5th Month, 9th day, 1st day of the week, 2021 - Random Verse
1Sa 30:9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
- -Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible - Besor - Thought to be the stream of the Wady Sheriah which enters the sea a little south of Gaza.
Click the read more link below if interested.
1Sa 30:9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
- -Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible - Besor - Thought to be the stream of the Wady Sheriah which enters the sea a little south of Gaza.
Click the read more link below if interested.
- Not to harp and toot on Albert Barnes, but his notes on the Bible give detailed information on this entire chapter too. Also on the entire books of both 1st and 2nd Samuel in the book notes of 1st Samuel. Please Dont assume that I give a heavier weight to Barnes Notes than to others though since I have used it more this past week. For indeed I use many.
I could have just as easily used Matthew Henry's or many others. And often do. I just dont put them all in my notes. I wanted to mention this as almost all commentaries are useful so long as one does not mistake the words of men, for the Word of God.
For an Example from Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible- 1 Samuel 30:1
"On the third day - This indicates that Aphek was three days’ march from Ziklag, say about 50 miles, which agrees very well with the probable situation of Aphek (1Sa_4:1 note). From Ziklag to Shunem would not be less than 80 or 90 miles.
The Amalekites, in retaliation of David’s raids 1Sa_27:8-9, invaded “the south” of Judah Jos_15:21; but owing to the absence of all the men with David there was no resistance, and consequently the women and children were carried off as prey, and uninjured."
- One can easily grasp the significance of the effort that went into these notes, and the wealth of info they hold. Many is the commentator of Biblical writings that can help the struggling layman to understand what it is that God is saying, and bring meaning to what would otherwise be indiscernible to one unfamiliar with the lands, customs, and culture of the people and times spoken of in the Word of God.
To name just a few -
Albert Barnes, Joseph Benson, E.W.Bullinger, The Biblical Illustrator, Adam Clarke, John Darby, Expositors Bible, John Wesley, John Gill, and many many others (Torey, Tozer, Pink, Murray, Etc Etc Etc);
All of whom can help the struggling layman, such as myself, understand with greater clarity those subtle nuances and other things such as distances involved, meanings inferred, cultural nuances of languages of various times, the why's and what's, and other things one such as myself struggles with continually.
For another example, Adam Clarke begins a long treatise on 1st Samuel in this way, here is just the first paragraph. ---
"1 Samuel
Preface to the First Book of Samuel
Otherwise Called The First Book of the Kings
This and the three following books were formerly termed the first, second, third, and fourth books of Kings, and the two books of Samuel made in ancient times but one; the separation which has taken place seems to have been done without reason or necessity. These books are, properly speaking, a continuation of the book of Judges, as they give us an account of the remaining judges of Israel, down to the election of Saul; and of all the kings of Israel and Judah to the Babylonish captivity."
- I generally dont use any commentaries or reference material at all when I first sit down to read and study. I fully depend on The Holy Spirit to lead me when I get quiet, pray, and crack my Bible open to read the Word of God.
In my opinion Using that as a pretense to avoid the instruction or information from other men of God is a huge mistake, as is clearly pointed out repeatedly throughout many books of the Bible, wherein we are clearly instructed to gather together and let iron sharpen iron so to speak.
Yet saying that, I think it wise to also reflect on Psalms 62, wherein we are instructed to wait ONLY on God. For he ONLY is my rock and salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
I could have just as easily used Matthew Henry's or many others. And often do. I just dont put them all in my notes. I wanted to mention this as almost all commentaries are useful so long as one does not mistake the words of men, for the Word of God.
For an Example from Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible- 1 Samuel 30:1
"On the third day - This indicates that Aphek was three days’ march from Ziklag, say about 50 miles, which agrees very well with the probable situation of Aphek (1Sa_4:1 note). From Ziklag to Shunem would not be less than 80 or 90 miles.
The Amalekites, in retaliation of David’s raids 1Sa_27:8-9, invaded “the south” of Judah Jos_15:21; but owing to the absence of all the men with David there was no resistance, and consequently the women and children were carried off as prey, and uninjured."
- One can easily grasp the significance of the effort that went into these notes, and the wealth of info they hold. Many is the commentator of Biblical writings that can help the struggling layman to understand what it is that God is saying, and bring meaning to what would otherwise be indiscernible to one unfamiliar with the lands, customs, and culture of the people and times spoken of in the Word of God.
To name just a few -
Albert Barnes, Joseph Benson, E.W.Bullinger, The Biblical Illustrator, Adam Clarke, John Darby, Expositors Bible, John Wesley, John Gill, and many many others (Torey, Tozer, Pink, Murray, Etc Etc Etc);
All of whom can help the struggling layman, such as myself, understand with greater clarity those subtle nuances and other things such as distances involved, meanings inferred, cultural nuances of languages of various times, the why's and what's, and other things one such as myself struggles with continually.
For another example, Adam Clarke begins a long treatise on 1st Samuel in this way, here is just the first paragraph. ---
"1 Samuel
Preface to the First Book of Samuel
Otherwise Called The First Book of the Kings
This and the three following books were formerly termed the first, second, third, and fourth books of Kings, and the two books of Samuel made in ancient times but one; the separation which has taken place seems to have been done without reason or necessity. These books are, properly speaking, a continuation of the book of Judges, as they give us an account of the remaining judges of Israel, down to the election of Saul; and of all the kings of Israel and Judah to the Babylonish captivity."
- I generally dont use any commentaries or reference material at all when I first sit down to read and study. I fully depend on The Holy Spirit to lead me when I get quiet, pray, and crack my Bible open to read the Word of God.
In my opinion Using that as a pretense to avoid the instruction or information from other men of God is a huge mistake, as is clearly pointed out repeatedly throughout many books of the Bible, wherein we are clearly instructed to gather together and let iron sharpen iron so to speak.
Yet saying that, I think it wise to also reflect on Psalms 62, wherein we are instructed to wait ONLY on God. For he ONLY is my rock and salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
In Jesus Christ
Jeff Benton.
Jeff Benton.