Pharaoh — As being a powerful neighbour, whose daughter doubtless was first instructed in, and proselyted to the Jewish religion. It seems, this was designed by God to be a type of Christ, calling his church to himself, and to the true religion, not only out of the Jews, but even out of the Gentile... [ Continue Reading ]
Only — This particle is used here, and 1 Kings 3:3, as an exception to Solomon's integrity and as a blemish to his government, That he himself both permitted and practised this which was expressly forbidden, Leviticus 17:3; Deuteronomy 12:13. High places — Which were groves, or other convenient plac... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet — Although he miscarried in the matter of high places, yet in the general, his heart was right with God. Statutes — According to the statutes or commands of God, which are here called the statutes of David; not only because they were diligently practised by David, but also because the observatio... [ Continue Reading ]
Truth — In the true worship of God, in the profession, belief, practice and defence of the true religion. So truth here contains all duties to God, as righteousness doth his duties to men, and uprightness the right manner of performing both sorts of duties. With thee — That is, in thy judgment, to w... [ Continue Reading ]
Child — So he was in years: not above twenty years old; and withal (which he principally intends) he was raw and unexperienced, as a child, in state affairs. Go out, &c. — To govern my people, and manage affairs.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the midst — Is set over them to rule and guide them. A metaphor from the overseer of divers workmen, who usually is in the midst of them, that he may the better observe how each of them discharges his office. Chosen — Thy peculiar people, whom thou takest special care of, and therefore wilt expec... [ Continue Reading ]
An understanding heart — Whereby I may both clearly discern, and faithfully perform all the parts of my duty: for both these are spoken of in scripture, as the effects of a good understanding; and he that lives in the neglect of his duties, or the practice of wickedness, is called a fool, and one vo... [ Continue Reading ]
All thy days — Whereby he signifies that these gifts of God were not transient, as they were in Saul, but such as should abide with him whilst he lived.... [ Continue Reading ]
And if — This caution God gives him, lest his wisdom should make him proud, careless, or presumptuous.... [ Continue Reading ]
A dream — Not a vain dream, wherewith men are commonly deluded; but a divine dream, assuring him of the thing: which he knew, by a divine impression after he was awakened: and by the vast alteration which he presently found within himself in point of wisdom and knowledge. The ark — Which was there i... [ Continue Reading ]
Harlots — Or, victuallers: for the Hebrew words signifies both. Yet that they are unmarried persons, seems probable, both because there is no mention of any husbands, whose office it was, if there were any such, to contest for their wives; and because they lived a solitary life in one house.... [ Continue Reading ]
Overlaid it — And so smothered it: which she justly conjectures, because there were evidences of that kind of death, but no appearance of any other cause thereof.... [ Continue Reading ]
Said — Though with a design far above the reach of the two women, or of the people present, who probably with horror expected the execution of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
She is the mother — As is evident from her natural affection to the child, which she had rather have given away from her, than destroyed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wisdom of God — Divine wisdom with which God had inspired him for the government of his people.... [ Continue Reading ]