Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 10:26 — See 1 Kings 4:26 note. Until the time of Solomon, war-chariots had not been in use among the Jews, except to a very small extent 1 Chronicles 18:4. Hence, it was necessary for him to put himself on an equality in this respect with neighboring powers.Cities for chariots - They were probably fortresses upon the borders of his territory, in which he maintained the standing army necessary for the support of his dominion.

2 Kings 23:30 — Dead - It appears from a comparison of this passage with 2 Chronicles (marginal reference) that Josiah was not actually killed in the battle.Jehoahaz - Or Shallum (the marginal note). He may have taken the name of Jehoahaz (“the Lord possesses”) on his accession. He was not the eldest son of Josiah (see 2 Kings 23:36 note). The mention of “anointing” here favors the view that there was some irregularity in the succession (see 1 Kings 1:34 note).

2 Kings 9:25 — Rode together after Ahab - The Assyrian sculptures make it probable that Josephus was right in interpreting this “rode side by side behind Ahab in his chariot.” The Assyrian monarchs, when they go out to war, are frequently attended hy two guards, who stand behind them in the same chariot.Burden - Compare the use of the same word in Isaiah (Isaiah 13:1; Isaiah 15:1, etc.), and in Lamentations Lamentations 2:14, for a denunciation of woe.

1 Chronicles 12:2 — The skill of the Benjamites as archers is noted in 1 Chronicles 8:40, and 2 Chronicles 14:8. Their proficiency in using the left hand appears in the narrative of Judges (Judges 3:15, and marginal reference) where their special excellency as slingers is also noticed.Even of Saul’s brethren - Compare 1 Chronicles 12:29. Even of Saul’s own tribe there were some who separated themselves from his cause, and threw in their lot with David.

1 Chronicles 15:16 — The singers - Singing had long been recognized as appropriate to religious ceremonies Exodus 15:21; Jdg 5:1; 1 Chronicles 13:8; but this is the first occasion on which we find the duty of conducting musical services expressly laid on the Levites. Henceforth, the services of the tabernacle and the temple were regularly choral, and a considerable section of the Levites was trained in musical knowledge, and set apart to conduct this portion of the national worship.

1 Chronicles 24:26-27 — The sons of Jaaziah, Beno - Beno is not really a name. It is the Hebrew for “his son,” and is to be attached to Jaaziah. Translate 1 Chronicles 24:27, “and the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son (were) Shoham and Zaccur, and Ibri.” The meaning of the whole passage 1 Chronicles 24:26-30 seems to be that there were three branches of the Merarites the Beni-Mahli, the Beni-Mushi, and the Beni-Jaaziah.

1 Chronicles 8:6 — And they removed them to Manahath - “They” has no antecedent; and it is difficult to supply one. Almost all commentators suppose that there has been some corruption here, from which, however, we may gather that the “sons of Ehud” (or, perhaps, of Ahoah, 1 Chronicles 8:4) were originally settled at Geba (Joshua 18:24 note), but afterward removed to a place called Manahath, probably a town in the vicinity. Gera 1 Chronicles 8:7 directed the movement.

2 Chronicles 17:3 — The first ways of his father David - The Septuagint and several Hebrew manuscripts omit “David,” which has probably crept in from the margin, for David’s “first ways” are nowhere else contrasted with his later ways. The real meaning of the writer is, that Jehoshaphat followed the example set by his father Asa in his earlier years 2 Chronicles 14:1-15; 2 Chronicles 15:0.Baalim - On the plural form, see 1 Kings 18:18 note.

Proverbs 12:24 — Under tribute - The comparison is probably suggested by the contrast between the condition of a conquered race (compare Joshua 16:10; Judges 1:30-33), and that of the freedom of their conquerors from such burdens. The proverb indicates that beyond all political divisions of this nature there lies an ethical law. The “slothful” descend inevitably to pauperism and servitude. The prominence of compulsory labor under Solomon 1 Kings 9:21 gives a special significance to the illustration.

Proverbs 16:1 — The proverbs in Proverbs 16:1-7 have, more than any other group, an especially religious character impressed upon them. The name of Yahweh as Giver, Guide, Ruler, or Judge, meets us in each of them.Proverbs 16:1Better, The plans of the heart belong to man, but the utterance of the tongue is from Yahweh. Thoughts come and go, as it were, spontaneously; but true, well ordered speech is the gift of God. Compare Proverbs 16:9.

Isaiah 2:19 — cuevas que ofrecían un refugio seguro para aquellos que estaban en peligro. Muchas de esas cavernas eran muy espaciosas. En En-gedi, en particular, se menciona una cueva donde David con seiscientos hombres se escondió de Saúl en los "lados" de la misma; 1 Samuel 24. A veces las cuevas o guaridas se construyeron artificialmente para refugio o defensa en peligro; Jueces 6:2; 1 Samuel 13:6. Por lo tanto, "a causa de los madianitas, los hijos de Israel los convirtieron en guaridas que están en las montañas,

1 Corinthians 2:6 — muestra que si la sabiduría humana falta en su predicación, no está desprovista de sabiduría verdadera, sólida e incluso divina: Bloomfield. Hablamos sabiduría - No admitimos que pronunciemos tonterías. Hemos hablado de la tontería de la predicación 1 Corintios 1:21; y de la estimación en la que se encontraba el mundo 1 Corintios 1:22; y de nuestra propia manera entre ustedes como no reclamar el aprendizaje humano o la elocuencia; pero no diseñamos admitir que realmente hemos estado hablando tonterías.

James 1:12 — religión, ya sea aflicción o persecución, o un incentivo directo al pecado colocado ante la mente. La palabra tentación aparece en este capítulo para usarse en dos sentidos; y puede surgir la pregunta de por qué el apóstol lo emplea así. Compare Santiago 1:2, Santiago 1:13. Pero, de hecho, la palabra "tentación" es en sí misma de un carácter tan general que cubre todo el uso y justifica la manera en que se emplea. Denota cualquier cosa que intente o pruebe la realidad de nuestra religión; y puede aplicarse,

Revelation 14:14 — Y miré - Vea las notas en Apocalipsis 14:1. Su atención es detenida por una nueva visión. El Hijo del hombre mismo sale para cerrar la escena y para terminar los asuntos del mundo. Esto también es de la naturaleza de un episodio, y el diseño es el mismo que el de las visiones anteriores,

Revelation 3:7 — Y al ángel de la iglesia en Filadelfia - Vea las notas en Apocalipsis 1:2. Estas cosas dice el que es santo - Esto se refiere indudablemente al Señor Jesús. La denominación santa, o la santa, es la que le corresponde, y no se le da con poca frecuencia en el Nuevo Testamento, Lucas 1:35; Hechos 2:27; Hechos 3:14. No

1 Samuel 17:54 — Jerusalem - See Judges 1:8 note.His tent - Perhaps the tabernacle. David had neither tent nor house of his own. It would be quite in accordance with David’s piety that he should immediately dedicate to God the arms taken from the Philistine, in acknowledgment that the victory was not his own but the Lord’s (compare 1 Samuel 21:9). His tabernacle, meaning the tabernacle which he had pitched (2 Samuel 6:17; compare Acts 15:16).

1 Samuel 23:2-4 — If Gad was with David at the forest of Hareth 1 Samuel 22:5, and there inquired for him of the Lord 1 Samuel 23:2,1 Samuel 23:4, but did not accompany him to Keilah, and if Abiathar’s flight occurred at the time of David’s being at Keilah, we have an additional striking instance of God’s watchful providential care of David in thus sending Abiathar to supply the place of Gad at so critical a moment.

1 Samuel 28:7 — Enquire - A different word from that in 1 Samuel 28:6, though nearly synonymous with it. It is more frequently applied to inquiry of a false god, as e. g. 2 Kings 1:2; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3.En-dor (see Joshua 11:2 note) was seven or eight miles from the slopes of Gilboa, on the north of little Hermon, where the Philistines were encamped; so that Saul must have run great risks in going there.

1 Samuel 9:9 — This is manifestly a gloss inserted in the older narrative by the later editor of the sacred text, to explain the use of the term in 1 Samuel 9:11, 1 Samuel 9:18-19. It is one among many instances which prove how the very letter of the contemporary narratives was preserved by those who in later times compiled the histories. We cannot say exactly when the term “seer” became obsolete. See the marginal references.

2 Samuel 5:7 — The stronghold of Zion - Or castle 1 Chronicles 11:5, 1 Chronicles 11:7. The ancient Zion was the hill on which the temple stood, and the castle seems to have been immediately to the north of the temple. The modern Zion lies to the southwest of the temple.The same is the city of David - The name afterward given to it 2 Samuel 5:9, and by which it was known in the writer’s time.