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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Service of the Ark. (b. c. 1045.)
THE SERVICE OF THE ARK. (B. C. 1045.) The worship of God is not only to be the work of a solemn day now and then, brought in to grace a triumph; but it ought to be the work of every day. David therefore settles it here…
God's Promise to David. (b. c. 1042.)
GOD'S PROMISE TO DAVID. (B. C. 1042.) Let us observe here, I. How desirous and solicitous good people should be to serve the interests of God's kingdom in the world, to the utmost of their capacity. David could not be e…
David's Grateful Acknowledgment. (b. c. 1042.)
DAVID'S GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT. (B. C. 1042.) We have here David's solemn address to God, in answer to the gracious message he had now received from him. By faith he receives the promises, embraces them, and is persuad…
David's Victories. (b. c. 1042.)
DAVID'S VICTORIES. (B. C. 1042.) After this, it is said (1 Chronicles 18:1), David did those great exploits. After the sweet communion he had had with God by the word and prayer, as mentioned in the foregoing chapter, h…
Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 18:9-17
Here let us learn, 1. That it is our interest to make those our friends who have the presence of God with them. The king of Hamath, hearing of David's great success, sent to congratulate him and to court his favour with…
Ill Usage of David's Servants. (b. c. 1037.)
ILL USAGE OF DAVID'S SERVANTS. (B. C. 1037.) Let us here observe, 1. That is becomes good people to be neighbourly, and especially to be grateful. David will pay respect to Hanun because he is his neighbour; and religio…
The Defeat of the Ammonites. (b. c. 1036.)
THE DEFEAT OF THE AMMONITES. (B. C. 1036.) We may see here, 1. How the hearts of sinners that are marked for ruin are hardened to their destruction. The children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to Davi…
The Defeat of the Ammonites. (b. c. 1306.)
THE DEFEAT OF THE AMMONITES. (B. C. 1306.) How the army of the Ammonites and their allies was routed in the field we read in the foregoing chapters. Here we have the destruction of Rabbah, the metropolis of their kingdo…
Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 20:4-8
The Philistines were nearly subdued (1 Chronicles 18:1); but, as in the destruction of the Canaanites by Joshua the sons of Anak were last subdued (Joshua 11:21), so here in the conquest of the Philistines the giants of…
The Giants Subdued. (b. c. 1017.)
THE GIANTS SUBDUED. (B. C. 1017.) Numbering the people, one would think, was no bad thing. Why should not the shepherd know the number of his flock? But God sees not as man sees. It is plain it was wrong in David to do…
David's Numbering the People. (b. c. 1017.)
DAVID'S NUMBERING THE PEOPLE. (B. C. 1017.) David is here under the rod for numbering the people, that rod of correction which drives out the foolishness that is bound up in the heart, the foolishness of pride. Let us b…
Ornan's Threshing-Floor. (b. c. 1017.)
ORNAN'S THRESHING-FLOOR. (B. C. 1017.) We have here the controversy concluded, and, upon David's repentance, his peace made with God. Though thou wast angry with me, thy anger is turned away. 1. A stop was put to the pr…
Preparations for the Temple. (b. c. 1017.)
PREPARATIONS FOR THE TEMPLE. (B. C. 1017.) Here is, I. The place fixed for the building of the temple (1 Chronicles 22:1): Then David said, by inspiration of God, and as a declaration of his mind, This is the house of t…
The Charge to Solomon. (b. c. 1015.)
THE CHARGE TO SOLOMON. (B. C. 1015.) Though Solomon was young and tender, he was capable of receiving instructions, which his father accordingly gave him, concerning the work for which he was designed. When David came t…
The Charge to the Princes of Israel. (b. c. 1015.)
THE CHARGE TO THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL. (B. C. 1015.) David here engages the princes of Israel to assist Solomon in the great work he had to do, and every one to lend him a hand towards the carrying of it on. Those that ar…
The Numbering of the Levites. (b. c. 1015.)
THE NUMBERING OF THE LEVITES. (B. C. 1015.) Here we have, I. The crown entailed, according to the divine appointment, 1 Chronicles 23:1. David made Solomon king, not to reign with him, or reign under him, but only to re…
The Office of the Levites. (b. c. 1015.)
THE OFFICE OF THE LEVITES. (B. C. 1015.) Here is, I. An alteration made in the computation of the effective men of the Levites—that whereas, in Moses's time, they were not enlisted, or taken into service, till they were…
The Courses of the Priests. (b. c. 1015.)
THE COURSES OF THE PRIESTS. (B. C. 1015.) The particular account of these establishments is of little use to us now; but, when Ezra published it, it was of great use to direct their church affairs after their return fro…
Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 24:20-31
Most of the Levites here named were mentioned before, 1 Chronicles 23:16-23, &c. They were of those who were to attend the priests in the service of the house of God. But they are here mentioned again as heads of the tw…
The Courses of the Singers. (b. c. 1015.)
THE COURSES OF THE SINGERS. (B. C. 1015.) Observe, I. Singing the praises of God is here called prophesying (1 Chronicles 25:1-3), not that all those who were employed in this service were honoured with the visions of G…
Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 25:8-31
Twenty-four persons are named in the beginning of this chapter as sons of those three great men, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. Ethan was the third (1 Chronicles 6:44), but probably he was dead before the establishment was…
The Officers of the Levites. (b. c. Date.)
THE OFFICERS OF THE LEVITES. (B. C. DATE.) Observe, I. There were porters appointed to attend the temple, who guarded all the avenues that let to it, opened and shut all the outer gates and attended at them, not only fo…
Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 26:20-28
Observe, 1. There were treasures of the house of God. A great house cannot be well kept without stores of all manner of provisions. Much was expended daily upon the altar-flour, wine, oil, salt, fuel, besides the lamps;…
Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 26:29-32
All the offices of the house of God being well provided with Levites, we have here an account of those that were employed as officers and judges in the outward business, which must not be neglected, no, not for the temp…