From Nave’s Topical Bible
Fox
Every passage the 1896 Nave’s Topical Biblegathers under this heading, in Nave’s own arrangement and then in Bible order. MannaFest has not written this page — it is the older index, transcribed, with the Word travelling beside each reference.
- 7Passages listed
- 6Books of the 66
- 1896Nave's edition
How Nave’s arranged it
- Dens ofMatthew 8:20Luke 9:58
- Samson uses, to burn the field of the PhilistinesJudges 15:4
- Depredations of So 2:15Psalms 63:10
- Held in contemptNehemiah 4:3
- FIGURATIVE
- Of unfaithful prophetsEzekiel 13:4
- Of craftinessLuke 13:32
- Of heretics So 2:15
The passages, in Bible order (7)
The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 7 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.
- Judges 15:4
Then Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes. And he took torches, turned the foxes tail-to-tail, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails.
Commentary on Judges 15:42 voices
And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes,.... Nor should this be thought at all incredible, since Canaan and Palestine abounded with foxes; hence several places therein had their names of Shual, which signifies a fox, Jos 15:
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
Went and caught three hundred foxes - There has been much controversy concerning the meaning of the term שועלים shualim, some supposing it to mean foxes or jackals, and others handfuls or sheaves of corn. Much of the force of the objections against the common version will be diminished by the following considerations: - 1. Foxes, or jackals, are common and gregarious in that country. 2. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone; he might have employed several hands in this work.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the BibleEvangelical
- Nehemiah 4:3
Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
- Psalms 63:10
They will fall to the power of the sword; they will become a portion for foxes.
Commentary on Psalms 63:101 voice
They shall fall by the sword. So David's enemies did. They that take the sword shall perish with the sword; bloody men shall feel their own life gushing forth from them, when their evil day shall at last come, and they shall be given up to feel in their own persons the horrors of death. They shall be a portion for foxes. Too mean to be fit food for the lions, the foxes shall sniff around their corpses, and the jackals shall hold carnival over their carcases. Unburied and unhonoured they shall be meat for the dogs of war.
Charles Spurgeon· The Treasury of David, Vol. 3, 1872
- Ezekiel 13:4
Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.
Commentary on Ezekiel 13:42 voices
The prophets of Israel are like foxes, committing thefts of domestic birds every day: those who live, according to Aquila and the Septuagint, in the deserts; according to Symmachus and Theodotion, in walls and ruins: who cannot advance opposite, nor oppose a wall for the house of Israel. We read that Aaron stood in the middle against the fire devouring the people of Israel, and opposed a wall for the salvation of the people. It is also said of Jeremiah, 'Do not confront the Lord, nor stand against His wrath with persevering prayer.'
Jerome· Commentary on EzekielPatristic
Thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts - The cunning of the fox in obtaining his prey has been long proverbial. These false prophets are represented as the foxes who, having got their prey by great subtlety, run to the desert to hide both themselves and it. So the false prophets, when the event did not answer to their prediction, got out of the way, that they might not be overwhelmed with the reproaches and indignation of the people.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the BibleEvangelical
- Matthew 8:20
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
Commentary on Matthew 8:202 voices
That Lord walked in humility and obscurity, with no definite home: for "the Son of man," said He, "hath not where to lay His head; " unadorned in dress, for else He had not said, "Behold, they who are clad in soft raiment are in kings' houses: " in short, inglorious in countenance and aspect, just as Isaiah withal had fore-announced.
Tertullian· On IdolatryPatristic
The foxes have holes, etc. - Reader! art thou a poor man? and dost thou fear God? Then, what comfort must thou derive from the thought, that thou so nearly resemblest the Lord Jesus! But how unlike is the rich man, who is the votary of pleasure and slave of sin, to this heavenly pattern! Son of man - A Hebrew phrase, expressive of humiliation and debasement; and, on that account, applied emphatically to himself, by the meek and lowly Jesus.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the BibleEvangelical
- Luke 9:58
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
Commentary on Luke 9:582 voices
SOMETIMES nobody appeared to come to Christ. He preached, but no followers appeared as the result of His preaching. At another time, we see that many came and desired to be numbered with His disciples, but they were not all of the right kind. Luke has collected here three instances which I think are typical of many more of those who seemed to be true followers of Jesus, who, nevertheless, did not continue with Him and were not really converts.
Charles Spurgeon· The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2273: “Fickle Followers” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition)
He compares foxes to heretics, because they are indeed a wily animal, and, ever intent upon fraud, commit their robberies by stealth. They let nothing be safe, nothing be at rest, nothing secure, for they hunt their prey into the very abodes of men. The fox again, an animal full of craft, makes no hole for itself, yet likes to lie always concealed in a hole. So the heretics, who know not how to construct a house for themselves, circumscribe and deceive others. This animal is never tamed, nor is it of use to man.
Ambrose of Milan· Catena Aurea by AquinasPatristic
- Luke 13:32
But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’
Commentary on Luke 13:322 voices
Let us learn from these verses — how entirely our times are in God's hands. Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us this lesson by His reply to those who bade Him to depart, because Herod would kill Him. He said, "I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow." His time was not yet come for leaving the world. His work was not yet finished. Until that time came — it was not in the power of Herod to hurt Him. Until that work was finished — no weapon forged against Him could prosper.
J.C. Ryle· Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition), 1858
And therefore did the Lord term those whom He knew to be the offspring of men "a generation of vipers;" because after the manner of these animals they go about in subtilty, and injure others. For He said, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." Speaking of Herod, too, He says, "Go ye and tell that fox," aiming at his wicked cunning and deceit.
Irenaeus· Against Heresies Book IVPatristic