Bible Commentaries

Numbers 20:1 — being recorded of the thirty-eight years, since the spies’ report. And Miriam died there. — A good woman, and of great use to the people in their travels. Micah 6:4 But once she raised a great storm against her brother’s wife, Numbers 12:1 about precedency probably: as did likewise in this kingdom Anne Starthope, Duchess of Somerset, against Katherine Parr, Queen Dowager, wife to her husband’s brother, the Lord Admiral, in the days of King Edward VI. This Anne died A.D. 1587,

Deuteronomy 13:3 — all your heart and with all your soul. Thou shalt not hearken. — Heretics have their pythanology, their good words and fair speeches, wherein they can vent a spittle of diseased opinions, and whereby they deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:18 It is not safe, therefore, to hear them, or hold discourse with such, lest they insinuate and infect us, as the Montanists did Tertullian; as the Valentinians did various well-affected Christians; as Acacius the heretic did Anastasius, second Bishop

Judges 16:21 — him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. Took him, and put out his eyes. — These eyes of his were the first offenders that betrayed him to lust; Judges 16:1 and now they are first pulled out, and he led a blind captive to Gaza, where he was first captivated to his lust. The loss of his eyes showeth him his sin, saith one. Bp. Hall. Neither could he see how ill he had done, till he saw not. Muleasses

Judges 21:2 — themselves. “ … qui non moderabitur irae, Infectum velit esse dolor quod suaserit et mens. ” - Horat. And abode there till even before God. — To the shame of such as, held but a while longer than ordinary at holy meetings, cry out, as Malachi 1:13 , "Behold, what a weariness it is! and snuff." They sit in the stocks when they are at prayers, and come out of the church, when the tedious sermon runs somewhat beyond the hour, like prisoners out of a jail. And lifted up their voices,

Judges 7:2 — themselves too few, and therefore feared. God’s thoughts are not as man’s thoughts: he never complaineth of too few: but saith, as that general did to his fearful soldiers, How many reckon you me for? I alone am a whole army of men. Isaiah 52:12 Lest Israel vaunt themselves. — Which yet they had small reason to do, everything considered. But God knoweth the vanity of men’s minds, and "needeth not that any should testify of man, for he knoweth what is in man." John 2:24-25

Ruth 2:14 — saucily amongst them, though favoured. And he reached Sept., εβουνισεν αυτη , He reached unto her by heaps. her parched corn. — Which was great dainties in those days (1 Samuel 17:17 2 Samuel 17:28 ). Now-a-days, what marvel is it that we die so fast? saith Seneca, qui tot mortibus vivimus, who do live by the death of so many other creatures.

1 Samuel 11:7 — cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. And he took a yoke of oxen. — His own, likely, which he was following from the field. 1 Samuel 11:5 These he slayeth and sendeth abroad, as that Levite did his dead concubine, Judges 19:29 and as the Scots do their fire cross, with proclamation that all men above sixteen years of age, and under sixty, shall come into the field, to oppose

1 Samuel 13:13 — reprove libere et rotunde, as one saith, freely and roundly, plainly and faithfully. But wherein had Saul offended? Surely in diffidence and disobedience: there was in him an "evil heart of unbelief, departing from the living God," Hebrews 3:12 to whom he should have adhered "with full purpose of heart," Acts 11:23 and waited for his help according to his promise; "He that believeth maketh not haste." Some think that Saul had transgressed against some special commandment

1 Samuel 14:6 — of the sacraments we should strengthen our faith against all adverse power; this being one special use of them. It may be that the Lord will work for us. — A promise God had made, that Saul should save them out of the hand of the Philistines; 1 Samuel 9:16 but whether at this time, and by this means, he submitteth to God’s holy will, saying, "It may be that the Lord," …, which is not spoken by way of doubting, saith Pellican, but of praying and exciting himself and his

1 Samuel 19:18 — which is to be had, if anywhere upon earth, in the communion of saints, in the company of good people. Here also, if anywhere in the land, he might hope to be safe under Samuel’s wing, and in a college of prophets, as in a sanctuary of safety. See 1 Samuel 10:5 , with the note. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. — Which was a college or school of prophets, adjoining to Ramah. The word Naioth signifieth a solitary place in the pastures and fields: this was fittest for study and meditation.

1 Samuel 2:17 — did once of a bad living preacher - viz., to point him out a nearer way to heaven than that he had taught in his sermons: for he went not that way himself. For men abhorred the offering of the Lord. — Which yet was a great sin in them so to do, 1 Samuel 2:24 likeas it is in those now-a-days that separate from our churches because of the ill lives of some of our ministers. It is a true saying of a reverend divine, Abbot. The garden may be watered through a wooden gutter; the sun give comfortable

1 Samuel 22:1 — delivered; and got to a place where he might, to the glory of God, his Sospitator, compose that most elegant and excellent thirty-fourth Psalm. And escaped to the cave of Adullam. — Which was in the tribe of Judah, saith Lyra: In trib. Jud., Num 201. In this country dwelt that hangby Hiram, Judah’s friend, or rather broker. - Gen. xxxviii. a place fortified by nature, saith Adrichomius, insomuch as that the Christians do there still shelter and secure themselves, - namely, from the force

1 Samuel 24:11 — gave a deep wound to the devil, that old manslayer, qui non nisi caedes sitit, et suscitat. The Rabbins say that David went toward Saul with a purpose to have killed him, but that, as he went, he better bethought himself. See to the contrary of this, 1 Samuel 26:10 , which the Vulgate hath here inserted. That there is neither evil nor trangression in mine hand. — For that had been to have taken vengeance into his own hand, and to have raised trouble in the commonwealth. David was of his temper,

1 Samuel 25:3 — churlish and evil in his doings; and he [was] of the house of Caleb. Now the name of the man was Nabal. — Nebulo; a man in whom all grace and good nature is faded and dried up; a sapless fellow, not a natural fool, but worse; an Atheist, Psalms 14:1 a Mammonist. Conveniunt rebus nomina saepe suis, Nabal had not his name for naught. And the name of his wife Abigail, — i.e., My father’s joy. But what meant her father to match her to such an ill-conditioned churl? It is likely he married

1 Samuel 28:19 — Gergesenes’ swine into the sea headlong. Till men have sinned, Satan is a parasite; when they have sinned, he is a tyrant. What careth he to flatter any more, when he hath what he would! And tomorrow. — That is, Shortly hence, as Exodus 13:14 Matthew 6:24 . Shalt thou and thy sons be with me, — i.e., In the state of the dead. Hereby also this old deceiver would persuade Saul that the souls of all men, as well good as bad, go to the same place: seeking thereby to blot out of him

1 Samuel 4:5 — the ark, … — The ark was indeed to the Israel of God, the chiefest evidence of his gracious presence, and the most principal type of Christ. The word here used is Aron, which is put for a coffin, coffer, or chest. Genesis 50:26 ; 2 Kings 12:9 This showeth that all the counsels of God, all the love and favour of God, all that God accounteth precious, are treasured up for his in Christ. Colossians 2:3 ; Colossians 1:13 ; Hebrews 10:12 But what is all this, or any of God’s ordinances,

1 Samuel 5:4 — head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands [were] cut off upon the threshold; only [the stump of] Dagon was left to him. Behold, Dagon was fallen, … — This second fall convinced them that it was no chance, but the very finger of God. 1 Samuel 5:7 Woe, woe to our stupidity. Vae, vae stupori nostro. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands. — The head, saith Peter Martyr, signifieth wisdom, and the hands power. To show them that he had neither wisdom nor power to

1 Samuel 6:12 — themselves as forlorn and forsaken of him. Lowing as they went. — In token of grief for leaving their young ones: but all creatures "continue according to thine ordinance," saith David, "for they all are thy servants." Psalms 119:91 Let not us draw God’s ark, bear Christ’s yoke, lowing and lamenting, but lively and cheerful, "ready to every good work." Titus 3:1 Melior est sancta laetitia quam querula quasi tristitia, saith an ancient. And the lords of

2 Samuel 1:21 — had not, … — But either a usurper, or a common soldier. So it is a baleful business when God seemeth to cast off his people, as if they were nothing to him; not "holy," or "partakers of the heavenly calling." Hebrews 3:1

2 Samuel 19:43 — None can endure to be slighted. And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer. — Heb., Harder; that is, more arrogant and insolent in the judgment of Him who will one day execute judgment upon ungodly sinners for all their hard speeches. Judges 1:15 The tribe of Judah, binding upon the king’s favour, and backed by his guard, duriore sermone Israelitas abegit, berated the Israelites with their rough language; and this caused a sedition, as the next chapter showeth. The Rabbis say that they