Bible Commentaries

Genesis 18:12 — seem absurd and ridiculous, many of them, to human reason, which therefore must be silenced, and shut out, as Hagar was; for it will argue carnally, as that unbelieving lord 2 Kings 7:2 storms at God’s offers, as Naaman at the message 2 Kings 5:11 looks upon God’s Jordan with Syrian eyes, as he, and after all, cries out with Nicodemus, "How can these things be?" John 3:4 measuring God by its own model; and casting him into its own mould. After I am waxed old, shall I lust? —

Genesis 2:17 — Certissime citissimeque morieris And without doubt every man should die the same day he is born: the wages of death should be paid him presently. But Christ begs their lives for a season. For which cause he is said to be "the Saviour of all men," 1 Timothy 4:10 not of eternal preservation, but of temporal reservation. In which respect, also, God is said "so to have loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son," … John 3:16 It was a mercy to all mankind that the Messiah

Genesis 21:5 — him to be armour of proof, and therefore tried him thus with musket-shot. Well might the apostle say, "Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God," and suffered it too, "ye might receive the promise". Hebrews 10:36 The "spoiling of their goods" required patience: but this waiting much more. Good men find it easier to bear evil, than to wait till the promised good be enjoyed. This waiting is nothing but hope and trust lengthened; which they that cannot

Genesis 24:67 — her; but as Boaz took Ruth, and David Abigail, to make her his wife by lawful wedlock. And he loved her. — Not only as his countrywoman or his kinswoman, or a good woman, …, but as his woman, with a conjugal love. And he had reason: for (1.) She was his wife, the proper object of his love; (2.) A wife of God’s providing; a mate meet for him; none in all the world so meet; (3.) She was love-worthy, because fair, courteous, virtuous: and as meat pleaseth us better in a clean dish,

Genesis 46:5 — "rose up" is emphatical, and imports that his heart was lightened, and his joints oiled and nimbled, as it were, with the heavenly vision. As when he had seen God at Bethel, he "lift up his feet," and went on his way lustily; Genesis 29:1 so here, as fast as his old legs would carry him; as Father Latimer said to Ridley, when they were going to the stake. Act. and Mon. And as it is recorded of good old Rawlins White, martyr; that whereas before he was wont to go stooping, or rather crooked,

Genesis 47:6 — land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest [any] men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle. If thou knowest any men of activity. — Or ability of body and mind; such as "Jeroboam, a mighty man of valour," 1 Kings 11:28 and fit for the work; prudent and diligent, ingenious and industrious, that hath a dexterity and handiness to the business. Such St Paul would have all Christians to be. Titus 3:8 ; Titus 3:14 "Let them that have believed in God,"

Genesis 49:28 — cause us to take up hard thoughts of God, or heavy thoughts of ourselves, as if out of his favour; but account it a mercy rather, that we may scape so; and be "judged" here "of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians 11:32 Jacob is here said to have blessed all his sons. He rather seemed to curse some of them. And for his well-beloved Benjamin, Parum auspicata et honorifica videtur haec prophetia, saith Pareus. But because they were not rejected from

Genesis 7:10 — waters of the flood were upon the earth. The waters of the flood were upon the earth. — God is as faithful in his menaces, as in his promises. Zephaniah 3:5 The wicked think them but wind, but shall feel them to be "fire". Jeremiah 5:14 "Your fathers, where are they? Did not my word" (though never so much slighted) "lay hold upon them? And they returned" (that is, changed their minds, when they smarted) "and said, Like as the Lord thought to do unto us, so

2 Kings 13:20 — the coming in of the year. And Elisha died. — Accisis corporeis viribus gloriosam exhalavit animam. Elisha was one of those few that lived and died with honour. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land. — Here that of Hosea, Hosea 13:1 , was fulfilled: "When Ephraim spake, there was trembling, and he exalted himself in Israel: but when he offended in Baal, he died." Before, none durst budge against the name of Ephraim; but after Baal, every paltry adversary trampled upon

2 Kings 3:27 — indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to [their own] land. Then he took his eldest son. — The king of Edom’s eldest son, say some, whom he had taken in the late sally, and now spitefully sacrificed. See on Amos 2:1 . The king of Moab’s own son and heir, say others, whom he took and sacrificed to his god Chemos, or the sun, that with so precious a sacrifice he might prevail with him for help in this extremity. The like was usually done by the Phoenicians

1 Chronicles 4:10 — keep [me] from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. And Jabez called on the God of Israel. — Upon the point of some warlike exploit: or in some great exigency. And hence he was "more honourable"; 1 Chronicles 4:9 he prayed earnestly, and sped accordingly. Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed. — Heb., If blessing thou wilt bless me: q.d., then shalt thou have mine utmost service, and I will wholly devote myself to thy fear. This was to "pray

2 Chronicles 15:8 — heart, was all on a light flame for God. "Did not our hearts burn within us, whilst he opened unto us the Scriptures?" said those two disciples travelling to Emmaus. Luke 24:32 Together with Christ’s words there went forth a power. Luke 5:15 And the prophecy of Oded. — That is, Of Azariah, son of Oded. He put away the abominable idols. — St Peter speaketh of "abominable idolatry." 1 Peter 4:3 Some Papists would hence infer that there is some idolatry not abominable,

Nehemiah 7:5 — from heaven) how to set things to rights; that the city might be better peopled, and so preserved. This to do, God put into his heart by his Holy Spirit (the sweet motions whereof are the sound of his goings, the footsteps of his anointed, Psalms 89:51 ). We are not sufficient of ourselves (saith that great apostle) to think anything as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of God, 2 Corinthians 3:5 . Nemo vir magnus sine aliquo afflatu Divino unquam fuit, saith Cicero; no man ever grew to be greatly

Job 6:13 — quite from me? Is not my help in me? — Have I not something within wherewith to sustain me amidst all my sorrows, viz. the testimony of my conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity I have had my conversation in the world, 2 Corinthians 1:12 . Lo, this is my rejoicing, this is my cordial, … Innuit innocentiam snare, ac vitro integritatem, saith Drusius: he meaneth the innocency and integrity of his heart; and this was the help Job knew he had in store, this was the wisdom or right

Numbers 30:2 — vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. If a man vow a vow unto the Lord. — God is the proper object of a vow. Psalms 76:11 Papists vow to saints, both themselves, as to Francis, Austin, Dominick, …, and other things, as pilgrimages, oblations, … Our Lady, as they call her, of Loretto, hath her churches so stuffed with vowed presents and memories, as they

Joshua 24:2 — had done for them and their forefathers, that mercy might enforce to duty; since divine blessings are binders, and men’s offences are increased by their obligations. See the like method made use of by those admirable preachers, David, Psalms 78:1-72 Stephen, Acts 7:2-53 and Paul. Acts 13:17-41 And they served other gods. — Even Abraham as well as the rest, Some of the Rabbis say that Terah got his living by making and selling of images. till God gave him a call out of his own country,

Revelation 10:2 — his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, A little book open — The Bible translated and explained. It is called a great roll, written with the pen of a man, that is, clearly, that the simplest of men may conceive it, Isaiah 8:1 ; Deuteronomy 30:11 . But it is little in comparison to the volumes of school doctors and popish decretals, A papal decree or decretal epistle; a document issued by a Pope, containing a decree or authoritative decision on some point of doctrine or ecclesiastical

Ruth 2:2 — unto her, Go, my daughter. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi. — This request of Ruth made way to her recompense. Great things oft come of small beginnings. God put small thoughts into Ahasuerus’s heart, but for great purpose. Esther 6:1 Let me now go to the field. — In the midst of worldly wants she murmureth not against the God of Israel, for maintaining his servants no better, as Aigoland, king of Saragossa, did against the God of Christians, when he saw the many poor that

1 Samuel 10:5 — place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: After that thou shalt come to the hill of God. — That is, To the high place of Gibeah, thine own city, where was a garrison of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 13:2 and yet as well a college of prophets, who were looked upon in those days as privileged persons, even in the midst of their enemies; and not molested or meddled with. Junius. Grotius, de iure Pac. et Bel., lib. iii. cap. 11. Learning was

2 Samuel 5:6 — come in hither. And the king and his men. — Those of the several tribes that came unto him at this time armed and well appointed, fit for some noble exploit. Went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites. — Who still held the tower of Zion, Judges 1:23 ; Judges 19:10-11 being a company of ungracious people there gathered together, such as were in that city of Thracia called Poneropolis, whither King Philip had assembled all the infamous persons, and men of evil demeanour, that many places might