Bible Commentaries

Genesis 32:26 — except thou bless me. Let me go, … — Pugna suum finem, cum rogat hostis, habet. Jacob, though lamed, and hard laid at, will not let Christ go without a blessing: to teach us, as our Saviour did, by the parable of the importunate widow, Luke 18:1-8 to persevere in prayer, and to devour all discouragements. Jacob holds with his hands, when his joints were out of joint. The woman of Canaan will not be put off, either with silence or sad answers. The importunate widow teacheth us to press God

Genesis 39:11 — he is not idle, so neither is Satan: but walks about, and spreads his snares for us in all places, and businesses; speaking a good word also in temptations that come from the flesh, which are therefore called "his messengers," 2 Corinthians 12:7 and by giving place to them, we "give place to the devil." Ephesians 4:27 And there was none of the men of the house there within. — Josephus saith that they were all gone forth to a feast; and she only left at home, as feigning herself

Genesis 41:14 — and hurry meant, but was betwixt hope and fear till he came to the king. It is God that "bringeth low, and lifteth up; that raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set him among princes," … 1 Samuel 2:7-8 In the year of grace 1622, the Turkish Janizaries, who have learned that damnable art of making and unmaking their king at pleasure, drew Mustapha, whom they had formerly deposed, out of prison: and when he begged for his life they assured

1 Kings 13:18 — was elevated above every creature; and his soul swallowed up in the abyss of the divinity. By the word of the Lord. — This Bethelite boasting himself of a false gift, was like clouds and wind without rain, as the wise man hath it. Proverbs 25:14 That he may eat bread. — This, to a hungry man, was a sore temptation, and soon yielded unto. But he lied unto him. — And thereby cheated him into the lion’s mouth: so do sect masters simple men and silly women, into the devil’s

2 Kings 13:14 — virtue and prayers he preserved the people ne propter peceata Deus illos perderet, that God destroyed them not for their sins. Promp. Mor., Dom. v., post Epiph., Vex. 8. The death of such is very ominous, a forerunner of great calamities. Isaiah 57:1

2 Kings 5:1 — honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, [but he was] a leper. Because by him the Lord had given deliverance. — At that time, probably, when Ahab and Jehoshaphat came against Ramothgilead, 1 Kings 22:29 Naaman was commander-in-chief of the Syrian’s army; and the Rabbis tell us that it was he who shot the arrow wherewith Ahab was slain. Hence he is said to have saved Syria, like as afterwards Marius saved Italy, Flaminius Greece, Fabius

2 Chronicles 19:2 — Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore [is] wrath upon thee from before the LORD. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer. — Jehu delivered his message with better success than his father had done. 2 Chronicles 16:7 Asa had gall in his ears, as some creatures are said to have; but good Jehoshaphat had aures purgatissimas, a "hearing ear," Proverbs 20:12 an "obedient ear," Proverbs 25:12 upon which "a wise reprover is as an earring of

Ezra 10:5 — Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware. Then arose Ezra — According to the counsel of Shechaniah, Ezra 10:4 . "How forcible are right words!" Job 6:25 . One seasonable speech, falling upon a prepared heart, hath oft a strong and sweet operation; as that similitude used by Peter Martyr, reading upon the First to the Corinthians, had upon Galeacius

Ezra 4:5 — do better, in my opinion, that understand the text of Darius Hystaspis, who succeeded Cambyses, and married his sister; seeking to ingratiate with the people by ratifying whatsoever Cyrus had decreed, and this of the temple among the rest, see Ezra 6:1 .

Ezra 9:4 — and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. Then were assembled unto me — It was soon noised and noticed among the godly party how exceedingly Ezra was troubled; they therefore trouble themselves, as our Saviour is said to have done, John 11:33 , and as Paul felt twinges when others were hurt. "Who is offended," saith he, "and I burn not?" 2 Corinthians 11:29 . Sheep, when frighted, will get together; swine, when lugged, will grunt together. What should saints do (in

Nehemiah 1:8 — most vigorously, and sped accordingly; let us do likewise. Cast the labouring Church into God’s everlasting arms, and remind him of his promises burden him with them, as that martyr said; put them into suit, they are nigh the Lord day and night, 1 Kings 8:59 . Say, remember thy word unto thy servant, whereupon thou hast caused me to trust, Psalms 119:49 . And in the want of other rhetoric urge this, with repetition, Lord, thou hast promised, thou hast promised, … He loves to be urged with

Nehemiah 5:14 — and as good balsam sinketh to the bottom of the vessel. I and my brethren have not eaten the bread, … — Rulers, as they are nursing fathers to the people, Isaiah 49:23 , so by them they are to be nourished, and their state maintained. See 1 Kings 4:7 . It is also observed, that although our Saviour Christ wrought many miracles; yet he never wrought any about honour or money, but that about tribute; rather than that should go undischarged, he commanded a fish to pay it. Hence also he saith

Nehemiah 5:16 — out of ostentation, but to show that the love and fear of God constrained him; as it did afterwards Paul, that spiritual builder, who laboured more than they all, and denied himself to bring others to heaven, as himself setteth forth, 2 Corinthians 11:1-33 . In praising ourselves, our end must be, that our light may be seen, not ourselves seen, Matthew 5:16 . Men’s praise may be sought, modo tibi non quaeras, sed Christo, Seek not for yourself, but Christ. saith Aretius, so that Christ be

Nehemiah 5:19 — good, [according] to all that I have done for this people. Think upon me, my God, for good — i.e. Both of grace and glory, saith Lyra; a confluence of all comforts and contentments, especially spiritual blessings in heavenly things, Ephesians 1:3 . He that first called riches goods was surely a better husband than divine, saith one. Ostendam tibi omne bonum, I will show thee all good, said God to Moses, when he gave him a glimpse of himself. Nil bonum absque summo Bone, saith Austin, There

Nehemiah 7:4 — spaces. And great — Yet nothing so great as Nineveh was of old; or Babylon then; or Alcair and Quinsay at this day. Of the former Bunting saith, that it is sixty miles in compass. Of the latter, Paulus Venetus (who himself dwelt therein about the year 1260) writeth, that it is a hundred miles about, being of all the cities in the world the greatest. Jerusalem was a great city and spacious, though it fell far short of these. And the people were few therein — But how exceedingly they multiplied

Nehemiah 9:13 — Thither God came with ten thousands of his saints, as Moses (who climbed up that hill, and alone saw it) saith, Deuteronomy 33:2 . And spakest with them from heaven — He came down upon Sinai, and yet spake from heaven. See a like text, John 3:13 . There he spake also with us, Hosea 12:4 . See that ye refuse not him that speaketh from heaven, see that ye shift him not off, much less turn away from him, Hebrews 12:25 . And gavest them right judyments, … — All these high praises

Judges 12:1 — Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. Gathered themselves together. — Heb., Were called; sc., by Jephthah, as Judges 12:2 , but came too late. Post bellum auxilium, so some understand it. Others, that these Ephraimites desirous of vain glory, provoking their brethren and envying them, as Galatians 5:26 , tumultuarily met to pick a quarrel and make war upon Jephthah

1 Samuel 22:2 — to David upon a better principle, and for a better purpose, viz., for his and their own just and necessary defence: and for their carriage, see what a testimony Nabal’s servants gave them, though that brute their master had basely reviled them. 1 Samuel 25:15 In the Gospel we read that our Saviour received him that had been born blind, and was now cast out. John 9:35 And in the civil law we find provision made for such as were cast out and exposed to the wide world; some hospitals to entertain

2 Samuel 14:32 — his own conceited innocency in killing Amnon for forcing his sister. We know what Jacob’s two sons said in defence of that horrid act of theirs in slaughtering the Shechemites. "Should he deal with our sister as a harlot?" Genesis 34:31 The word harlot is written with a great letter in the original æ , to show with what a courage they spake it. Hebrew Text Note We know also how Collatinus, the husband of Lucretia, is cried up in the Roman history for killing Tarquin, who had

2 Samuel 8:11 — western climates. The art of printing, which the Chinese say they had amongst them long before, was here made use of: and by that means, among other excellent books, conducing to the reformation, was published the Complutensian Bible in six volumes, A.D. 1515, at the charge of Cardinal Ximines, Archbishop of Toledo, two years before Luther stirred. An excellent work surely, and such as may well be reckoned among those means and instruments whereby the truth was restored, and Popery profligated: since