Notes from Genesis 16

Hagar is the person mostly concerned in the story of this chapter, an obscure Egyptian woman, whose name and story we never should have heard of if Providence had not brought her into the family of Abram. Probably she was one of those maid-servants whom the king of Egypt, among other gifts, bestowed upon Abram (ch. 12:16). Concerning her, we have four things in this chapter:-

I. Her marriage to Abram her master (v. 1-3).
II. Her misbehaviour towards Sarai her mistress (v. 4-6).
III. Her discourse with an angel that met her in her flight (v. 7-14).
IV. Her delivery of a son (v. 15, 16).

Notes from Genesis 15

In this chapter we have a solemn treaty between God and Abram concerning a covenant that was to be established between them. In the former chapter we had Abram in the field with Kings; here we find him in the mount with God; and, though there he looked great, yet, methinks, here he looks much greater: that honour have the great men of the world, but "this honour have all the saints.' The covenant to be settled between God and Abram was a covenant of promises; accordingly, here is,

I. A general assurance of God's kindness and good-will to Abram (v. 1).
II. A particular declaration of the purposes of his love concerning him, in two things:-
1. That he would give him a numerous issue (v. 2-6).
2. That he would give him Canaan for an inheritance (v. 7-21). Either an estate without an heir, or an heir without an estate, would have been but a half comfort to Abram. But God ensures both to him; and that which made these two, the promised seed and the promised land, comforts indeed to this great believer was that they were both typical of those two invaluable blessings, Christ and heaven; and so we have reason to think, Abram eyed them.

Notes from Genesis 14

We have four things in the story of this chapter.

I. A war with the king of Sodom and his allies (v. 1-11).
II. The captivity of Lot in that war (v. 12).
III. Abram's rescue of Lot from that captivity, with the victory he obtained over the conquerors (v. 13-16).
IV. Abram's return from the expedition (v. 17), with an account of what passed,
1. Between him and the king of Salem (v. 18-20).
2. Between him and the king of Sodom (v. 21-24). So that here we have that promise to Abram in part fulfilled, that God would make his name great.

Notes from Genesis 13

In this chapter we have a further account concerning Abram.

I. In general, of his condition and behaviour in the land of promise, which was now the land of his pilgrimage.
1. His removes (v. 1, 3, 4, 18).
2. His riches (v. 2).
3. His devotion (v. 4, 18).
II. A particular account of a quarrel that happened between him and Lot.
1. The unhappy occasion of their strife (v. 5, 6).
2. The parties concerned in the strife, with the aggravation of it (v. 7).
III. The making up of the quarrel, by the prudence of Abram (v. 8, 9).
IV. Lot's departure from Abram to the plain of Sodom (v. 10-13).
V. God's appearance to Abram, to confirm the promise of the land of Canaan to him (v. 14, etc.).

Notes from Genesis 12

The pedigree and family of Abram we had an account of in the foregoing chapter; here the Holy Ghost enters upon his story, and henceforward Abram and his seed are almost the only subject of the sacred history. In this chapter we have,

I. God's call of Abram to the land of Canaan (v. 1-3).
II. Abram's obedience to this call (v. 4, 5).
III. His welcome to the land of Canaan (v. 6-9).
IV. His journey to Egypt, with an account of what happened to him there. Abram's flight and fault (v. 10-13). Sarai's danger and deliverance (v. 14-20).

Notes from Genesis 11

The old distinction between the sons of God and the sons of men (professors and profane) survived the flood, and now appeared again, when men began to multiply: according to this distinction we have, in this chapter,

I. The dispersion of the sons of men at Babel (v. 1-9), where we have,
1. Their presumptuous provoking design, which was to build a city and a tower (v. 1-4).
2. The righteous judgment of God upon them in disappointing their design, by confounding their language, and so scattering them (v. 5-9).
II. The pedigree of the sons of God down to Abraham (v. 10-26), with a general account of his family, and removal out of his native country (v. 27, etc.).

Notes from Genesis 10

This chapter shows more particularly what was said in general (ch. 9:19), concerning the three sons of Noah, that "of them was the whole earth overspread;' and the fruit of that blessing (ch. 9:1, 7), "replenish the earth.' Is is the only certain account extant of the origin of nations; and yet perhaps there is no nation but that of the Jews that can be confident from which of these seventy fountains (for so many there are here) it derives its streams. Through the want of early records, the mixtures of people, the revolutions of nations, and distance of time, the knowledge of the lineal descent of the present inhabitants of the earth is lost; nor were any genealogies preserved but those of the Jews, for the sake of the Messiah, only in this chapter we have a brief account,

I. Of the posterity of Japheth (v. 2-5).
II. The posterity of Ham (v. 6-20), and in this particular notice is taken of Nimrod (v. 8-10).
III. The posterity of Shem (v. 21, etc.).

Notes from Genesis 9

Both the world and the church were now again reduced to a family, the family of Noah, of the affairs of which this chapter gives us an account, of which we are the more concerned to take cognizance because from this family we are all descendants. Here is,

I. The covenant of providence settled with Noah and his sons (v. 1-11). In this covenant,
1. God promises them to take care of their lives, so that,
(1.) They should replenish the earth (v. 1, 7).
(2.) They should be safe from the insults of the brute-creatures, which should stand in awe of them (v. 2).
(3.) They should be allowed to eat flesh for the support of their lives; only they must not eat blood (v. 3, 4).
(4.) The world should never be drowned again (v. 8-11).
2. God requires of them to take care of one another's lives, and of their own (v. 5, 6).
II. The seal of that covenant, namely, the rainbow (v. 12-17).
III. A particular passage of story concerning Noah and his sons, which occasioned some prophecies that related to after-times,
1. Noah's sin and shame (v. 20, 21).
2. Ham's impudence and impiety (v. 22).
3. The pious modesty of Shem and Japheth (v. 23).
4. The curse of Canaan, and the blessing of Shem and Japheth (v. 21-27).
IV. The age and death of Noah (v. 28, 29).

Notes from Genesis 8

In the close of the foregoing chapter we left the world in ruins and the church in straits; but in this chapter we have the repair of the one and the enlargement of the other. Now the scene alters, and another face of things begins to be presented to us, and the brighter side of that cloud which there appeared so black and dark; for, though God contend long, he will not contend for ever, nor be always wrath. We have here,

I. The earth made anew, by the recess of the waters, and the appearing of the dry land, now a second time, and both gradual.
1. The increase of the waters is stayed (v. 1, 2).
2. They begin sensibly to abate (v. 3).
3. After sixteen days' ebbing, the ark rests (v. 4).
4. After sixty days' ebbing, the tops of the mountains appeared above water (v. 5).
5. After forty days' ebbing, and twenty days before the mountains appeared, Noah began to send out his spies, a raven and a dove, to gain intelligence (v. 6-12).
6. Two months after the appearing of the tops of the mountains, the waters had gone, and the face of the earth was dry (v. 13), though not dried so as to be fit for man till almost two months after (v. 14).
II. Man placed anew upon the earth, in which,
1. Noah's discharge and departure out of the ark (v. 15-19).
2. His sacrifice of praise, which he offered to God upon his enlargement (v. 20).
3. God's acceptance of his sacrifice, and the promise he made thereupon not to drown the world again (v. 21, 22). And thus, at length, mercy rejoices against judgment.

Notes from Genesis 7

In this chapter we have the performance of what was foretold in the foregoing chapter, both concerning the destruction of the old world and the salvation of Noah; for we may be sure that no word of God shall fall to the ground. There we left Noah busy about his ark, and full of care to get it finished in time, while the rest of his neighbours were laughing at him for his pains. Now here we see what was the end thereof, the end of his care and of their carelessness. And this famous period of the old world gives us some idea of the state of things when the world that now is shall be destroyed by fire, as that was by water. See 2 Pt. 3:6, 7. We have, in this chapter,

I. God's gracious call to Noah to come into the ark (v. 1), and to bring the creatures that were to be preserved alive along with him (v. 2, 3), in consideration of the deluge at hand (v. 4).
II. Noah's obedience to this heavenly vision (v. 5). When he was six hundred years old, he came with his family into the ark (v. 6, 7), and brought the creatures along with him (v. 8, 9), an account of which is repeated (v. 13-16), to which is added God's tender care to shut him in.
III. The coming of the threatened deluge (v. 10); the causes of it (v. 11, 12); the prevalency of it (v. 17-20).
IV. The dreadful desolations that were made by it in the death of every living creature upon earth, except those that were in the ark (v. 21-23).
V. The continuance of it in full sea, before it began to ebb, one hundred and fifty days (v. 24).

Notes from Genesis 6

The most remarkable thing we have upon record concerning the old world is the destruction of it by the universal deluge, the account of which commences in this chapter, wherein we have,

I. The abounding iniquity of that wicked world (v. 1-5, 11, 12).
II. The righteous God's just resentment of that abounding iniquity, and his holy resolution to punish it (v. 6, 7).
III. The special favour of God to his servant Noah.
1. In the character given of him (v. 8-10)
2. In the communication of God's purpose to him (v. 13, 17).
3. In the directions he gave him to make an ark for his own safety (v. 14-16).
4. In the employing of him for the preservation of the rest of the creatures (v. 18-21).
Lastly, Noah's obedience to the instructions given him (v. 22). And this concerning the old world is written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the new would have come.

Notes from Genesis 5

This chapter is the only authentic history extant of the first age of the world from the creation to the flood, containing (according to the verity of the Hebrew text) 1656 years, as may easily be computed by the ages of the patriarchs, before they begat that son through whom the line went down to Noah. This is one of those which the apostle calls "endless genealogies' (1 Tim. 1:4), for Christ, who was the end of the Old Testament law, was also the end of the Old Testament genealogies; towards him they looked, and in him they centered. The genealogy here recorded in inserted briefly in the pedigree of our Saviour (Lu. 3:36-38), and is of great use to show that Christ was the "seed of the woman' that was promised. We have here an account,

I. Concerning Adam (v. 1-5).
II. Seth (v. 6-8).
III. Enos (v. 9-11).
IV. Cainan (v. 12-14).
V. Mahalaleel (v. 15-17).
VI. Jared (v. 18-20).
VII. Enoch (v. 21-24).
VIII. Methuselah (v. 25-27).
IX. Lamech and his son Noah (v. 28-32). All scripture, being given by inspiration of God, is profitable, though not all alike profitable.

Notes from Genesis 4

In this chapter we have both the world and the church in a family, in a little family, in Adam's family, and a specimen given of the character and state of both in after-ages, nay, in all ages, to the end of time. As all mankind were represented in Adam, so that great distinction of mankind into saints and sinners, godly and wicked, the children of God and the children of the wicked one, was here represented in Cain and Abel, and an early instance is given of the enmity which was lately put between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. We have here,

I. The birth, names, and callings, of Cain and Abel (v. 1, 2).
II. Their religion, and different success in it (v. 3, 4 and part of v. 5).
III. Cain's anger at God and the reproof of him for that anger (v. 5-7).
IV. Cain's murder of his brother, and the process against him for that murder. The murder committed (v. 8). The proceedings against him.
1. His arraignment (v. 9, former part).
2. His plea (v. 9, latter part).
3. His conviction (v. 10).
4. The sentence passed upon him (v. 11, 12).
5. His complaint against the sentence (v. 13, 14).
6. The ratification of the sentence (v. 15).
7. The execution of the sentence (v. 15, 16).
V. The family and posterity of Cain (v. 17-24).
VI. The birth of another son and grandson of Adam (v. 25, 26).

Notes from Genesis 3

The story of this chapter is perhaps as sad a story (all things considered) as any we have in all the Bible. In the foregoing chapters we have had the pleasant view of the holiness and happiness of our first parents, the grace and favour of God, and the peace and beauty of the whole creation, all good, very good; but here the scene is altered. We have here an account of the sin and misery of our first parents, the wrath and curse of God against them, the peace of the creation disturbed, and its beauty stained and sullied, all bad, very bad. "How has the gold become dim, and the most fine gold changed!' O that our hearts were deeply affected with this record! For we are all nearly concerned in it; let it not be to us as a tale that is told. The general contents of this chapter we have (Rom. 5:12), "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.' More particularly, we have here,

I. The innocent tempted (v. 1-5).
II. The tempted transgressing (v. 6-8).
III. The transgressors arraigned (v. 9, 10).
IV. Upon their arraignment, convicted (v. 11-13).
V. Upon their conviction, sentenced, (v. 14-19).
VI. After sentence, reprieved (v. 20, 21).
VII. Notwithstanding their reprieve, execution in part done (v. 22-24).
And were it not for the gracious intimations here given of redemption by the promised seed, they, and all their degenerate guilty race, would have been left to endless despair.

Notes from Genesis 2

This chapter is an appendix to the history of the creation, more particularly explaining and enlarging upon that part of the history which relates immediately to man, the favourite of this lower world. We have in it,

I. The institution and sanctification of the sabbath, which was made for man, to further his holiness and comfort (v. 1-3).
II. A more particular account of man's creation, as the centre and summary of the whole work (v. 4-7).
III. A description of the garden of Eden, and the placing of man in it under the obligations of a law and covenant (v. 8-17).
IV. The creation of the woman, her marriage to the man, and the institution of the ordinance of marriage (v. 18, etc.).

Notes from Genesis 1

The foundation of all religion being laid in our relation to God as our Creator, it was fit that the book of divine revelations which was intended to be the guide, support, and rule, of religion in the world, should begin, as it does, with a plain and full account of the creation of the world-in answer to that first enquiry of a good conscience, "Where is God my Maker?' (Job 35:10). Concerning this the pagan philosophers wretchedly blundered, and became vain in their imaginations, some asserting the world's eternity and self-existence, others ascribing it to a fortuitous concourse of atoms: thus "the world by wisdom knew not God,' but took a great deal of pains to lose him. The holy scripture therefore, designing by revealed religion to maintain and improve natural religion, to repair the decays of it and supply the defects of it, since the fall, for the reviving of the precepts of the law of nature, lays down, at first, this principle of the unclouded light of nature, That this world was, in the beginning of time, created by a Being of infinite wisdom and power, who was himself before all time and all worlds. The entrance into God's word gives this light, Ps. 119:130. The first verse of the Bible gives us a surer and better, a more satisfying and useful, knowledge of the origin of the universe, than all the volumes of the philosophers. The lively faith of humble Christians understands this matter better than the elevated fancy of the greatest wits, Heb. 11:3.

We have three things in this chapter:-

I. A general idea given us of the work of creation (v. 1, 2).
II. A particular account of the several days' work, registered, as in a journal, distinctly and in order. The creation of the light the first day (v. 3-5); of the firmament the second day (v. 6-8); of the sea, the earth, and its fruits, the third day (v. 9-13); of the lights of heaven the fourth day (v. 14-19); of the fish and fowl the fifth day (v. 20-23); of the beasts (v. 24, 25); of man (v. 26-28); and of food for both the sixth day (v. 29, 30).
III. The review and approbation of the whole work (v. 31).

Notes from Zechariah 14

Divers things were foretold, in the two foregoing chapters, which should come to pass "in that day;' this chapter speaks of a "day of the Lord that cometh,' a day of his judgment, and ten times in the foregoing chapters, and seven times in this, it is repeated, "in that day;' but what that day is that is here meant is uncertain, and perhaps will be so (as the Jews speak) till Elias comes; whether it refer to the whole period of time from the prophet's days to the days of the Messiah, or to some particular events in that time, or to Christ's coming, and the setting up of his kingdom upon the ruins of the Jewish polity, we cannot determine, but divers passages here seem to look as far forward as gospel-times. Now the "day of the Lord' brings with it both judgment and mercy, mercy to his church, judgment to her enemies and persecutors.

I. The gates of hell are here threatening the church (v. 1, 2) and yet not prevailing.
II. The power of Heaven appears here for the church and against the enemies of it (v. 3, 5).
III. The events concerning the church are here represented as mixed (v. 6, 7), but issuing well at last.
IV. The spreading of the means of knowledge is here foretold, and the setting up of the gospel-kingdom in the world (v. 8, 9), which shall be the enlargement and establishment of another Jerusalem (v. 10, 11).
V. Those shall be reckoned with that fought against Jerusalem (v. 12-15) and those that neglect his worship there (v. 17-19).
VI. It is promised that there shall be great resort to the church, and great purity and piety in it (v. 16, 20, 21).

Notes from Zechariah 13

In this chapter we have,

I. Some further promises relating to gospel-times. Here is a promise of the remission of sins (v. 1), of the reformation of manners (v. 2), and particularly of the convicting and silencing of false prophets (v. 2-6).
II. A clear prediction of the sufferings of Christ and the dispersion of his disciples thereupon (v. 7), of the destruction of the greater part of the Jewish nation not long after (v. 8), and of the purifying of a remnant of them, a peculiar people to God (v. 9).

Notes from Zechariah 12

The apostle (Gal. 4:25, 26) distinguishes between "Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children'-the remaining carcase of the Jewish church that rejected Christ, and "Jerusalem that is from above, that is free, and is the mother of us all'-the Christian church, the spiritual Jerusalem, which God has chosen to put his name there; in the foregoing chapter we read the doom of the former, and left that carcase to be a prey to the eagles that should be gathered to it. Now, in this chapter, we have the blessings of the latter, many precious promises made to the gospel-Jerusalem by him who (v. 1) declares his power to make them good. It is promised,

I. That the attempts of the church's enemies against her shall be to their own ruin, and they shall find that it is at their peril if they do her any hurt (v. 2-4, 6).
II. That the endeavours of the church's friends and patrons for her good shall be pious, regular, and successful (v. 5).
III. That God will protect and strengthen the meanest and weakest that belong to his church, and work salvation for them (v. 7, 8).
IV. That as a preparative for all this mercy, and a pledge of it, he will pour upon them a spirit of prayer and repentance, the effect of which shall be universal and very particular (v. 9-14).
These promises were of use then to the pious Jews that lived in the troublous times under Antiochus, and other persecutors and oppressors; and they are still to be improved in every age for the directing of our prayers and the encouraging of our hopes with reference to the gospel-church.