The Avenging of the Gibeonites

211 There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.” 2 The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah); 3 and David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of Yahweh?” 4 The Gibeonites said to him, “It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.”

He said, “Whatever you say, that will I do for you.” 5 They said to the king, “The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel, 6 let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh.”

The king said, “I will give them.” 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Yahweh, and all seven of them fell together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.

10 Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night. 11 It was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa; 13 and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that God was entreated for the land.

Abishai Rescues David from the Giant

15 The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint; 16 and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don’t quench the lamp of Israel.”

The Giants Slain by David's Men

18 It came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant. 19 There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, killed him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

David's Song of Deliverance

221 David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

2 and he said,

“Yahweh is my rock,
my fortress,
and my deliverer, even mine; 3 God, my rock, in him I will take refuge;
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my high tower, and my refuge.
My savior, you save me from violence. 4 I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised:
So shall I be saved from my enemies. 5 For the waves of death surrounded me.
The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 6 The cords of Sheol were around me.
The snares of death caught me. 7 In my distress I called on Yahweh.
Yes, I called to my God.
He heard my voice out of his temple.
My cry came into his ears. 8 Then the earth shook and trembled.
The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken,
because he was angry. 9 Smoke went up out of his nostrils.
Fire out of his mouth devoured.
Coals were kindled by it. 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down.
Thick darkness was under his feet. 11 He rode on a cherub, and flew.
Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind. 12 He made darkness pavilions around himself:
gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13 At the brightness before him,
coals of fire were kindled. 14 Yahweh thundered from heaven.
The Most High uttered his voice. 15 He sent out arrows, and scattered them;
lightning, and confused them. 16 Then the channels of the sea appeared.
The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Yahweh,
At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17 He sent from on high and he took me.
He drew me out of many waters. 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 19 They came on me in the day of my calamity,
but Yahweh was my support. 20 He also brought me out into a large place.
He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness.
He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands. 22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh,
and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his ordinances were before me.
As for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also perfect toward him.
I kept myself from my iniquity. 25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
According to my cleanness in his eyesight. 26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful.
With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect. 27 With the pure you will show yourself pure.
With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 28 You will save the afflicted people,
But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down. 29 For you are my lamp, Yahweh.
Yahweh will light up my darkness. 30 For by you, I run against a troop.
By my God, I leap over a wall. 31 As for God, his way is perfect.
The word of Yahweh is tested.
He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God, besides Yahweh?
Who is a rock, besides our God? 33 God is my strong fortress.
He makes my way perfect. 34 He makes his feet like hinds’ feet,
and sets me on my high places. 35 He teaches my hands to war,
so that my arms bend a bow of brass. 36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation.
Your gentleness has made me great. 37 You have enlarged my steps under me.
My feet have not slipped. 38 I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them.
I didn’t turn again until they were consumed. 39 I have consumed them,
and struck them through,
so that they can’t arise.
Yes, they have fallen under my feet. 40 For you have armed me with strength for the battle.
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 41 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
that I might cut off those who hate me. 42 They looked, but there was none to save;
even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them. 43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth.
I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad. 44 You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people.
You have kept me to be the head of the nations.
A people whom I have not known will serve me. 45 The foreigners will submit themselves to me.
As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. 46 The foreigners will fade away,
and will come trembling out of their close places. 47 Yahweh lives!
Blessed be my rock!
Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, 48 even the God who executes vengeance for me,
who brings down peoples under me, 49 who brings me away from my enemies.
Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me.
You deliver me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations.
Will sing praises to your name. 51 He gives great deliverance to his king,
and shows loving kindness to his anointed,
to David and to his seed, forevermore.”

24 Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” 28 Peter said, “Look, we have left everything, and followed you.” 29 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God’s sake, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

31 He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed. 32 For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on. 33 They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.” 34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.

A Blind Beggar Healed near Jericho

35 It happened, as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging. 36 Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do?”

He said, “Lord, that I may see again.” 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 18:24-43

Commentary on Luke 18:18-30

(Read Luke 18:18-30)

Many have a great deal in them very commendable, yet perish for lack of some one thing; so this ruler could not bear Christ's terms, which would part between him and his estate. Many who are loth to leave Christ, yet do leave him. After a long struggle between their convictions and their corruptions, their corruptions carry the day. They are very sorry that they cannot serve both; but if one must be quitted, it shall be their God, not their wordly gain. Their boasted obedience will be found mere outside show; the love of the world in some form or other lies at the root. Men are apt to speak too much of what they have left and lost, of what they have done and suffered for Christ, as Peter did. But we should rather be ashamed that there has been any regret or difficulty in doing it.

Commentary on Luke 18:31-34

(Read Luke 18:31-34)

The Spirit of Christ, in the Old Testament prophets, testified beforehand his sufferings, and the glory that should follow, 1 Peter 1:11. The disciples' prejudices were so strong, that they would not understand these things literally. They were so intent upon the prophecies which spake of Christ's glory, that they overlooked those which spake of his sufferings. People run into mistakes, because they read their Bibles by halves, and are only for the smooth things. We are as backward to learn the proper lessons from the sufferings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ, as the disciples were to what he told them as to those events; and for the same reason; self-love, and a desire of worldly objects, close our understandings.

Commentary on Luke 18:35-43

(Read Luke 18:35-43)

This poor blind man sat by the wayside, begging. He was not only blind, but poor, the fitter emblem of the world of mankind which Christ came to heal and save. The prayer of faith, guided by Christ's encouraging promises, and grounded on them, shall not be in vain. The grace of Christ ought to be thankfully acknowledged, to the glory of God. It is for the glory of God if we follow Jesus, as those will do whose eyes are opened. We must praise God for his mercies to others, as well as for mercies to ourselves. Would we rightly understand these things, we must come to Christ, like the blind man, earnestly beseeching him to open our eyes, and to show us clearly the excellence of his precepts, and the value of his salvation.