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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Plague Removed. (b. c. 1017.)
THE PLAGUE REMOVED. (B. C. 1017.) Here is, I. A command sent to David to erect an altar in the place where he saw the angel, 2 Samuel 24:18. This was to intimate to David, 1. That, upon his repeated submission and humil…
Introduction. (b. c. 1015.)
INTRODUCTION. (B. C. 1015.) David, as recorded in the foregoing chapter, had, by the great mercy of God, escaped the sword of the destroying angel. But our deliverances from or through diseases and dangers are but repri…
Adonijah's Ambition. (b. c. 1015.)
ADONIJAH'S AMBITION. (B. C. 1015.) David had much affliction in his children. Amnon and Absalom had both been his grief; the one his first-born, the other his third, 2 Samuel 3:2-3. His second, whom he had by Abigail, w…
David Makes Solomon King. (b. c. 1015.)
DAVID MAKES SOLOMON KING. (B. C. 1015.) We have here the effectual endeavours that were used by Nathan and Bathsheba to obtain from David a ratification of Solomon's succession, for the crushing of Adonijah's usurpation…
Solomon Declared Successor. (b. c. 1015.)
SOLOMON DECLARED SUCCESSOR. (B. C. 1015.) We have here the effectual care David took both to secure Solomon's right and to preserve the public peace, by crushing Adonijah's project in the bud. Observe, I. The express or…
Solomon Proclaimed. (b. c. 1015.)
SOLOMON PROCLAIMED. (B. C. 1015.) We have here, I. The tidings of Solomon's inauguration brought to Adonijah and his party, in the midst of their jollity: They had made an end of eating, and, it should seem, it was a gr…
David's Dying Charge; David's Death and Burial. (b. c. 1015.)
DAVID'S DYING CHARGE; DAVID'S DEATH AND BURIAL. (B. C. 1015.) David, that great and good man, is here a dying man (1 Kings 2:1), and a dead man, 1 Kings 2:10. It is well there is another life after this, for death stain…
Adonijah's Impudent Request; Adonijah Put to Death. (b. c. 1015.)
ADONIJAH'S IMPUDENT REQUEST; ADONIJAH PUT TO DEATH. (B. C. 1015.) Here is, I. Solomon's accession to the throne, 1 Kings 2:12. He came to it much more easily and peaceably than David did, and much sooner saw his governm…
Joab Put to Death. (b. c. 1015.)
JOAB PUT TO DEATH. (B. C. 1015.) Abiathar and Joab were both aiding and abetting in Adonijah's rebellious attempt, and it is probable were at the bottom of this new motion made of Adonijah for Abishag, and it should see…
Shimei's Punishment. (b. c. 1014.)
SHIMEI'S PUNISHMENT. (B. C. 1014.) Here is, I. The preferment of Benaiah and Zadok, two faithful friends to Solomon and his government, 1 Kings 2:35. Joab being put to death, Benaiah was advanced to be general of the fo…
Solomon Marries Pharaoh's Daughter. (b. c. 1014.)
SOLOMON MARRIES PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER. (B. C. 1014.) We are here told concerning Solomon, I. Something that was unquestionably good, for which he is to be praised and in which he is to be imitated. 1. He loved the Lord, 1…
God's Appearance to Solomon. (b. c. 1014.)
GOD'S APPEARANCE TO SOLOMON. (B. C. 1014.) We have here an account of a gracious visit which God paid to Solomon, and the communion he had with God in it, which put a greater honour upon Solomon than all the wealth and…
The Wisdom of Solomon. (b. c. 1014.)
THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. (B. C. 1014.) An instance is here given of Solomon's wisdom, to show that the grant lately made him had a real effect upon him. The proof is fetched, not from the mysteries of state and the polici…
Solomon's Officers. (b. c. 1014.)
SOLOMON'S OFFICERS. (B. C. 1014.) Here we have, I. Solomon upon his throne (1 Kings 4:1): So king Solomon was king, that is, he was confirmed and established king over all Israel, and not, as his successors, only over t…
The Supply of Solomon's Household. (b. c. 1014.)
THE SUPPLY OF SOLOMON'S HOUSEHOLD. (B. C. 1014.) Such a kingdom, and such a court, surely never any prince had, as Solomon's are here described to be. I. Such a kingdom. Never did the crown of Israel shine so brightly a…
Solomon's Distinguished Reputation. (b. c. 1014.)
SOLOMON'S DISTINGUISHED REPUTATION. (B. C. 1014.) Solomon's wisdom was more his glory than his wealth, and here we have a general account of it. I. The fountain of his wisdom: God gave it him, 1 Kings 4:29. He owns it h…
Solomon's Agreement with Hiram. (b. c. 1014.)
SOLOMON'S AGREEMENT WITH HIRAM. (B. C. 1014.) We have here an account of the amicable correspondence between Solomon and Hiram. Tyre was a famous trading city, that lay close upon the sea, in the border of Israel; its i…
Matthew Henry on 1 Kings 5:10-18
Here is, I. The performance of the agreement between Solomon and Hiram. Each of the parties made good his engagement. 1. Hiram delivered Solomon the timber, according to his bargain, 1 Kings 5:10. The trees were Solomon…
The Building of the Temple. (b. c. 1011.)
THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. (B. C. 1011.) Here, I. The temple is called the house of the Lord (1 Kings 6:1), because it was, 1. Directed and modelled by him. Infinite Wisdom was the architect, and gave David the plan or…
Matthew Henry on 1 Kings 6:11-14
Here is, I. The word God sent to Solomon, when he was engaged in building the temple. God let him know that he took notice of what he was doing, the house he was now building, 1 Kings 6:12. None employ themselves for Go…
Matthew Henry on 1 Kings 6:15-38
Here, I. We have a particular account of the details of the building. 1. The wainscot of the temple. It was of cedar (1 Kings 6:15), which was strong and durable, and of a very sweet smell. The wainscot was curiously ca…
The Building of the Temple. (b. c. 1004.)
THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. (B. C. 1004.) Never had any man so much of the spirit of building as Solomon had, nor to better purpose; he began with the temple, built for God first, and then all his other buildings were c…
Matthew Henry on 1 Kings 7:13-47
We have here an account of the brass-work about the temple. There was no iron about the temple, though we find David preparing for the temple iron for things of iron, 1 Chronicles 29:2. What those things were we are not…
Matthew Henry on 1 Kings 7:48-51
Here is, 1. The making of the gold work of the temple, which it seems was done last, for with it the work of the house of God ended. All within doors was gold, and all made new (except the ark, with its mercy-seat and c…