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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Kings 16:29-34
EXPOSITION THE REIGN OF AHAB.—With the accession of Ahab a new main section of our history begins—the section which has its close in the destruction of the house of Omri by Jehu, as related in 2 Kings 10:1-36. And this…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Kings 17:1-24
EXPOSITION ELIJAH AND THE GREAT DROUGHT.—The picture which the historian has just drawn of the shameless idolatry and the gross degeneracy of the earlier part of Ahab's reign forms a fit prelude to an account of the min…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Kings 18:1-46
EXPOSITION ELIJAH'S RETURN AND THE ORDEAL OF MOUNT CARMEL.—The preceding chapter having been exclusively occupied with the fortunes of Elijah during his enforced absence of three and a half years from the land of Israel…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Kings 19
Brought me lower, whilst I whispered, 'Less of self, and more of Thee.' "Higher than the highest heavens, Deeper than the deepest sea, Lord, Thy love at last hath conquered; Grant me now my spirit's longing, 'None of se…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Kings 20:1-43
EXPOSITION THE INVASIONS OF ISRAEL BY THE SYRIANS AND THEIR RESULTS.—The insertion of this chapter, which contains an account of two invasions of Israel by the hosts of Syria, and of the utter defeat of the latter, and…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Kings 22:1-53
EXPOSITION THE EXPEDITION OF AHAB AND JEHOSHAPHAT AGAINST HRAMOTH-GILEAD. THE DEATH OF AHAB. THE REIGNS OF JEHOSHAPHAT AND AHAZIAH. 1 Kings 22:1 And they continued [rather, rested. Heb. sate, dwelt. Cf. 5:17. The LXX. h…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 1:1-18
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 1:1-18 THE REVOLT OF MOAB. THE ILLNESS, IMPIETY, AND DEATH OF AHAZIAH The narrative of the Second Book of Kings follows on that of the First Book in the closest possible sequence. The history of Ahazi…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 3:1-27
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 3:1-27 THE GENERAL CHARACTER OF JEHORAM'S REIGN OVER ISRAEL; HIS WAR WITH MOAB. 2 Kings 3:1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat King of…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 4:1-44
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 4:1-44 TYPICAL MIRACLES WROUGHT BY ELISHA. General introduction. The miracles of this chapter are all of them miracles of mercy. The first and last consist in the multiplying of food, and thus belong…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 5:1-27
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 5:1-27 THE CURE OF NAAMAN'S LEPROSY. HIS GRATITUDE; AND THE SIN OF GEHAZI, The historian continues his narrative of Elisha's miracles, commenced in 2 Kings 2:1-25; and gives in the present chapter a v…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 6:1-33
EXPOSITION Verse 1-7:20 FURTHER MIRACLES WROUGHT BY ELISHA. The historian relates first a (comparatively) private miracle wrought by Elisha in the vicinity of Jericho, for the benefit of one of the "sons of the prophets…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 7:1-20
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 7:1-20 THE SIEGE OF SAMARIA (continued): THE DELIVERANCE. 2 Kings 7:1, 2 Kings 7:2 The separation of these verses from the preceding narrative is most unfortunate. They are an integral part of it, and…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 8:1-29
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 8:1-29 THE SEQUEL OF THE STORY OF THE SHUNAMMITE. THE KILLING OF BENHADAD BY HAZAEL; AND THE WICKED REIGNS OF JEHORAM AND AHAZIAH IN JUDAH. 2 Kings 8:1-15 Elisha is still the protagonistes of the hist…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 9:1-37
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 9:1-37 THE ANOINTING OF JEHU. His MURDER OF JEHORAM AND AHAZIAH. THE DEATH OF JEZEBEL. 2 Kings 9:1-10 Elisha is still the primary figure in the historical drama; but at this point his personality merg…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 11:1-21
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 11:1-21 REVOLUTION IN JUDAH, FOLLOWING THE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN ISRAEL. REIGN OF ATHALIAH OVER JUDAH. CONSPIRACY OF JEHOIADA, AND DEATH OF ATHALIAH. 2 Kings 11:1-3 On learning the death of Ahazi…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 12:1-21
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 12:1-21 THE REIGN OF JOASH. THE REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE. WAR OF JOASH WITH HAZAEL, AND HIS DEATH BY A CONSPIRACY. 2 Kings 12:1-3 The writer of Kings is extremely brief and incomplete in his account of th…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 13:1-25
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 13:1-25 REIGNS OF JEHOAHAZ, SON OF JEHU, AND JOASH, SON OF JEHOAHAZ, OVER ISRAEL. NOTICES OF ELISHA. WAR OF ISRAEL WITH SYRIA. 2 Kings 13:1-9 THE REIGN OF JEHOAHAZ. The writer returns in this chapter…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 14:1-29
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 14:1-29 REIGNS OF AMAZIAH, SON OF JOASH KING OF JUDAH, OVER JUDAH, AND OF JEROBOAM, SON OF JOASH KING OF ISRAEL, OVER ISRAEL. 2 Kings 14:1-20 THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH OVER JUDAH. This chapter takes up the…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 15:1-38
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 15:1-38 REIGNS OF AZARIAH AND JOTHAM OVER JUDAH; AND OF ZACHARIAH, SHALLUM, MENAHEM, PEKAHIAH, AND PEKAH OVER ISRAEL. 2 Kings 15:1-7 THE REIGN OF AZARIAH OVER JUDAS. The writer now more and more compr…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 16:1-20
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 16:1-20 REIGN OF AHAZ OVER JUDAH. WAR OF AHAZ WITH PEKAH AND REZIN. EXPEDITION OF TIGLATH-PILESER AGAINST THEM. RELIGIOUS CHANGES MADE BY AHAZ. HIS DEATH. 2 Kings 16:1-4 General character of the reign…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 17:1-41
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 17:1-41 THE REIGN OF HOSHEA OVER ISRAEL. DESTRUCTION OF THE ISRAELITE KINGDOM, AND THE GROUNDS OF IT RE-PEOPLING OF THE KINGDOM BY ASSYRIAN COLONISTS. 2 Kings 17:1-6 REIGN OF HOSHEA. Hoshea, the last…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 19:1-37
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 19:1-37 SECOND EXPEDITION OF SENNACHERIB AGAINST HEZEKIAH (continued). The chapter falls into four portions: 2 Kings 19:1 And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes—fol…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 20:1-21
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 20:1-21 ILLNESS OF HEZEKIAH AND EMBASSY OF MERODACH-BALADAN. HEZEKIAH'S DEATH. The writer proceeds to relate an illness and a recovery of Hezekiah, which happened about the middle of his reign, probab…
The Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 21:1-26
EXPOSITION 2 Kings 21:1-26 THE REIGNS OF MANASSEH AND AMON. 2 Kings 21:1-18 THE REIGN OF MANASSEH. Hezekiah's good and glorious reign was followed by one of exactly the opposite character. His son and successor, Manasse…