Read Scripture In A Year: June 15

(Jdg 16:1) Then went Samson to Azzah, and sawe there an harlot, and went in vnto her.

(Notes Reference) Then went Samson to (a) Gaza, and saw there an harlot, (b) and went in unto her.

(a) One of the five chief cities of the Philistines.

(b) That is, he lodged with her.

(Jdg 16:2) And it was tolde to the Azzahites, Samson is come hither. And they went about, and laied wayte for him all night in the gate of the citie, and were quiet all the nyght, saying, Abide till the morning earely, and we shall kill him.

(Jdg 16:3) And Samson slept till midnight, and arose at midnight, and tooke the doores of the gates of the citie, and the two postes and lift them away with the barres, and put them vpon his shoulders, and caried them vp to the top of the mountaine that is before Hebron.

(Jdg 16:4) And after this hee loued a woman by the riuer of Sorek, whose name was Delilah:

(Jdg 16:5) Vnto whome came the princes of the Philistims, and said vnto her, Entise him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what meane we may ouercome him, that we may binde him, and punish him, and euery one of vs shall giue thee eleuen hundreth shekels of siluer.

(Notes Reference) And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength [lieth], and by what [means] we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred (c) [pieces] of silver.

(Jdg 16:6) And Delilah saide to Samson, Tell mee, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest bee bound, to doe thee hurt.

(Jdg 16:7) Samson then answered vnto her, If they binde mee with seuen greene cordes, that were neuer dryed, then shall I bee weake, and be as an other man.

(Jdg 16:8) And the princes of the Philistims brought her seuen greene cordes that were not dry, and she bound him therewith.

(Jdg 16:9) (And she had men lying in wayte with her in the chamber) Then she said vnto him, The Philistims be vpon thee, Samson. And hee brake the cordes, as a threede of towe is broken, when it feeleth fire: so his strength was not knowen.

(Notes Reference) Now [there were] (d) men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines [be] upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when (e) it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.

(d) Certain Philistines in a secret chamber.

(e) When fire comes near it.

(Jdg 16:10) After Delilah saide vnto Samson, See, thou hast mocked mee and tolde mee lies. I pray thee nowe, tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound.

(Notes Reference) And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now (f) tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.

(f) Though her deceit threatened his life, yet his affection so blinded him, that he could not beware.

(Jdg 16:11) Then he answered her, If they binde mee with newe ropes that neuer were occupied, then shall I be weake, and be as an other man.

(Jdg 16:12) Delilah therefore tooke newe ropes, and bounde him therewith, and saide vnto him, The Philistims be vpon thee, Samson: (and men lay in wayte in the chamber) and hee brake them from his armes, as a threede.

(Jdg 16:13) Afterward Delilah said to Samson, Hitherto thou hast beguiled mee, and tolde me lies: tell me how thou mightest be bounde. And he sayde vnto her, If thou plattedst seuen lockes of mine head with the threedes of the woufe.

(Notes Reference) And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. (g) And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.

(g) It is impossible if we give place to our wicked affections, for eventually we will be destroyed.

(Jdg 16:14) And she fastened it with a pinne, and saide vnto him, The Philistims be vpon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleepe, and went away with the pinne of the webbe and the woufe.

(Jdg 16:15) Againe shee sayde vnto him, Howe canst thou say, I loue thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked mee these three times, and hast not tolde me wherein thy great strength lieth.

(Notes Reference) And she said unto him, How canst thou say, (h) I love thee, when thine heart [is] not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength [lieth].

(h) For Samson used to say "I love you".

(Jdg 16:16) And because shee was importunate vpon him with her wordes continually, and vexed him, his soule was pained vnto the death.

(Jdg 16:17) Therefore he tolde her all his heart, and said vnto her, There neuer came rasor vpon mine head: for I am a Nazarite vnto God from my mothers wombe: therefore if I bee shauen, my strength will goe from me, and I shalbe weake, and be like all other men.

(Notes Reference) That he told her all his (i) heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I [have been] a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any [other] man.

(i) Thus his immoderate affections toward a wicked woman caused him to lose God's excellent gifts, and become a slave to those whom he should have ruled.

(Jdg 16:18) And when Delilah sawe that he had tolde her all his heart, she sent, and called for the Princes of ye Philistims, saying, Come vp once againe: for he hath shewed mee all his heart. Then the Princes of the Philistims came vp vnto her, and brought the money in their handes.

(Jdg 16:19) And she made him sleepe vpon her knees, and she called a man, and made him to shaue off the seuen lockes of his head, and shee began to vexe him, and his strength was gone from him.

(Notes Reference) And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went (k) from him.

(k) Not for the loss of his hair, but for the contempt of the ordinance of God, which was the reason God departed from him.

(Jdg 16:20) Then she said, The Philistims be vpon thee, Samson. And hee awoke out of his sleepe, and thought, I will go out now as at other times, and shake my selfe, but he knewe not that the Lord was departed from him.

(Jdg 16:21) Therefore the Philistims tooke him, and put out his eyes, and brought him downe to Azzah, and bounde him with fetters: and hee did grinde in the prison house.

(Jdg 16:22) And the heare of his head began to growe againe after that it was shauen.

(Notes Reference) Howbeit the hair of his head began to (l) grow again after he was shaven.

(l) Yet he did not regain his strength, till he had called on God and reconciled himself.

(Jdg 16:23) Then the Princes of the Philistims gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice vnto Dagon their god, and to reioyce: for they said, Our god hath deliuered Samson our enemie into our handes.

(Jdg 16:24) Also when the people saw him, they praysed their god: for they sayde, Our god hath deliuered into our hands our enemie and destroyer of our countrey, which hath slayne many of vs.

(Jdg 16:25) And when their heartes were merie, they said, Call Samson, that he may make vs pastime. So they called Samson out of the prison house, and he was a laughing stocke vnto them, and they set him betweene the pillars.

(Notes Reference) And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he (m) made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

(m) Thus by God's just judgments they are made slaves to infidels if they neglect their calling to defend the faithful.

(Jdg 16:26) Then Samson saide vnto the seruant that led him by the hande, Lead me, that I may touch the pillars that the house standeth vpon, and that I may leane to them.

(Jdg 16:27) (Nowe the house was full of men and women, and there were all the princes of the Philistims: also vpon the roofe were about three thousande men and women that behelde while Samson played)

(Jdg 16:28) Then Samson called vnto the Lord, and sayde, O Lord God, I pray thee, thinke vpon me: O God, I beseech thee, strengthen me at this time onely, that I may be at once auenged of the Philistims for my two eyes.

(Notes Reference) And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once (n) avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

(n) According to my calling which is to execute God's judgments on the wicked.

(Jdg 16:29) And Samson layd hold on the two middle pillars whereupon the house stood, and on which it was borne vp: on the one with his right hand, and on the other with his left.

(Jdg 16:30) Then Samson saide, Let me lose my life with the Philistims: and he bowed him with all his might, and the house fell vpon the princes, and vpon all the people that were therein. so the dead which he slewe at his death were more then they which he had slaine in his life.

(Notes Reference) And Samson said, (o) Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with [all his] might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that [were] therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than [they] which he slew in his life.

(o) He does not speak out of despair, but humbling himself for neglecting his office and the offence thereby given.

(Jdg 16:31) Then his brethren, and all the house of his father came downe and tooke him, and brought him vp and buryed him betweene Zorah and Eshtaol, in the sepulchre of Manoah his father: nowe he had iudged Israel twenty yeeres.

Passage 2: Isaiah 39

(Isa 39:1) At the same time, Merodach Baladan, the sonne of Baladan, King of Babel, sent letters, and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had bene sicke, and was recouered.

(Notes Reference) At that time (a) Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent (b) letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and had recovered.

(a) This was the first king of Babylon, who overcame the Assyrians in the tenth year of his reign.

(Isa 39:2) And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of the treasures, the siluer, and the golde, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was founde in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his kingdome that Hezekiah shewed them not.

(Notes Reference) And Hezekiah was (c) glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasuries: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah did not show them.

(Isa 39:3) Then came Isaiah the Prophet vnto King Hezekiah, and said vnto him, What said these men? and from whence came they to thee? And Hezekiah saide, They are come from a farre countrey vnto me, from Babel.

(Isa 39:4) Then saide he, What haue they seene in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house haue they seene: there is nothing among my treasures, that I haue not shewed them.

(Notes Reference) Then said he, What have (d) they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, All that [is] in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.

(d) He asks him of the particulars, to make him understand the craft of the wicked, which he before being overcome with their flattery and blinded with ambition, could not see.

(Isa 39:5) And Isaiah saide to Hezekiah, Heare the worde of the Lord of hostes,

(Isa 39:6) Beholde, the dayes come, that all that is in thine house, and which thy fathers haue layed vp in store vntill this day, shall be caried to Babel: nothing shall be left, sayeth the Lord.

(Notes Reference) Behold, the days come, that all that [is] in thy house, and [that] which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be (e) carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

(e) By the grievousness of the punishment is declared how greatly God detested ambition and vain glory.

(Isa 39:7) And of thy sonnes, that shall proceede out of thee, and which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall be eunuches in the palace of the King of Babel.

(Notes Reference) And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be (f) eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

(f) That is, officers and servants.

(Isa 39:8) Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, The worde of the Lord is good, which thou hast spoken: and he saide, Yet let there be peace, and trueth in my dayes.

(Notes Reference) (g) Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good [is] the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

(g) Read (2Ki 20:19).

Passage 3: 2 Peter 3

(2Pe 3:1) This seconde Epistle I nowe write vnto you, beloued, wherewith I stirre vp, and warne your pure mindes,

(Notes Reference) This (1) second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in [both] which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

(1) The remedy against those wicked enemies, both of true doctrine and holiness, is to be sought for by the continual meditation of the writings of the prophets and apostles.

(2Pe 3:2) To call to remembrance the wordes, which were tolde before of the holy Prophetes, and also the commandement of vs the Apostles of the Lord and Sauiour.

(2Pe 3:3) This first vnderstande, that there shall come in the last dayes, mockers, which wil walke after their lustes,

(Notes Reference) (2) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days (a) scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

(2) He vouches the second coming of Christ against the Epicureans by name.

(a) Monstrous men, who will seem wise by their contempt of God, and wicked boldness.

(2Pe 3:4) And say, Where is the promise of his comming? for since the fathers died, all things continue alike from the beginning of the creation.

(Notes Reference) (3) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.

(3) The reason that these mockers pretend that the course of nature is as it was from the beginning, therefore the world was from everlasting, and shall be forever.

(2Pe 3:5) For this they willingly know not, that the heauens were of olde, and the earth that was of the water and by the water, by the word of God.

(Notes Reference) (4) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the (b) earth standing out of the water and in the water:

(4) He sets against them the creation of heaven and earth by the word of God, which these men are willingly ignorant of.

(b) Which appeared, when the waters were gathered together into one place.

(2Pe 3:6) Wherefore the worlde that then was, perished, ouerflowed with the water.

(Notes Reference) (5) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with (c) water, perished:

(5) Secondly he sets against them the universal flood, which was the destruction of the whole world.

(c) For the waters returning into their former place, this world, that is to say, this beauty of the earth which we see, and all living creatures which live upon the earth, perished.

(2Pe 3:7) But the heauens and earth, which are nowe, are kept by the same word in store, and reserued vnto fire against the day of condemnation, and of the destruction of vngodly men.

(Notes Reference) (6) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

(6) Thirdly, he pronounces that it will not be harder for God to burn heaven and earth with fire, in that day which is appointed for the destruction of the wicked (which he will also do) than it was for him in times past to create them only with his word, and afterward to overwhelm them with water.

(2Pe 3:8) Dearely beloued, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord, as a thousande yeeres, and a thousande yeeres as one day.

(Notes Reference) (7) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

(7) The taking away of an objection: in that he seems to desire this judgment for a long time, in respect of us it is true, but not before God, which whom there is no time either long or short.

(2Pe 3:9) The Lord of that promise is not slacke (as some men count slackenesse) but is pacient toward vs, and would haue no man to perish, but would all men to come to repentance.

(Notes Reference) (8) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; (9) but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

(8) The Lord will surely come, because he has promised: and neither sooner nor later than he has promised. (9) A reason why the last day does not come too soon, because God patiently waits until all the elect are brought to repentance, that none of them may perish.

(2Pe 3:10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thiefe in the night, in the which the heauens shall passe away with a noyse, and the elements shall melt with heate, and the earth with the workes that are therein, shalbe burnt vp.

(Notes Reference) (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great (d) noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

(10) A very short description of the last destruction of the world, but in such sort as nothing could be spoken more gravely.

(d) With the violence of a storm.

(2Pe 3:11) Seeing therefore that all these thinges must be dissolued, what maner persons ought ye to be in holy conuersation and godlinesse,

(Notes Reference) (11) [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,

(11) An exhortation to purity of life, setting before us that horrible judgment of God, both to bridle our wantonness, and also to comfort us, so that we are found watching and ready to meet him at his coming.

(2Pe 3:12) Looking for, and hasting vnto the comming of that day of God, by the which the heauens being on fire, shall be dissolued, and the elements shall melt with heate?

(Notes Reference) Looking for and (e) hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

(e) He requires patience from us, yet such patience as is not slothful.

(2Pe 3:13) But wee looke for newe heauens, and a newe earth, according to his promise, wherein dwelleth righteousnesse.

(Notes Reference) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, (f) wherein dwelleth righteousness.

(f) In which heavens.

(2Pe 3:14) Wherefore, beloued, seeing that yee looke for such thinges, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blamelesse.

(Notes Reference) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in (g) peace, without spot, and blameless.

(g) that you may try to your benefit, how gently and profitable he is.

(2Pe 3:15) And suppose that the long suffering of our Lord is saluation, euen as our beloued brother Paul according to the wisedome giuen vnto him wrote to you,

(Notes Reference) And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; (12) even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

(12) Paul's epistles are allowed by the express testimony of Peter.

(2Pe 3:16) As one, that in all his Epistles speaketh of these thinges: among the which some thinges are hard to be vnderstand, which they that are vnlearned and vnstable, wrest, as they do also other Scriptures vnto their owne destruction.

(Notes Reference) As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; (13) in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

(13) There are some things that are obscure and dark which the ignorant use to overthrow men who are not established, wrestling the testimony of the scripture for their own destruction. But this is the remedy against such deceit, to labour that we may daily more and more grow up and increase in the knowledge of Christ.

(2Pe 3:17) Ye therefore beloued, seeing ye know these thinges before, beware, lest ye be also plucked away with the errour of the wicked, and fall from your owne stedfastnesse.

(2Pe 3:18) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ: to him be glory both now and for euermore. Amen.