Read Scripture In A Year: July 16

Passage 1: 1 Samuel 31

(1Sa 31:1) Now the Philistims fought against Israel, and the me of Israel fled away from ye Philistims, and they fell downe wounded in mount Gilboa.

(1Sa 31:2) And the Philistims preassed sore vpon Saul and his sonnes, and slewe Ionathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua Sauls sonnes.

(1Sa 31:3) And when the battel went sore against Saul, the archers and bowmen hit him, and hee was sore wounded of the archers.

(1Sa 31:4) Then saide Saul vnto his armour bearer, Drawe out thy sworde, and thrust mee through therewith, lest the vncircumcised come and thrust me through and mocke me: but his armour bearer would not, for hee was sore afraid. Therefore Saul tooke a sworde and fell vpon it.

(Notes Reference) Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, (a) Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

(a) So we see that his cruel life has a desperate end, as is commonly seen in those who persecute the children of God.

(1Sa 31:5) And when his armour bearer sawe that Saul was dead, he fell likewise vpon his sword, and dyed with him.

(1Sa 31:6) So Saul dyed, and his three sonnes, and his armour bearer, and all his men that same day together.

(1Sa 31:7) And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they of the other side Iorden saw that the men of Israel were put to flight, and that Saul and his sonnes were dead, then they left the cities, and ran away: and the Philistims came and dwelt in them.

(Notes Reference) And when the men of Israel that [were] on the other side of the (b) valley, and [they] that [were] on the other side (c) Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

(b) Near to Gilboa.

(1Sa 31:8) And on the morowe when the Philistims were come to spoyle them that were slaine, they founde Saul and his three sonnes lying in mount Gilboa,

(1Sa 31:9) And they cut off his head, and stripped him out of his armour, and sent into the land of ye Philistims on euery side, that they should publish it in the temple of their idoles, and among the people.

(Notes Reference) And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to (d) publish [it in] the house of their idols, and among the people.

(d) In token of victory and triumph.

(1Sa 31:10) And they layed vp his armour in the house of Ashtaroth, but they hanged vp his body on the wall of Beth-shan.

(1Sa 31:11) When the inhabitants of Iabesh Gilead heard, what the Philistims had done to Saul,

(Notes Reference) And when the inhabitants of (e) Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

(e) Whom he had delivered from their enemies, (1Sa 11:11).

(1Sa 31:12) Then they arose (as many as were strong men) and went all night, and tooke the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sonnes, from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Iabesh, and burnt them there,

(1Sa 31:13) And tooke their bones and buried them vnder a tree at Iabesh, and fasted seuen dayes.

(Notes Reference) And they took their bones, and buried [them] under a tree at Jabesh, and (f) fasted seven days.

(f) According to the custom of mourners.

Passage 2: Jeremiah 6

(Jer 6:1) O ye children of Beniamin, prepare to flee out of the middes of Ierusalem, and blowe the trumpet in Tekoa: set vp a standart vpon Beth-haccerem: for a plague appeareth out of the North and great destruction.

(Notes Reference) O ye children of (a) Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in (b) Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in (c) Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

(a) He speaks to them chiefly because they should take heed by the example of their brethren the other half of their tribe, who were now carried away prisoners.

(b) Which was a city in Judah, six miles from Bethlehem, (2Ch 11:6).

(Jer 6:2) I haue compared the daughter of Zion to a beautifull and daintie woman.

(Notes Reference) I have likened the daughter of Zion to (d) a comely and delicate [woman].

(d) I have intreated her gently, and given her abundance of all things.

(Jer 6:3) The pastors with their flockes shall come vnto her: they shall pitche their tentes rounde about by her, and euery one shall feede in his place.

(Notes Reference) The shepherds with their flocks (e) shall come to her; they shall pitch [their] tents against her on every side; they shall feed every one in his place.

(e) She will be so destroyed that the sheep may be fed in her.

(Jer 6:4) Prepare warre against her: arise, and let vs goe vp toward the South: wo vnto vs: for the day declineth, and the shadowes of the euening are stretched out.

(Notes Reference) (f) Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! for the day departeth, for the shadows of the evening are lengthened.

(f) He speaks this in the person of the Babylonians, who complain that the time fails them before they have brought their enterprises to pass.

(Jer 6:5) Arise, and let vs goe vp by night, and destroy her palaces.

(Jer 6:6) For thus hath the Lord of hostes said, Hewe downe wood, and cast a mounte against Ierusalem: this citie must be visited: all oppression is in the middes of it.

(Jer 6:7) As the fountaine casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her malice: crueltie and spoyle is continually heard in her before me with sorowe and strokes.

(Notes Reference) As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: (g) violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually [are] grief and wounds.

(g) He shows the reason why it would be destroyed, and how it comes from themselves.

(Jer 6:8) Be thou instructed, O Ierusalem, lest my soule depart from thee, lest I make thee desolate as a land, that none inhabiteth.

(Notes Reference) Be thou instructed, O (h) Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

(h) He warns them to amend by his correction, and turn to him by repentance.

(Jer 6:9) Thus sayeth the Lord of hostes, They shall gather as a vine, the residue of Israel: turne backe thine hande as the grape gatherer into the baskets.

(Notes Reference) Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn (i) back thy hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.

(i) He exhorts the Babylonians to be diligent to search out all and to leave none.

(Jer 6:10) Vnto whome shall I speake, and admonish that they may heare? beholde, their eares are vncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: beholde, the worde of the Lord is vnto them as a reproche: they haue no delite in it.

(Notes Reference) To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear [is] (k) uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is to them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

(k) They delight to hear vain things, and to shut up their ears to true doctrine.

(Jer 6:11) Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord: I am weary with holding it: I will powre it out vpon the children in the streete, and likewise vpon the assembly of the yong men: for the husband shall euen be taken with the wife, and the aged with him that is full of daies.

(Notes Reference) Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: (l) I will pour it out upon the (m) children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with [him that is] full of days.

(l) As the Lord had given him his word to be as a fire of his indignation to burn the wicked, (Jer 5:14) so he kindles it now when he sees that all remedies are past.

(m) No one will be spared.

(Jer 6:12) And their houses with their landes, and wiues also shalbe turned vnto strangers: for I will stretch out mine hande vpon the inhabitants of the land, sayeth the Lord.

(Jer 6:13) For from the least of them, euen vnto the greatest of them, euery one is giuen vnto couetousnesse, and from the Prophet euen vnto the Priest, they all deale falsely.

(Jer 6:14) They haue healed also ye hurt of the daughter of my people with sweete woordes, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.

(Notes Reference) They have healed also the hurt [of the daughter] of my people slightly, saying, (n) Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace.

(n) When the people began to fear God's judgments, the false prophets comforted them by flatterings, showing that God would send peace and not war.

(Jer 6:15) Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not ashamed, no neither coulde they haue any shame: therefore they shall fall among the slaine: when I shall visite them, they shall be cast downe, sayth the Lord.

(Jer 6:16) Thus sayeth the Lord, Stande in the waies and beholde, and aske for the olde way, which is the good way and walke therein, and yee shall finde rest for your soules: but they saide, We will not walke therein.

(Notes Reference) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the (o) old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk in it, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [in it].

(o) In which the patriarchs and prophets walked, directed by the word of God: signifying that there is no true way, but that which God prescribes.

(Jer 6:17) Also I set watchmen ouer you, which said, Take heede to the sound of the trumpet: but they said, We will not take heede.

(Notes Reference) Also I set (p) watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

(p) Prophets who would warn you of the dangers that were at hand.

(Jer 6:18) Heare therefore, yee Gentiles, and thou Congregation knowe, what is among them.

(Notes Reference) Therefore hear, ye (q) nations, and know, O congregation, what [is] among them.

(q) God takes all the world to witness and the insensible creatures of the ingratitude of the Jews.

(Jer 6:19) Heare, O earth, beholde, I will cause a plague to come vpon this people, euen the fruite of their owne imaginations: because they haue not taken heede vnto my woordes, nor to my Lawe, but cast it off.

(Jer 6:20) To what purpose bringest thou mee incense from Sheba, and sweete calamus from a farre countrey? Your burnt offerings are not pleasant, nor your sacrifices sweete vnto me.

(Notes Reference) To what purpose cometh there to me (r) incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a distant country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet to me.

(r) Read (Isa 1:11; Amo 5:21).

(Jer 6:21) Therefore thus sayeth the Lord, Beholde, I will laie stumbling blockes before this people, and the fathers and the sonnes together shall fall vpon them: the neighbour and his friende shall perish.

(Jer 6:22) Thus sayeth the Lord, Beholde, a people commeth from the North countrey, and a great nation shall arise from the sides of the earth.

(Notes Reference) Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the (s) north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

(s) From Babylon by Dan, which was north of Jerusalem.

(Jer 6:23) With bowe and shield shall they be weaponed: they are cruell and will haue no compassion: their voyce roareth like the sea, and they ride vpon horses, well appointed, like men of warre against thee, O daughter Zion.

(Jer 6:24) We haue heard their fame, and our handes waxe feeble sorrowe is come vpon vs, as the sorrowe of a woman in trauaile.

(Notes Reference) We have heard the report of it: our hands become (t) feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail.

(t) For fear of the enemy: he speaks this in the person of the Jews.

(Jer 6:25) Goe not foorth into the fielde, nor walke by the way: for the sword of the enemie and feare is on euery side.

(Jer 6:26) O daughter of my people, girde thee with sackecloth, and wallowe thy selfe in the ashes: make lamentation, and bitter mourning as for thine onely sonne: for the destroier shall suddenly come vpon vs.

(Jer 6:27) I haue set thee for a defence and fortresse among my people, that thou maiest knowe and trie their waies.

(Notes Reference) I have set (u) thee [for] a tower [and] a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

(u) Meaning, Jeremiah, whom God had appointed to try out the godly from the wicked, as a founder does the pure metal from the dross.

(Jer 6:28) They are all rebellious traitours, walking craftily: they are brasse, and yron, they all are destroyers.

(Jer 6:29) The bellowes are burnt: the lead is consumed in the fire: the founder melteth in vaine: for the wicked are not taken away.

(Notes Reference) The (x) bellows is burned, the lead is consumed by the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

(x) All the pain and labour that has been taken with them is lost.

(Jer 6:30) They shall call them reprobate siluer, because the Lord hath reiected them.

Passage 3: Matthew 17

(Mat 17:1) And after sixe dayes, Iesus tooke Peter, and Iames and Iohn his brother, and brought them vp into an hie mountaine apart,

(Notes Reference) And (1) (a) after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

(1) Christ in his present company is humble in the gospel, but all the while he is Lord both of heaven and earth.

(a) Luke counts eight days, containing in that number the first and last, and Matthew speaks but of the days between them.

(Mat 17:2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the Sunne, and his clothes were as white as the light.

(Notes Reference) And was (b) transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

(b) Changed into another colour.

(Mat 17:3) And beholde, there appeared vnto them Moses, and Elias, talking with him.

(Mat 17:4) Then answered Peter, and saide to Iesus, Master, it is good for vs to be here: if thou wilt, let vs make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

(Mat 17:5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloude shadowed them: and beholde, there came a voyce out of the cloude, saying, This is that my beloued Sonne, in whom I am well pleased: heare him.

(Notes Reference) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is (c) my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

(c) The word "my" distinguishes Christ from other children. For he is God's natural son, we by adoption; therefore he is called the first begotten among the brethren, because although he is by right the only son, yet he is chief among many, in that he is the source and head of the adoption.

(Mat 17:6) And when the disciples heard that, they fell on their faces, and were sore afraide.

(Notes Reference) And when the disciples heard [it], they (d) fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

(d) Fell down flat on their faces and worshipped him, as in (Mat 2:11).

(Mat 17:7) Then Iesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraide.

(Mat 17:8) And when they lifted vp their eyes, they sawe no man, saue Iesus onely.

(Mat 17:9) And as they came downe from the moutaine, Iesus charged them, saying, Shewe the vision to no man, vntil the Sonne of man rise againe from the dead.

(Notes Reference) And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the (e) vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

(e) Which they saw, otherwise the word used in this place is usually used in referring to that which is seen in a dream.

(Mat 17:10) And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come?

(Mat 17:11) And Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, Certeinely Elias must first come, and restore all thinges.

(Mat 17:12) But I say vnto you that Elias is come alreadie, and they knewe him not, but haue done vnto him whatsoeuer they would: likewise shall also the Sonne of man suffer of them.

(Mat 17:13) Then the disciples perceiued that he spake vnto them of Iohn Baptist.

(Mat 17:14) And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certaine man, and fell downe at his feete,

(Notes Reference) (2) And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a [certain] man, (f) kneeling down to him, and saying,

(2) Men are unworthy of Christ's goodness, yet nonetheless he pays attention to them.

(f) As men used to do when making supplication.

(Mat 17:15) And saide, Master, haue pitie on my sonne: for he is lunatike, and is sore vexed: for oft times he falleth into the fire, and oft times into the water.

(Notes Reference) Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is (g) lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

(g) They that at certain times of the moon are troubled with the falling sickness, or any other kind of disease: but in this case, we must so understand it, that besides the natural disease he had a demonic derangement.

(Mat 17:16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not heale him.

(Mat 17:17) Then Iesus answered, and said, O generation faithlesse, and crooked, how long now shall I be with you! howe long nowe shall I suffer you! bring him hither to me.

(Mat 17:18) And Iesus rebuked the deuill, and he went out of him: and the childe was healed at that houre.

(Mat 17:19) Then came the disciples to Iesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

(Notes Reference) (3) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

(3) Incredulity and distrust hinder and break the direction of God's benefits.

(Mat 17:20) And Iesus said vnto them, Because of your vnbeliefe: for verely I say vnto you, if ye haue faith as much as is a graine of mustarde seede, ye shall say vnto this mountaine, Remooue hence to yonder place, and it shall remoue: and nothing shalbe vnpossible vnto you.

(Mat 17:21) Howbeit this kinde goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting.

(Notes Reference) (4) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by (h) prayer and fasting.

(4) The remedy against distrust.

(h) To help us to understand the watchfulness and diligence of earnest prayer, which cannot be without sobriety.

(Mat 17:22) And they being in Galile, Iesus said vnto them, The Sonne of man shall be deliuered into the handes of men,

(Notes Reference) (5) And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

(5) Our minds must be prepared more and more for the offence of the cross.

(Mat 17:23) And they shall kill him, but the thirde day shall he rise againe: and they were very sorie.

(Mat 17:24) And when they were come to Capernaum, they that receiued polle money, came to Peter, and sayd, Doeth not your Master pay polle money?

(Notes Reference) (6) And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute [money] came to Peter, and said, Doth (i) not your master (k) pay (l) tribute?

(6) In that Christ willingly obeys Caesar's edicts, he shows that civil policy is not taken away by the Gospel.

(i) He does not deny, but he asks.

(k) Should he not pay?

(l) They that were from twenty years of age to fifty, paid half a shekel to the Sanctuary, (Exo 30:13). This was an Attic didrachma which the Roman exacted after they had subdued Judea.

(Mat 17:25) He sayd, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Iesus preuented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whome doe the Kings of the earth take tribute, or polle money? of their children, or of strangers?

(Notes Reference) He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own (m) children, or of strangers?

(m) By children we must not understand subjects who pay tribute, but natural children.

(Mat 17:26) Peter sayd vnto him, Of strangers. Then said Iesus vnto him, Then are the children free.

(Mat 17:27) Neuerthelesse, lest we should offend them: goe to the sea, and cast in an angle, and take the first fish that commeth vp, and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt finde a piece of twentie pence: that take, and giue it vnto them for me and thee.

(Notes Reference) Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a (n) piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

(n) The word used here is "stater", which is in value four didrachmas; every drachma is about five pence.