Wesley Corpus

To harden their hearts - It was the design of God's providence not to soften their hearts to a compliance with the Israelites, but to give them up to their own animosity, pride, confidence and stubbor...

This might be, either Because these places being in part destroyed and neglected by the Israelites, were repossessed by the giants, and by them kept 'till Caleb destroyed them. Or rather Because this ...

Upper and nether springs - Or two fields, one above and the other below that south and dry ground which she complained of, that by this means it might be watered on both sides. Twenty nine - Here are ...

God commands Saul utterly to destroy the Amalekites, ver. 1 - 3. He destroys them, but not utterly, ver. 4 - 9. Samuel pronounces sentence upon him for his disobedience, yet consents to honour him bef...

Kenites - A people descending from, or nearly related to Jethro, who anciently dwelt in rocks near the Amalekites, Numb 24:21, and afterwards some of them dwelt in Judah, Judg 1:16, whence it is proba...

These giants having either recovered their cities, or defended themselves in the mountains. Three sons of Anak - Either the same who are mentioned, Numb 13:33, and so they were long - lived men, such ...

The case of Jair and Samson seem to be much alike. For as it is said of Samson, that he judged Israel in the days of the tyranny of the Philistines, twenty years, Judg 15:20, by which it is evident, t...

Such hyperbolical expressions are frequent both in scripture and other authors. But if gold in abundance, would make silver seem so despicable, shall not wisdom and grace, and the foretastes of heaven...

Hough their horses - Cut their hamstrings that they may my be unfit for war. For God forbad them to keep many horses, now especially, that they might not trust to their horses, nor ascribe the conques...

The destruction which thou art about to bring upon us, is an injury to Israel, and to the God of Israel. Ephraim - Probably mount Ephraim was a place in Benjamin so called, either because it was upon ...

Chapter XXXV By the obedience of the Rechabites, ver. 1 - 11. God condemns the Jews disobedience, ver. 12 - 17. The Rechabites are blessed, ver. 18, 19. The word - This is another evidence that the pr...

Chapter XV God's message to Asa, ver. 1 - 7. Idols removed and the spoil dedicated to God, ver. 8 - 11. Judah makes a covenant with God, ver. 12 - 15. Asa removes his mother, destroys her idol, and br...

Shall be thicker - Or rather, is thicker, and therefore stronger, and more able to crush you, if you proceed in these mutinous demands, than his loins, in which is the principal seat of strength. From...

Chapter II Joshua sends spies to Jericho, ver. 1. Rahab receives and conceals them, ver. 2 - 7. Her agreement with them for the safety of herself and family, ver. 8 - 21. The return of the spies, and ...

The case of Jair and Samson seem to be much alike. For as it is said of Samson, that he judged Israel in the days of the tyranny of the Philistines, twenty years, Judg 15:20, by which it is evident, t...

So that he had no pleasure of his life. If I be shaven - Not that his hair was in itself the cause of his strength, but because it was the chief condition of that covenant, whereby God was pleased to ...

Nor would, &c. - This expression seems to have some emphasis in it, to enhance God's mercy to them, as being afforded them in a time of such grievous calamity; and in a time when the word of the lord ...

Beth - el, &c. - Which two places he chose for his peoples conveniency; Beth - el being in the southern, and Dan in the northern parts of his kingdom. A sin - That is, an occasion of great wickedness,...

Upper and nether springs - Or two fields, one above and the other below that south and dry ground which she complained of, that by this means it might be watered on both sides. Twenty nine - Here are ...

9. And it is a means not only of turning away the wrath of God, but also of obtaining whatever blessings we stand in need of. So, when the other tribes were smitten before the Benjamites, "all the chi...

To eat - The relicks of the sacrifices. Doth bless - The blessing of this sacrifice seems to have consisted both of thanksgiving, this being a thank - offering, and of prayer to God for its acceptance...

Bare a son - Thus the breach was in some measure repaired, by the addition of another son in his old age. When God thus restores comfort to his mourners, he makes glad according to the days wherein he...

Chapter XXI David causes Joab to number the people, ver. 1 - 6. He repents, ver. 7, 8. God gives him his choice of three judgments, and he chuses the pestilence, ver. 9 - 13. The havock made thereby: ...