7 before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with 8 an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's 9 head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; and when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod, and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. Mar. vi. 21, 22. 23. The daughter of Herodias.] See verse 4. Danced before them.] On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains; therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. Es. i. 10, 11, 12. 7 He promised with an oath.] Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? It shall be even given thee; to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee. And what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. Es. v. 3. 6. And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Es. vii. 2. 8 Being before instructed.] Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem; his mother's name also was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. 2 Ch. xxii. 2, 3. And she, the daughter of Herodias, went forth and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? and she said, The head of John the Baptist. Mar. vi. 24. Give me here John Baptist's head, &c. It was so when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water. Was it not told my lord (said Obadiah) what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a and water? cave, and fed them with bread 1 Ki. xviii. 4. 13. Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them (the prophets whom she had slain) by to-morrow about this time. 1 Ki. xix. 2. When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. 2 Ki. xi. 1. Their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Pr. i. 16. The blood-thirsty hate the upright, but the just seek his soul. Pr. xxix. 10. I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands; the sinner shall be taken by her. Ec. vii. 26. A charger.] When they (the And his (Nahshon's) offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering. On the second day Nethaneel offered for his offering one silver charger, &c. This was the dedication of the altar (in the day when it was anointed) by the princes of Israel. Twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold. Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, &c. Nu. vii. 13. 19. 84, 85. This is the number of "them" ("the vessels of the house of the Lord"), thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, &c. &c. Ezr. i. 9. 9 The king was sorry.] See verse 1. Sorry.] See verse 5. Jews) were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus, which is called Christ? for he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ (said Pilate to the Jews who desired that Barabbas should be released)? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them. And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Mat. xxvii. 17-26. The king (Belshazzar) when he oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. Let them, therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cesarea; and the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, commanded Paul to be brought. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I offended any thing at all. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Ac. xxv. 3-9. heard these "words" ("Daniel regardeth not thee, O king, but maketh his petition three times a day"), was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Da. vi. 14, 15, 16. Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man, and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And the king was exceeding sorry (when Herodias' daughter asked the head of John the Baptist), yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. Mar. vi. 20. 26. Go ye (said Jesus), and tell that "fox" ("Herod"), Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day The oath's sake.] Jephtha vowed a vow and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without perfected. Lu. xiii. 32. Thou couldest have fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine no power at all against me (said Jesus to hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever Pilate), except it were given thee from above: cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath me, when I return in peace from the children the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, will offer it up for a burnt-offering. And it saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not came to pass at the end of two months, that Cesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king she (Jephtha's daughter, who first came forth) speaketh against Cesar. When Pilate therefore returned unto her father, who did with her heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and according to his vow which he had vowed, sat down in the judgment seat, in a place that and she knew no man. Ju. xi. 30, 31. 39. is called the pavement, but in the Hebrew, The men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, sayGabbatha. And it was the preparation of the ing, There shall not any of us give his daughpassover, and about the sixth hour. And he ter unto Benjamin to wife. How shall we do saith unto the Jews, Behold your king. But for wives for them that remain, seeing we they cried out, Away with him, crucify him, have sworn by the Lord, that we will not give Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your them of our daughters to wives. There must king. The chief priests answered, We have be an inheritance for them that be escaped of no king but Cesar. Then delivered he him Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of therefore unto them to be crucified. John xix. Israel. Howbeit we may not give them wives 11-16. After certain days, when Felix came of our daughters; for the children of Israel with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning a wife to Benjamin. Then they said, Behold, the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of there is a feast of the Lord in Shiloh. And righteousness, temperance, and judgment to see and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy come out to dance in dances, then come ye way for this time, when I have a convenient (of Benjamin) out of the vineyards, and catch season I will call for thee. He hoped also you every man his wife of the daughters of that money should have been given him of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. Paul, that he might loose him. Wherefore And the children of Benjamin did so. he sent for him the oftener, and communed they went and returned unto their inheritwith him. But after two years, Porcius Festus ance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in came into Felix' room, and Felix willing to them. Ju. xxi. 1. 7. 17, 18. 21. 23. The shew the Jews a pleasure left Paul bound. men of Israel were distressed that day (in Ac. xxiv. 24-27. The high priest and the pursuing the Philistines unto Beth-aven), for chief of the Jews desired favour against him Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed (Paul), that he would send for him to Jeru- be the man that eateth any food until evensalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. ing, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. And 10 it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. So none of the people tasted any food. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with an oath. Wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honey-comb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened. Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. As the Lord liveth (said Saul, being informed that the people had sinned against the Lord in that they eat with the blood), though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. And Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and lo, I must die. And Saul answered, God do so, and more also; for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel (“in smiting the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon")? God forbid! As the Lord liveth there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground. So the people rescued Jonathan that he died not. 1 Sa. xiv. 24. 27. 39. 43, 44, 45. So, and more also, do God unto the enemies of David, if I (David) leave of all that pertain to him (Nabal) by the morning light any, &c. And David said to Abigail (the wife of Nabal), Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me. And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted, and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any, &c. 1 Sa. xxv. 22. 32, 33, 34. And Saul sware to her (the witch of Endor, to whom he came disguised, and who feared Saul), by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing" (" divining to him by the familiar spirit"). 1 Sa. xxviii. 10. Then (when Jehoram heard of the women that had eaten their own children in the famine of Samaria) he said, God do so, and more also, to me, if the head of Elisha, the son of Shaphat, shall stand on him this day. But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him and the king sent a man from before him; but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? Look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door, is not the sound of his master's feet behind him? And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, the evil is of the Lord: what should I wait for the Lord any longer? 2 Ki. vi. 31, 32, 33. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth, therefore tet thy words be few. Ec. v. 2. come. 10 And beheaded John.] Elias is come already (said Jesus of John), and they knew him not: but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Mat. xvii. 12. The husbandmen (of the householder in the parable) took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another: again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did unto them likewise. Mat. xxi. 35, 36. The king, which made a marriage for his son, sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding, and they would not Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and y fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways; one to his farm, another to his merchandise; and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. Mat. xxii. 2—6. Behold, I send you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; And some of them ye shall kill and crucify, and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city. Mat. xxiii. 34, &c. ("the Jews") mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy. 2 Ch. xxxvi. 16. In vain have I smitten your children they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets like a destroying lion. Je. ii. 30. The king was exceeding sorry, yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her: and immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought; and he went and be headed him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother; and when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb. Mar. vi. 26-29. I say unto you (said Jesus), that Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of them. Mar. ix. 13. John have I beheaded (said Herod), but who is this of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. Lu. ix. 9. When “they” (the They" And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel; 11 and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came, and 12 took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. When 13 Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart and when the people had heard thereof they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great 14 multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening, his disciples 15 came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now two witnesses that shall prophesy), shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. Re. xi. 7. 11 And given to the damsel.] Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel. Ge. xlix. 7. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous. Pr. xxvii. 4. The bloodthirsty hate the upright. Pr. xxix. 10. Thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence to do it. Je. xxii. 17. Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem, Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. Ez. xvi. 3. Take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, and say, What is thy mother? A lioness! she lay down among lions; she nourished her whelps among young lions; and she brought up one of her whelps; it became a young lion, and it learnt to catch the prey; it devoured men. xix. 2, 3. As I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee; sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee. Ex. xxxv. 6. They have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. Re. xvi. 6. I saw the woman (the great whore) drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. Re. xvii. 6. them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest awhile; for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat: and they departed into a desert place by ship privately; and the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. Mar. vi. 30-33. The apostles, when they were returned, told him (Jesus) all that they had done. And he took them and went aside privately into a desert place, belonging to the city called Bethsaida. Lu. ix. 10. Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias, and great multitudes followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. John vi. 1, 2. 66 14 And was moved with compassion.] See chap. ix. 36. and com. In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now Ez. been with me three days, and have nothing to eat. Mar. viii. 1, 2. Oft-times it (the dumb spirit) hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us and help us. Mar. ix. 22. When the Lord saw "her" (the "widow of Nain") he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. Lu. vii. 13. And when he was come near, he beheld the city (of Jerusalem), and wept over it. Lu. xix. 41. When Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. Where have ye laid "him" ("Lazarus," said Jesus)? they say unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. John xi. 33, 34, 35. In all things it behoved him (Jesus) to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Heb. ii. 17. See chap. xv. 32. 12 Took up the body.] He (Joseph of Arimathea) went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered: and when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre. Mat. xxvii. 58-60. Devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. Ac. viii. 2. 13 Jesus heard of it.] (See ver. 1, 2. and chap. x. 23. and xii. 15.) The Apostles , gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught; and he said unto 15 His disciples came to him.] When the day was now far spent his disciples came unto him and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed. Send them (the multitudes) away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have no past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, 16 and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They 17 need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, 18 We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring 19 them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on thing to eat. Mar. vi. 35, 36. Send the multitude away (said the twelve), that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge and get victuals, for we are here in a desert place. Lu. ix. 12. Send the multitude away.] His disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her (the woman of Canaan) away, for she crieth after us. Mat. xv. 23. If I send them away fasting (said Jesus) to their own houses, they will faint by the way, for divers of them came from far. Mar. viii. 3. See chap. xv. 23. 16 They need not depart.] There came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God (Elisha) bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn, in the husk thereof; and he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat; and his servitor said, What! should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat; for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat and shall leave thereof. So he set it before them, and they did eat and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord. 2 Ki. iv. 42, 43, 44. If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof, then let mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade. Job xxxi. 16, 17. 22. There is that scattereth and yet increaseth, and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Pr. xi. 24. Give a portion to seven and also to eight, for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. Ec. xi. 2. He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Lu. iii. 11. Some of them (the disciples) thought (upon hearing their Lord say to Judas, That thou doest, do quickly) that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast, or that he should give something to the poor. John xiii. 29. Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 2 Co. viii. 1, 2. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. 2 Co. ix. 7, 8. 17 We have here but five loaves.] Whence should we have so much bread in the wilder ness (said the disciples) as to fill so great a multitude. And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. Mat. xv. 33, 34. Moses (staggering in faith) said, The people among whom I am are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. Nu. xi. 21, 22, 23. Yea, they (the Israelites) spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? Ps. lxxviii. 19, 20. He (Jesus) answered and said unto them (his disciples), Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. Mar. vi. 37, 38. From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked "them" (his "disciples"), How many loaves have ye? and they said, Seven. Mar. viii. 4, 5. Give ye them to eat (said Jesus); and they (the disciples) said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go, and buy meat for all this people. Lu. ix. 13. When Jesus lifted up his eyes and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? (And this he said to prove him, for he himself knew what he would do.) Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here which hath five barley-loaves and two small fishes, but what are they among so many? John vi. 5-9. 19 He commanded the multitude to sit down.] And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. Mat. xv. 35, And he com. manded them to make all sit down by com panies upon the green grass. Mar. vi. 39. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his dis |