Read Scripture In A Year: July 18

Passage 1: 2 Samuel 2

(2Sa 2:1) After this, Dauid asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I go vp into any of the cities of Iudah? And the Lord sayd vnto him, Goe vp. And Dauid sayd Whither shall I goe? Hee then answered, Vnto Hebron.

(Notes Reference) And it came to pass after this, that David (a) enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto (b) Hebron.

(a) By means of the high priest, (1Sa 23:2; 2Sa 5:19).

(b) Which was also called Kirjatharba (Jos 14:15).

(2Sa 2:2) So Dauid went vp thither, and his two wiues also, Ahinoam the Izreelite, and Abigail Nabals wife the Carmelite.

(2Sa 2:3) And Dauid brought vp the men that were with him, euery man with his houshold, and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

(Notes Reference) And his men that [were] with (c) him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

(2Sa 2:4) Then the men of Iudah came, and there they anoynted Dauid King ouer the house of Iudah. And they tolde Dauid, saying, that the men of Iabesh Gilead buried Saul.

(2Sa 2:5) And Dauid sent messengers vnto the men of Iabesh Gilead, and said vnto them, Blessed are ye of the Lord, that yee haue shewed such kindenes vnto your lord Saul, that you haue buried him.

(2Sa 2:6) Therefore now the Lord shewe mercie and trueth vnto you: and I will recompence you this benefite, because ye haue done this thing.

(Notes Reference) And now the LORD shew kindness and (d) truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

(d) According to his promise, which is to repay those who are merciful.

(2Sa 2:7) Therefore nowe let your handes be strong, and be you valiant: albeit your master Saul bee dead, yet neuerthelesse the house of Iudah hath anoynted me King ouer them.

(Notes Reference) Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me (e) king over them.

(e) So that you shall not want a captain and a defender.

(2Sa 2:8) But Abner the sonne of Ner that was captaine of Sauls hoste, tooke Ish-bosheth the sonne of Saul, and brought him to Mahanaim,

(2Sa 2:9) And made him King ouer Gilead, and ouer the Ashurites, and ouer Izreel, and ouer Ephraim, and ouer Beniamin, and ouer al Israel.

(Notes Reference) And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over (f) all Israel.

(f) Over the eleven tribes.

(2Sa 2:10) Ish-bosheth Sauls sonne was fourtie yeere olde when he began to reigne ouer Israel, and reigned two yeere: but the house of Iudah followed Dauid.

(2Sa 2:11) (And the time which Dauid reigned in Hebron ouer the house of Iudah, was seuen yeere and sixe moneths)

(Notes Reference) And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six (g) months.

(g) After this he reigned over all the country 33 years, (2Sa 5:5).

(2Sa 2:12) And Abner the sonne of Ner, and the seruantes of Ish-bosheth the sonne of Saul went out of Mahanaim to Gibeon.

(2Sa 2:13) And Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah, and the seruants of Dauid went out and met one another by the poole of Gibeon: and they sate downe, the one on the one side of the poole, and the other on the otherside of the poole.

(2Sa 2:14) Then Abner saide to Ioab, Let the yong men nowe arise, and play before vs. And Ioab said, Let them arise.

(Notes Reference) And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and (h) play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

(h) Let us see how they can handle their weapons.

(2Sa 2:15) Then there arose and went ouer twelue of Beniamin by number, which perteined to Ish-bosheth the sonne of Saul, and twelue of the seruants of Dauid.

(2Sa 2:16) And euery one caught his fellowe by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellowes side, so they fell downe together: wherefore ye place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

(Notes Reference) And they caught every one his (i) fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which [is] in Gibeon.

(i) Meaning his adversary.

(2Sa 2:17) And the battel was exceeding sore that same day: for Abner and the men of Israel fell before the seruants of Dauid.

(Notes Reference) And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, (k) before the servants of David.

(k) After that these four and twenty were slain.

(2Sa 2:18) And there were three sonnes of Zeruiah there, Ioab, and Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was as light on foote as a wilde roe.

(2Sa 2:19) And Asahel followed after Abner, and in going he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from Abner.

(2Sa 2:20) Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, Yea.

(2Sa 2:21) Then Abner said, Turne thee either to the right hande, or to the left, and take one of the yong men, and take thee his weapons: and Asahel would not depart from him.

(2Sa 2:22) And Abner saide to Asahel, Depart from me: wherefore shoulde I smite thee to the grounde? howe then shoulde I be able to holde vp my face to Ioab thy brother?

(Notes Reference) And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: (l) wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

(l) Why do you provoke me to kill you?

(2Sa 2:23) And when he woulde not depart, Abner with the hinder ende of the speare smote him vnder the fift ryb, that the speare came out behind him: and he fell downe there, and dyed in his place. And as many as came to the place where Asahel fell downe and dyed, stoode still.

(Notes Reference) Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the (m) fifth [rib], that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, [that] as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

(m) Some read, in those parts where the lively parts lie, the heart, lungs, liver, and gall bladder.

(2Sa 2:24) Ioab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sunne went downe, when they were come to the hill Ammah, that lieth before Giah, by the way of the wildernesse of Gibeon.

(2Sa 2:25) And the children of Beniamin gathered them selues together after Abner, and were on an heape and stoode on the top of an hill.

(2Sa 2:26) Then Abner called to Ioab, and said, Shall the sworde deuoure for euer? knowest thou not, that it will be bitternesse in the latter ende? howe long then shall it be, or thou bid the people returne from following their brethren?

(Notes Reference) Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the (n) sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

(n) Shall we not make an end of murdering?

(2Sa 2:27) And Ioab sayde, As God liueth, if thou haddest not spoken, surely euen in the morning the people had departed euery one backe from his brother.

(Notes Reference) And Joab said, [As] God liveth, unless thou hadst (o) spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

(o) If you had not provoked them to battle, (2Sa 2:14).

(2Sa 2:28) So Ioab blew a trumpet, and all the people stoode still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

(2Sa 2:29) And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plaine, and went ouer Iorden, and past through all Bithron till they came to Mahanaim.

(2Sa 2:30) Ioab also returned backe from Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of Dauids seruants nineteene men and Asahel.

(2Sa 2:31) But the seruants of Dauid had smitten of Beniamin, and of Abners men, so that three hundreth and threescore men dyed.

(Notes Reference) But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, [so that] three (p) hundred and threescore men died.

(p) Thus God would confirm David in his kingdom by the destruction of his adversaries.

(2Sa 2:32) And they tooke vp Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem: and Ioab and his men went all night, and when they came to Hebron, the day arose.

Passage 2: Jeremiah 8

(Jer 8:1) At that time, sayeth the Lord, they shall bring out the bones of the Kings of Iudah, and the bones of their princes, and the bones of the Priests and the bones of the Prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Ierusalem out of their graues.

(Notes Reference) At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their (a) graves:

(a) The enemy for greediness will rifle your graves and lay you before those idols, who in your life you worshipped, to see if they can help you.

(Jer 8:2) And they shall spread them before the sunne and the moone, and all the host of heauen, whom they haue loued, and whome they haue serued, and whome they haue followed, and whome they haue sought, and whome they haue worshipped: they shall not be gathered nor be buried, but shall be as doung vpon the earth.

(Jer 8:3) And death shall bee desired rather then life of all the residue that remaineth of this wicked familie, which remaine in all the places where I haue scattered them, sayeth the Lord of hostes.

(Notes Reference) And death shall be chosen (b) rather than life by all the remnant of them that remain of this evil family, who remain in all the places where I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.

(b) Because of the afflictions that they will feel through God's judgments.

(Jer 8:4) Thou shalt say vnto them also, Thus sayeth the Lord, Shall they fall and not arise? shall he turne away and not turne againe?

(Notes Reference) Moreover thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they (c) fall, and not rise? shall he turn away, and not return?

(Jer 8:5) Wherefore is this people of Ierusalem turned backe by a perpetuall rebellion? they gaue themselues to deceit, and would not returne.

(Jer 8:6) I hearkened and heard, but none spake aright: no man repented him of his wickednesse, saying, What haue I done? euery one turned to their race, as the horse rusheth into the battell.

(Notes Reference) I hearkened and heard, [but] they spoke not aright: no man repented of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every (d) one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth to the battle.

(d) They are full of hypocrisy, and everyone follows his own fantasy without any consideration.

(Jer 8:7) Euen the storke in the aire knoweth her appointed times, and the turtle and the crane and the swallowe obserue the time of their comming, but my people knoweth not the iudgement of the Lord.

(Notes Reference) Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the (e) judgment of the LORD.

(e) He accuses them in that they are more ignorant of God's judgments, than these birds are of their appointed seasons to discern the cold and heat.

(Jer 8:8) Howe doe yee say, Wee are wise, and the Lawe of the Lord is with vs? Loe, certeinly in vaine made hee it, the penne of the scribes is in vaine.

(Notes Reference) How do ye say, We [are] wise, and the law of the LORD [is] with us? Lo, certainly in vain he hath made [it]; (f) the pen of the scribes [is] in vain.

(f) The law does not profit you neither need it to have been written for all that you have learned by it.

(Jer 8:9) The wise men are ashamed: they are afraid and taken. loe, they haue reiected the word of the Lord, and what wisdome is in them?

(Notes Reference) The (g) wise [men] are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom [is] in them?

(g) They who seem wise may be ashamed of their ignorance for all wisdom consists in God's word.

(Jer 8:10) Therefore will I giue their wiues vnto others, and their fieldes to them that shall possesse them: for euery one from the least euen vnto the greatest is giuen to couetousnesse, and from the Prophet euen vnto the Priest, euery one dealeth falsely.

(Jer 8:11) For they haue healed the hurt of the daughter of my people with sweete woordes, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.

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

(h) See Jer 6:14

(Jer 8:12) Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not ashamed, neither coulde they haue any shame: therefore shall they fall among the slaine: when I shall visite them, they shall be cast downe, sayeth the Lord.

(Jer 8:13) I wil surely consume them, sayth the Lord: there shalbe no grapes on the vine, nor figges on the figtree, and the leafe shall fade, and the things that I haue giuen them, shall depart from them.

(Jer 8:14) Why doe we stay? assemble your selues, and let vs enter into the strong cities, and let vs be quiet there: for the Lord our God hath put vs to silence and giuen vs water with gall to drinke, because we haue sinned against the Lord.

(Notes Reference) Why do we sit still? (i) assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fortified cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of (k) gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

(i) He speaks in the person of the people, who when the enemy comes will turn about to hide themselves and acknowledge that it is God's hand.

Passage 3: Matthew 19

(Mat 19:1) And it came to passe, that when Iesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galile, and came into ye coasts of Iudea beyond Iordan.

(Notes Reference) And it came to pass, [that] when Jesus had finished these sayings, he (a) departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

(a) Passed over the water out of Galilee into the borders of Judea.

(Mat 19:2) And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.

(Mat 19:3) Then came vnto him the Pharises tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wife vpon euery occasion?

(Notes Reference) (1) The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to (b) put away his wife for every cause?

(1) The band of marriage ought not to be broken, unless it is because of fornication.

(b) To send her a bill of divorce; see (Mat 1:19).

(Mat 19:4) And he answered and sayd vnto them, Haue ye not read, that hee which made them at the beginning, made them male and female,

(Mat 19:5) And sayd, For this cause, shall a man leaue father and mother, and cleaue vnto his wife, and they which were two shalbe one flesh.

(Notes Reference) And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall (c) cleave to his wife: and they (d) twain shall be one flesh?

(c) The Greek word conveys "to be glued unto", by which it signifies the union by marriage, which is between man and wife, as though they were glued together.

(d) They who were two become one as it were: and this word "flesh" is figuratively taken for the whole man, or the body, after the manner of the Hebrews.

(Mat 19:6) Wherefore they are no more twaine, but one flesh. Let not man therefore put asunder that, which God hath coupled together.

(Notes Reference) Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath (e) joined together, let not man put asunder.

(e) Has made them yokefellows, as the marriage itself is called a yoke, by a borrowed kind of speech.

(Mat 19:7) They said to him, Why did then Moses commaund to giue a bill of diuorcement, and to put her away?

(Notes Reference) (2) They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

(2) Because political laws are adjusted to allow some things, it does not follow that God therefore approves of them.

(Mat 19:8) He sayd vnto them, Moses, because of the hardnesse of your heart, suffered you to put away your wiues: but from the beginning it was not so.

(Notes Reference) He saith unto them, Moses (f) because of the hardness of your hearts (g) suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

(f) Being brought about because of the hardness of your hearts.

(g) By a political law, not by the moral law: for the moral law is a perpetual law of God's justice; the other bows and bends as the carpenter's bevel.

(Mat 19:9) I say therefore vnto you, that whosoeuer shall put away his wife, except it be for whoredome, and marry another, committeth adulterie: and whosoeuer marieth her which is diuorced, doeth commit adulterie.

(Notes Reference) And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except [it be] (h) for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

(h) Therefore in these days the laws that were made against adulterers were not regarded: for they would have no need of divorce, if the marriage had been severed by punishment of death.

(Mat 19:10) Then sayd his disciples to him, If the matter be so betweene man and wife, it is not good to marry.

(Notes Reference) His disciples say unto him, If the (i) case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry.

(i) If the matter stands in this way between man and wife, or in marriage.

(Mat 19:11) But he sayd vnto them, All men cannot receiue this thing, saue they to whom it is giuen.

(Notes Reference) (3) But he said unto them, All [men] cannot (k) receive this saying, save [they] to whom it is given.

(3) The gift of celibacy is peculiar, and therefore no man can set a law to himself of perpetual celibacy.

(k) Receive and admit, as by translation we say, that a straight and narrow place is not able to receive many things.

(Mat 19:12) For there are some eunuches, which were so borne of their mothers belly: and there be some eunuches, which be gelded by men: and there be some eunuches, which haue gelded them selues for the kingdome of heauen. He that is able to receiue this, let him receiue it.

(Notes Reference) For there are some (l) eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have (m) made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it].

(l) A man can become a eunuch in one of two ways: the first is by castration or emasculation, and the other by natural causes, such as a rupture.

(m) Who abstain from marriage, and live as celibates through the gift of God.

(Mat 19:13) Then were brought to him litle children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

(Notes Reference) (4) Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put [his] hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

(4) The elect infants and little children are contained in the free covenant of God. (Ed.)

(Mat 19:14) But Iesus sayd, Suffer the litle children, and forbid them not to come to me: for of such is the kingdome of heauen.

(Mat 19:15) And when he had put his hands on them, he departed thence.

(Mat 19:16) And beholde, one came and sayd vnto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I doe, that I may haue eternall life?

(Notes Reference) (5) And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

(5) Those who seek to be saved by the law do not even know the law themselves.

(Mat 19:17) And he said vnto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, eue God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keepe ye commandemets.

(Mat 19:18) He sayd to him, Which? And Iesus sayde, These, Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not commit adulterie: Thou shalt not steale: Thou shalt not beare false witnesse.

(Mat 19:19) Honour thy father and mother: and thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe.

(Mat 19:20) The yong man sayd vnto him, I haue obserued all these things from my youth: what lacke I yet?

(Mat 19:21) Iesus sayd vnto him, If thou wilt be perfite, go, sell that thou hast, and giue it to the poore, and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen, and come, and follow me.

(Notes Reference) Jesus said unto him, If (n) thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.

(n) The young man did not answer truly in saying that he had kept all the commandments: and therefore Christ sets forth an example of true charity before him, to show the disease that lay lurking in his mind.

(Mat 19:22) And when the yong man heard that saying, he went away sorowfull: for he had great possessions.

(Mat 19:23) Then Iesus sayd vnto his disciples, Verely I say vnto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdome of heauen.

(Notes Reference) (6) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

(6) Rich men have need of a singular gift of God to escape out of the snares of Satan.

(Mat 19:24) And againe I say vnto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to enter into ye kingdome of God.

(Notes Reference) And again I say unto you, It is (o) easier for a (p) camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

(o) Literally, "it is of less labour".

(p) Theophylact notes, that by this word is meant a cable rope, but Caninius alleges out of the Talmuds that it is a proverb, and the word "Camel" signifies the beast itself.

(Mat 19:25) And whe his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amased, saying, Who then can be saued?

(Mat 19:26) And Iesus behelde them, and sayde vnto them, With men this is vnpossible, but with God all things are possible.

(Mat 19:27) Then answered Peter, and said to him, Beholde, we haue forsaken all, and followed thee: what therefore shall we haue?

(Mat 19:28) And Iesus said vnto them, Verely I say to you, that when the Sonne of man shall sit in the throne of his maiestie, ye which folowed me in the regeneration, shall sit also vpon twelue thrones and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel.

(Notes Reference) (7) And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the (q) regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(7) It is not lost, that is neglected for God's sake.

(q) The regeneration is understood to mean that day when the elect will begin to live a new life, that is to say, when they will enjoy the heavenly inheritance, both in body and soul.

(Mat 19:29) And whosoeuer shall forsake houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my Names sake, he shall receiue an hundreth folde more, and shall inherite euerlasting life.

(Mat 19:30) But many that are first, shalbe last, and the last shalbe first.

(Notes Reference) (8) But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last [shall be] first.

(8) To have begun well, and not to continue unto the end, is not only unprofitable, but also hurts very much.