Read Scripture In A Year: November 13

Passage 1: Ezra 9

(Ezr 9:1) When as these things were done, the rulers came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the Priestes, and the Leuites are not separated from the people of the lands (as touching their abominations) to wit, of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Iebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

(Notes Reference) Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not (a) separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

(a) From the time they came home under Zerubbabel until the coming of Ezra, they had degenerated contrary to the law of God, and married where it was not lawful, (Deu 7:3).

(Ezr 9:2) For they haue taken their daughters to theselues, and to their sonnes, and they haue mixed the holy seede with the people of the landes, and the hande of the princes and rulers hath bene chiefe in this trespasse.

(Notes Reference) For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the (b) princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

(b) That is, the governors are the chief beginners of it.

(Ezr 9:3) But when I heard this saying, I rent my clothes and my garment, and pluckt off the heare of mine head, and of my beard, and sate downe astonied.

(Notes Reference) And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down (c) astonied.

(Ezr 9:4) And there assembled vnto me all that feared the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of them of the captiuitie. And I sate downe astonied vntil the euening sacrifice.

(Ezr 9:5) And at the euening sacrifice I arose vp from mine heauinesse, and when I had rent my clothes and my garment, I fell vpon my knees, and spred out mine hands vnto the Lord my God,

(Ezr 9:6) And said, O my God, I am confounded and ashamed, to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee my God: for our iniquities are increased ouer our head, and our trespasse is growen vp vnto the heauen.

(Notes Reference) And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased (d) over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the (e) heavens.

(d) That is, we are drowned in sin.

(e) They so exceed that they cannot grow greater.

(Ezr 9:7) From the dayes of our fathers haue we bin in a great trespasse vnto this day, and for our iniquities haue we, our Kings, and our Priestes bene deliuered into the hand of the kings of the lands, vnto the sword, into captiuitie, into a spoyle, and into confusion of face, as appeareth this day.

(Ezr 9:8) And now for a litle space grace hath bene shewed from the Lord our God, in causing a remnant to escape, and in giuing vs a nayle in his holy place, that our God may light our eyes, and giue vs a litle reuiuing in our seruitude.

(Notes Reference) And now for a little space grace hath been [shewed] from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a (f) nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

(f) In giving us a resting place it is a comparison taken from them that still remain in a place who strike nails to hang things on, (Isa 22:23).

(Ezr 9:9) For though we were bondmen, yet our God hath not forsaken vs in our bondage, but hath enclined mercy vnto vs in the sight of the Kings of Persia, to giue vs life, and to erect the house of our God, and to redresse the places thereof, and to giue vs a wall in Iudah and in Ierusalem.

(Ezr 9:10) And nowe, our God, what shall we say after this? for we haue forsaken thy commandements,

(Ezr 9:11) Which thou hast commanded by thy seruants the Prophets, saying, The land whereunto ye go to possesse it, is an vncleane land, because of the filthines of the people of the lands, which by their abominations, and by their vncleannes haue filled it from corner to corner.

(Ezr 9:12) Now therfore shall ye not giue your daughters vnto their sonnes, neither shall ye take their daughters vnto your sonnes, nor seeke their peace nor wealth for euer, that yee may be strong and eate the goodnes of the lande, and leaue it for an inheritance to your sonnes for euer.

(Ezr 9:13) And after all that is come vpon vs for our euill deedes, and for our great trespasses, (seeing that thou our God hast stayed vs from being beneath for our iniquities, and hast giuen vs such deliuerance)

(Notes Reference) And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our (g) iniquities [deserve], and hast given us [such] deliverance as this;

(g) Has not utterly cast us down and destroyed us for our sins, (Deu 28:13).

(Ezr 9:14) Should we returne to breake thy commadements, and ioyne in affinitie with the people of such abominations? wouldest not thou be angrie towarde vs till thou haddest consumed vs, so that there should be no remnant nor any escaping?

(Ezr 9:15) O Lord God of Israel, thou art iust, for we haue bene reserued to escape, as appeareth this day: beholde, we are before thee in our trespasse: therfore we canot stand before thee because of it.

(Notes Reference) O LORD God of Israel, thou [art] righteous: for we (h) remain yet escaped, as [it is] this day: behold, we [are] before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

(h) He shows that God is just in punishing his people, and yet merciful in preserving a residue in whom he shows favour.

Passage 2: Hosea 10

(Hos 10:1) Israel is a emptie vine, yet hath it brought foorth fruite vnto it selfe, and according to the multitude of the fruite thereof he hath increased the altars: according to the goodnesse of their lande they haue made faire images.

(Notes Reference) Israel [is] an (a) empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the (b) goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

(a) Of which though the grapes were gathered, yet always as it gathered new strength it increased in new wickedness, so that the correction which should have brought them to obedience, only proclaimed their stubbornness.

(b) As they were rich and had abundance.

(Hos 10:2) Their heart is deuided: nowe shall they be founde faultie: he shall breake downe their altars: he shall destroy their images.

(Notes Reference) Their heart is (c) divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

(Hos 10:3) For now they shall say, We haue no King because we feared not the Lord: and what should a King doe to vs?

(Notes Reference) For now they shall say, We have no (d) king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

(d) The day will come that God will take away their king, and then they will feel the fruit of their sins, and how they trusted in him in vain; (2Ki 17:6-7).

(Hos 10:4) They haue spoken woordes, swearing falsly in making a couenant: thus iudgement groweth as wormewoode in the furrowes of the fielde.

(Notes Reference) They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making (e) a covenant: thus (f) judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

(e) In promising to be faithful toward God.

(f) In this way their integrity and fidelity which they pretended, was nothing but bitterness and grief.

(Hos 10:5) The inhabitants of Samaria shall feare because of the calfe of Beth-auen: for the people thereof shall mourne ouer it, and the Chemarims thereof, that reioyced on it for the glorie thereof, because it is departed from it.

(Notes Reference) The inhabitants of Samaria shall (g) fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the (h) priests thereof [that] rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

(g) When the calf will be carried away.

(h) These were certain idolatrous priests, who wore black apparel during their sacrifices, and cried with a loud voice: which superstition Elijah derided, (1Ki 18:27). See 2Ki 23:5

(Hos 10:6) It shall bee also brought to Asshur, for a present vnto King Iareb: Ephraim shall receiue shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his owne counsell.

(Hos 10:7) Of Samaria, the King thereof is destroyed as the some vpon the water.

(Hos 10:8) The hie places also of Auen shall be destroied, euen the sinne of Israel: the thorne and the thistle shall growe vpon their altars, and they shall say to the mountaines, Couer vs, and to the hils, Fall vpon vs.

(Notes Reference) The high places also of (i) Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

(i) This he speaks in contempt of Bethel. See Hos 4:15

(Hos 10:9) O Israel, thou hast sinned from the daies of Gibeah: there they stoode: the battell in Gibeah against the children of iniquitie did not touch them.

(Notes Reference) O Israel, thou hast (k) sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they (l) stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not (m) overtake them.

(k) In those days you were as wicked as the Gibeonites, as God there partly declared: for your zeal could not be good in executing God's judgments, seeing your own deeds were as wicked as theirs.

(l) That is, to fight, or, the Israelites remained in that stubbornness from that time.

(m) The Israelites were not moved by the example of the Gibeonites to cease from their sins.

(Hos 10:10) It is my desire that I should chastice them, and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall gather themselues in their two furrowes.

(Notes Reference) [It is] in my desire (n) that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two (o) furrows.

(n) Because they are so desperate, I will delight to destroy them.

(o) That is, when they have gathered all their strength together.

(Hos 10:11) And Ephraim is as an heifer vsed to delite in threshing: but I will passe by her faire necke: I will make Ephraim to ride: Iudah shall plowe, and Iaakob shall breake his cloddes.

(Notes Reference) And Ephraim [is as] an heifer [that is] taught, [and] loveth to (p) tread out [the corn]; but I passed over upon her (q) fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, [and] Jacob shall break his clods.

(p) In which is pleasure, whereas in plowing there is labour and pain.

(q) I will lay my yoke upon her fat neck.

(Hos 10:12) Sowe to your selues in righteousnes: reape after the measure of mercy: breake vp your fallowe grounde: for it is time to seeke the Lord, till he come and raine righteousnesse vpon you.

(Notes Reference) Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; (r) break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

(r) See Jer 4:3

(Hos 10:13) But you haue plowed wickednesse: ye haue reaped iniquitie: you haue eaten the fruite of lies: because thou didest trust in thine owne waies, and in the multitude of thy strong men,

(Hos 10:14) Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy munitions shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbell in the daie of battell: the mother with the children was dashed in pieces.

(Notes Reference) Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as (s) Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon [her] children.

(s) That is, Shalmaneser in the destruction of that city spared neither type nor age.

(Hos 10:15) So shall Beth-el doe vnto you, because of your malicious wickednes: in a morning shall the King of Israel be destroied.

Passage 3: Colossians 1

(Col 1:1) Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

(Notes Reference) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the (a) will of God, and Timotheus [our] brother,

(a) By the free bountifulness of God.

(Col 1:2) To them which are at Colosse, Saintes and faithfull brethren in Christ: Grace bee with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.

(Notes Reference) To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at (b) Colosse: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(b) Colosse is situated in Phrygia, not far from Hierapolis and Laodicea, on that side that faces toward Lycia and Pamphylia.

(Col 1:3) We giue thankes to God euen ye Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, alway praying for you:

(Notes Reference) (1) We give thanks to God and the (c) Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

(1) He commends the doctrine that was delivered to them by Epaphras, and their readiness in receiving it.

(Col 1:4) Since wee heard of your faith in Christ Iesus, and of your loue toward all Saintes,

(Col 1:5) For the hopes sake, which is laide vp for you in heauen, whereof yee haue heard before by the word of trueth, which is the Gospel,

(Notes Reference) For the (d) hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

(d) For the glory that is hoped for.

(Col 1:6) Which is come vnto you, eue as it is vnto al the world, and is fruitful, as it is also amog you, from ye day that ye heard and truely knew ye grace of God,

(Col 1:7) As yee also learned of Epaphras our deare fellowe seruaunt, which is for you a faithfull minister of Christ:

(Col 1:8) Who hath also declared vnto vs your loue in the Spirit.

(Notes Reference) (2) Who also declared unto us your love in the (e) Spirit.

(2) He declares his good will towards them, telling them that they must not still remain at one place, but go on further both in the knowledge of the Gospel, and also in the true use of it.

(e) Your spiritual love, or your love which comes from the Spirit.

(Col 1:9) For this cause wee also, since the day wee heard of it, cease not to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be fulfilled with knowledge of his will in all wisdome, and spirituall vnderstanding,

(Notes Reference) For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of (f) his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

(f) God's will.

(Col 1:10) That ye might walke worthy of the Lord, and please him in all things, being fruitefull in all good workes, and increasing in the knowledge of God,

(Col 1:11) Strengthened with all might through his glorious power, vnto all patience, and long suffering with ioyfulnesse,

(Notes Reference) (3) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with (g) joyfulness;

(3) The gift of continuance is not from us, but it proceeds from the power of God, which he freely gives us.

(g) It must not be unwilling, and as it were drawn out of us by force, but proceed from a merry and joyful mind.

(Col 1:12) Giuing thankes vnto the Father, which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saintes in light,

(Notes Reference) (4) Giving thanks unto the (5) Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in (h) light:

(4) Having ended the preface, he goes to the matter itself, that is to say, to an excellent description (although it is but short) of complete Christianity, which is fitly divided into three treatises: for first of all he expounds the true doctrine according to the order of the causes, beginning from this verse to (Col 1:12-21). And from there he begins to apply the same to the Colossians with various exhortations to (Colossians 1:22-2:6). And last of all in the third place, even to (Col. 2:6-23), he refutes the corruptions of true doctrine. (5) The efficient cause of our salvation is only the mercy of God the Father, who makes us fit to be partakers of eternal life, delivering us from the darkness in which we were born, and bringing us to the light of the knowledge of the glory of his Son.

(h) In that glorious and heavenly kingdom.

(Col 1:13) Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenesse, and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his deare Sonne,

(Col 1:14) In whome we haue redemption through his blood, that is, the forgiuenesse of sinnes,

(Notes Reference) (6) In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:

(6) The matter itself of our salvation is Christ the Son of God, who has obtained remission of sins for us by the offering up of himself.

(Col 1:15) Who is the image of the inuisible God, the first begotten of euery creature.

(Notes Reference) (7) Who is the image of the invisible God, (i) the firstborn of every creature:

(7) A graphic description of the person of Christ, by which we understand, that in him alone God shows himself to be seen: who was begotten of the Father before anything was made, that is, from everlasting. And by him also all things that are made, were made without any exception, by whom also they continue to exist, and whose glory they serve.

(i) Begotten before anything was made: and therefore the everlasting Son of the everlasting Father.

(Col 1:16) For by him were all things created, which are in heauen, and which are in earth, thinges visible and inuisible: whether they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, all things were created by him, and for him,

(Notes Reference) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] (k) thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

(k) He sets forth the angels with glorious names, so that by the comparison of most excellent spirits, we may understand how far surpassing the excellency of Christ is, in whom alone we have to content ourselves with, and let go of all angels.

(Col 1:17) And hee is before all things, and in him all things consist.

(Col 1:18) And hee is the head of the body of the Church: he is the beginning, and the first begotten of the dead, that in all thinges hee might haue the preeminence.

(Notes Reference) (8) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the (l) firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

(8) Having gloriously declared the excellent dignity of the person of Christ, he describes his office and function, that is, that he is the same to the Church as the head is to the body, that is to say, the prince and governor of it, and the very beginning of true life. And as he rose first from death, he is the author of eternal life, so that he is above all, in whom alone there is most plentiful abundance of all good things, which is poured out upon the Church.

(l) Who so rose again that he should die no more, and who raises others from death to life by his power.

(Col 1:19) For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulnesse dwell,

(Notes Reference) For it pleased [the Father] that in him should (m) all fulness dwell;

(m) Most plentiful abundance of all things pertaining to God.

(Col 1:20) And through peace made by that blood of that his crosse, to reconcile to himselfe through him, through him, I say, all thinges, both which are in earth, and which are in heauen.

(Notes Reference) (9) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile (n) all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.

(9) Now he teaches how Christ executed that office which his Father gave and commanded to him, that is, by suffering the death of the cross (which was joined with the curse of God) according to his decree, that by this sacrifice he might reconcile to his Father all men, both those who believed in the Christ to come, and were already under this hope gathered into heaven, as well as those who should upon the earth believe in him afterwards. And in this way justification is described by the apostle, which is one and the chiefest part of the benefit of Christ.

(n) The whole Church.

(Col 1:21) And you which were in times past strangers and enemies, because your mindes were set in euill workes, hath he nowe also reconciled,

(Notes Reference) (10) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath (o) he reconciled

(10) Sanctification is another work of God in us by Christ, in that that he restored us (who hated God extremely and were wholly and willingly given to sin) to his gracious favour in such a way that he in addition purifies us with his Holy Spirit, and consecrates us to righteousness.

(o) The Son.

(Col 1:22) In that body of his flesh through death, to make you holy, and vnblameable and without fault in his sight,

(Notes Reference) In the body of his (p) flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

(p) In that fleshly body, to show us that his body was not an unreal body, but a real one.

(Col 1:23) If ye continue, grounded and stablished in the faith, and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospel, whereof ye haue heard, and which hath bene preached to euery creature which is vnder heauen, whereof I Paul am a minister.

(Notes Reference) (11) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to (q) every creature which is under heaven; (12) whereof I Paul am made a minister;

(11) The second treatise of this part of the epistle, in which he exhorts the Colossians not to allow themselves by any means to be moved from this doctrine, showing and declaring that there is nowhere else any other true Gospel.

(q) To all men: by which we learn that the Gospel was not confined to Judea alone.

(12) He gains authority for this doctrine by his apostleship, and takes a most sure proof of it, that is, his afflictions, which he suffers for Christ's name, to instruct the Churches with these examples of patience.

(Col 1:24) Now reioyce I in my suffrings for you, and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his bodies sake, which is the Church,

(Notes Reference) Who now rejoice in my sufferings for (r) you, and fill up (s) that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

(r) For our profit and benefit.

(s) The afflictions of the Church are said to be Christ's afflictions, by reason of that fellowship and knitting together that the body and the head have with one another. And this is not because there is any more need to have the Church redeemed, but because Christ shows his power in the daily weakness of his own, and that for the comfort of the whole body.

(Col 1:25) Whereof I am a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is giuen mee vnto you ward, to fulfill the word of God,

(Notes Reference) (13) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

(13) He brings another proof of his apostleship, that is, that God is the author of it, by whom also he was appointed especially as apostle for the Gentiles, to the end that by this means, that same might be fulfilled by him, which the Prophets foretold concerning the calling of the Gentiles.

(Col 1:26) Which is the mysterie hid since the world began, and from all ages, but nowe is made manifest to his Saintes,

(Notes Reference) [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his (t) saints:

(t) Whom he chose to sanctify to himself in Christ. Moreover, he says that the mystery of our redemption was hidden since the world began, except that it was revealed to a few, who also were taught it extraordinarily.

(Col 1:27) To whome God woulde make knowen what is the riches of his glorious mysterie among the Gentiles, which riches is Christ in you, the hope of glory,

(Notes Reference) To whom God (u) would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(u) In this way Paul restrains the curiosity of men.

(Col 1:28) Whome we preache, admonishing euery man, and teaching euery man in all wisdome, that we may present euery man perfect in Christ Iesus,

(Notes Reference) (14) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in (x) all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

(14) He protests that he faithfully executes his apostleship in every place, bringing men to Christ only through the Lord's plentiful blessing of his labours.

(x) Perfect and sound wisdom, which is perfect in itself, and will in the end make those perfect who follow it.

(Col 1:29) Whereunto I also labour and striue, according to his working which worketh in me mightily.