Genesis 14
Verse 1-2
Genesis 14:1-2. We have here an account of the first war that we read of in Scripture, in which we may observe: 1st, The parties engaged in it. The invaders were four kings; two of them no less than kings of Shinar and Elam; that is, Chald ... read more
Genesis 15
Verse 1
Genesis 15:1. After these things — 1st, After that act of generous charity which Abram had done, in rescuing his neighbours, God made him this gracious visit. 2d, After that victory which he had obtained over four kings: lest Abram should be to ... read more
Genesis 16
Verse 1
Genesis 16:1. We have here the marriage of Abram to Hagar, who was his secondary wife. Herein though he may be excused, he cannot be justified; for from the beginning it was not so: and when it was so, it seems to have proceeded from an irre ... read more
Genesis 17
Verse 1
Genesis 17:1. And when Abram was ninety-nine years old — Full thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael. So long the promise of Isaac was deferred; 1st, Perhaps to correct Abram’s over-hasty marrying of Hagar. 2d, That Abram and Sarai be ... read more
Genesis 18
Verse 1
Genesis 18:1. This appearance of God to Abraham seems to have had in it more of freedom and familiarity, and less of grandeur and majesty, than those we have hitherto read of, and therefore more resembles that great visit, which in the fulness of ... read more
Genesis 19
Verse 1
Genesis 19:1. There came two angels — Probably two of the three that had just before been with Abraham, the two created angels, who were now sent to execute God’s purpose concerning Sodom. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom — Waiting for an oppor ... read more
Genesis 2
Verse 1
Genesis 2:1. The host of them — That is, the creatures contained therein. The host of heaven, in Scripture language, sometimes signifies the stars, and sometimes the angels. But, as Moses gives us no intimation, in the preceding chapter, t ... read more
Genesis 20
Verse 1-2
Genesis 20:1-2. And Abraham sojourned in Gerar — Which belonged to the Philistines. We are not told upon what occasion he removed; whether terrified by the destruction of Sodom, or, as some of the Jewish writers say, because he was grieved at ... read more
Genesis 21
Verse 1
Genesis 21:1. The Lord visited Sarah — That is, was present with her in his mercy, power, and faithfulness, to perform his gracious promise of giving her a child.
Verse 2
Genesis 21:2. Sarah conceived — By faith Sarah received streng ... read more
Genesis 22
Verse 1
Genesis 22:1. Here is the trial of Abraham’s grace, and especially of his faith, whether it continued so strong, so vigorous, so victorious, after a long settlement in communion with God, as it was at first, when by it he left his country: ... read more
Genesis 23
Verse 1
Genesis 23:1. The years of the life of Sarah — Of all the women that had lived, it is the peculiar honour of Sarah, the mother of the faithful, 1 Peter 3:6, to have the number of the years of her whole life recorded in Scripture.
Verse ... read more
Genesis 24
Verse 1
Genesis 24:1. Abraham was old — One hundred and forty years of age, as appears by comparing Genesis 21:5, with Genesis 25:20. This was about three years after Sarah’s death, and when Isaac was forty years old. So that, although a numerou ... read more
Genesis 25
Verse 1
Genesis 25:1. Five and thirty years Abraham lived after the marriage of Isaac, and all that is recorded concerning him during that time lies here in a very few verses; we hear no more of God’s extraordinary appearances to him or trials of him; ... read more
Genesis 26
Verse 2
Genesis 26:2. Go not down into Egypt — Whither, it is likely, Isaac had intended to go, it being a very fruitful country, and he being encouraged to go thither by his father’s example, on a similar occasion. No doubt God had wise reasons ... read more
Genesis 27
Verse 1
Genesis 27:1. When Isaac was old — A hundred and thirty-seven years old; but he lived forty years after this. And his eyes were dim — Whereby God brought about his own purpose of bestowing the blessing on Jacob. He called Esau, his eldest son ... read more
Genesis 28
Verse 1
Genesis 28:1. Isaac blessed him — That is, purposely and designedly, and in faith now confirmed that blessing to him, which before he had given him unknowingly. And hereby God confirmed Jacob’s faith against doubts and fears, and comforted hi ... read more
Genesis 29
Verse 2
Genesis 29:2. Behold a well in the field — Providence brought him to the very field where his uncle’s flocks were to be watered, and there he met with Rachel, who was to be his wife. The Divine Providence is to be acknowledged in all the ... read more
Genesis 3
Verse 1
Genesis 3:1. The serpent was more subtle, &c. — Some would render the word נחשׁ, nachash, here, monkey or baboon, and the word ערום, arum, intelligent: but it may be demonstrated from divers other passages of the Old Testament, where th ... read more
Genesis 30
Verse 1
Genesis 30:1. Rachel envied her sister — The Hebrew women considered barrenness as one of the greatest misfortunes that could befall them, not only from a natural desire of children, but from their eager wishes to be the means of fulfillin ... read more
Genesis 31
Verse 1
Genesis 31:1. He heard the words of Laban’s sons — For it seems they spoke them in Jacob’s hearing. The last chapter began with Rachel’s envying Leah; this begins with Laban’s sons envying Jacob. Hath taken away all that was our fa ... read more
Genesis 32
Verse 1
Genesis 32:1. The angels of God met him — In some visible and glorious forms, as they frequently appeared to the patriarchs. Probably only Jacob saw them. They met him to bid him welcome to Canaan again; a more honourable reception than ev ... read more
Genesis 33
Verse 1
Genesis 33:1. Behold, Esau came — Who had said, Genesis 27:41, “I will slay my brother Jacob;” and with him four hundred men — A force sufficient for him to do what he had threatened.
Verse 2-3
Genesis 33:2-3. He put Rachel and J ... read more
Genesis 34
Verse 1
Genesis 34:1. Dinah, the daughter of Leah, went out — From her father’s house into the city, out of curiosity, there being then, as Josephus asserts, (Ant., lib. 50. c. 20,) a great concourse of people to a feast. It does not appear that ... read more
Genesis 35
Verse 1
Genesis 35:1. God said, Arise, go up to Beth-el — This was a word in season to comfort his disquieted mind, and direct him to a safer place. Make there an altar — Consider and pay thy vows there, made in the time of thy distress. Jacob h ... read more
Genesis 36
Verse 1
Genesis 36:1. These are the generations of Esau — Esau has the honour of having an account of his posterity recorded, for the sake of his progenitors, Abraham and Isaac, and because the Edomites, his descendants, were neighbours to Israel, and ... read more
Genesis 37
Verse 2
Genesis 37:2. These are the generations of Jacob — The events or occurrences which happened to Jacob in his family and issue; as the word is used, chap. Genesis 6:9, and Numbers 3:1. The genealogy of Esau, which was brought in by way of pa ... read more
Genesis 38
Verse 1
Genesis 38:1. At that time — That is, about that time; this expression, as also the words then, in those days, often referring in Scripture to a considerable space of time. For though these words, as Le Clerc well observes, seem to connect ... read more
Genesis 39
Verse 1
Genesis 39:1. And Joseph was brought down into Egypt — The history of Joseph is one of the most remarkable, interesting, and instructive of any contained in the Scriptures or elsewhere. It affords us the clearest evidence of the providence of G ... read more
Genesis 4
Verse 1-2
Genesis 4:1-2. Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters, Genesis 5:4 : but Cain and Abel seem to have been the two eldest. Cain signifies possession; for Eve, when she bare him, said, with joy, and thankfulness, and expectation, “I have ... read more
Genesis 40
Verses 1-3
Genesis 40:1-3. We should not have had this story of Pharaoh’s butler and baker recorded in Scripture, if it had not been serviceable to Joseph’s preferment. The world stands for the sake of the church, and is governed for its good. W ... read more
Genesis 41
Verse 1
Genesis 41:1. At the end of two full years — After the butler’s restoration to his place. No doubt Joseph was some considerable time in prison before the keeper of the prison would so far trust him as to commit the other prisoners, espec ... read more
Genesis 42
Verse 1-2
Genesis 42:1-2. When Jacob saw — That is, heard, as the word is used, Exodus 20:18; or saw the corn which his neighbours had bought there and brought home. Why look ye one upon another? — As careless and helpless persons, each one expe ... read more
Genesis 43
Verse 8
Genesis 43:8. Judah said unto his father — He, on account of his age, prudence, and penitent carriage for his youthful follies, was much beloved and regarded by his father, and, on this occasion, was likely to have the greatest influence i ... read more
Genesis 44
Verse 2
Genesis 44:2. Put my cup, the silver cup — Probably a large cup of great value, and much used by Joseph; in the sack’s mouth of the youngest — Hereby, it seems, Joseph meant to try his brethren’s affection to Benjamin, whether they would ... read more
Genesis 45
Verse 1
Genesis 45:1. Then Joseph could not refrain himself — Several times before he had found great difficulty to refrain himself, but now, being overcome by Judah’s most affecting speech, he was constrained to yield to the emotions of his min ... read more
Genesis 46
Verse 1
Genesis 46:1. Israel came to Beer-sheba — Which place he chose in remembrance of the communion which his father and grandfather had had with God in that place. And offered sacrifices — That is, extraordinary sacrifices, besides those he ... read more
Genesis 47
Verse 1
Genesis 47:1. They are in the land of Goshen — Either to abide there, or to remove thence to any other place which thou shalt appoint for them.
Verse 2
Genesis 47:2. He took some of his brethren — The original words here, literally transl ... read more
Genesis 48
Verses 2-4
Genesis 48:2; Genesis 48:4. Israel strengthened himself — The tidings of Joseph’s approach refreshed his spirits, and gave him new strength: and he put forth all the strength he had. God blessed me — And let that blessing be entailed upo ... read more
Genesis 49
Verse 1
Genesis 49:1. Gather yourselves together — It was his will that they should all be sent for to see their father die, and to hear his dying words. It would be a comfort to him, who had sometimes thought himself bereaved, to see all his chil ... read more
Genesis 5
Verse 1
Genesis 5:1. The book of the generations of Adam — That is, a list or catalogue of his posterity, not of all, but only of the holy seed, from whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came; of the names, ages, and deaths of those that were the ... read more
Genesis 50
Verse 1
Genesis 50:1. Joseph fell upon his father’s face — Having first, no doubt, closed his eyes, according as God had promised that he should; and wept upon him, and kissed — His pale and cold lips, thus manifesting his love to and his sorr ... read more
Genesis 6
Verse 1
Genesis 6:1. For the glory of God’s justice, and for a warning to a wicked world, before the history of the ruin of the old world, we have a full account of its degeneracy, its apostacy from God, and rebellion against him. The destroying of it ... read more
Genesis 7
Verse 1
Genesis 7:1. Come thou, and all thy house, into the ark — His family consisted only of eight persons, 1 Peter 3:20, namely, Noah and his three sons, and their four wives, Genesis 6:18. By this it appears that each man had but one wife, and cons ... read more
Genesis 8
Verse 1
Genesis 8:1. And God remembered Noah, &c. — This is an expression after the manner of men; for not any of his creatures, much less any of his people, are forgotten of God. But the whole race of mankind, except Noah and his family, was now extin ... read more
Genesis 9
Verse 1
Genesis 9:1. God blessed Noah and his sons — He assured them of his good- will to them, and his gracious intentions concerning them. The first blessing is here renewed, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and repeated, Genesis 9 ... read more
Habakkuk 1
Verse 1
Habakkuk 1:1. The burden — The grievous calamities, or heavy judgments; which Habakkuk did see — That is, foresee, and was commissioned to foretel. This burden, or prophetic vision, communicated to Habakkuk, was against the Chaldeans as ... read more
Habakkuk 2
Verse 1
Habakkuk 2:1. I will stand upon my watch — The Hebrews often express one thing by a multiplicity of words, as here several expressions are used to signify the same thing, namely, watching. As the prophets were considered as watchmen, and as the ... read more
Habakkuk 3
Verse 1
Habakkuk 3:1. A prayer of Habakkuk, &c. — The word prayer is here taken in a general sense for an act or exercise of devotion, including adoration, praise, and thanksgiving. The word shigionoth signifies wanderings, and may denote “cantio err ... read more
Haggai 1
Verse 1
Haggai 1:1. In the second year of Darius — Namely, the son of Hystaspes, king of Persia. Blair places the second year of his reign five hundred and twenty years before Christ. In the sixth month, in the first day of the month — Therefore ... read more
Haggai 2
Verses 1-3
Haggai 2:1-3. In the seventh month, &c. — For the further encouragement of the people to proceed in rebuilding the temple, Haggai was sent again to them, about a month after he had been sent the first time, to assure them from God, that the ... read more
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