice. Forte fortuna et non dedita opera secum detulerat ephod, et posuerat inter sarcinas suas - Vatab. But it was surely a sweet providence of God, for the comfort of his poor servant David. Hence God answered not Saul by Urim and Thummim, 1 Samuel 28:6 for it was now with David, not with Saul. This ephod thus brought was more, saith one, than if many thousand soldiers had come to David.

1 Samuel 26:1 — And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, [which is] before Jeshimon? And the Ziphites came unto Saul. — As they had done once before, 1 Samuel 23:19 and therefore being conscious of their former treachery, and in addition desirous to curry favour with Saul, they stir him up to destroy David, whom they ought to have favoured, as being of their own tribe. Joshua 15:55 Doth not David hide

1 Samuel 30:22 — every man his wife and his children, that they may lead [them] away, and depart. Of those that went with David. — As good as he was, he had bad men and Belialists in his retinue: although he had done his part by them to make them better. Psalms 34:11 ; Psalms 34:1 , with title Because they went not with us. — But did they not as good service in staying behind, and guarding the carriages? which if it had not been done, you would have fought but faintly. We will not give them aught. —

1 Samuel 4:11 — videas quid, ant quantum res sanctae sine sancto earum usu prosint, Bucholoc. that men may see how little good is gotten by holy things if not used in a holy manner. And the two sons of Eli … were slain. — As had been forethreatened in 1 Samuel 2:34 . God’s menaces will be accomplished in their time; and yet most men hear and read them as they do the predictions of an almanac, which they think may come to pass, and it may be not: they put off all, as those in the gospel did, with

2 Samuel 1:1 — David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; Now it came to pass. — Heb., And it came to pass: for the history is here continued by some of Samuel’s disciples, and, as some gather from 1 Chronicles 29:29 , by Gad and Nathan. After the death of Saul. — Who began his reign with great glory and renown, but ended it with shame. Contrariwise David; who therein also became a type of Christ. Philippians 2:7-9 When David was returned

2 Samuel 2:3 — And his men that [were] with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And his men that were with him did David bring up. — Those that came to him, 1 Samuel 22:2 and continued with him in all his troubles. He cashiereth them not for all their recent rebellion at Ziklag, which was yet fresh, and but a few days since: but pardoning their rebellions, he maketh them partakers of his good success. Thus

2 Samuel 4:8 — thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. Behold the head of Ishbosheth. — A plausible oration they make, but miss of their purpose. They commend their own act to David: (1.) A iucundo, from delight, Lo, here the head of thine enemy; and what more pleasant sight than this? (2.) Ab honesto, from honesty, We did it not without the Lord, who hath set us on work to avenge my lord the king, … (3.) Ab utili, from usefulness,