Prisoners

How Nave’s arranged it

• JosephGenesis 39:20–23Genesis 40Genesis 41:1–44
• JeremiahJeremiah 38:6–28Jeremiah 39:14
• John the BaptistMatthew 11:2Matthew 14:3–12Mark 6:17Luke 3:20
• JesusMatthew 26:47–75Matthew 27Mark 14:43–72Mark 15Luke 22:47–71Luke 23John 18:3–40John 19
• The apostlesActs 5:17–42
• PeterActs 12:3–19
• PaulActs 16:19–40Acts 21:27–40Acts 22Acts 23Acts 24Acts 25Acts 26Acts 27Acts 28
• SilasActs 16:19–40
• Required to laborJudges 16:21
• Sustained on bread and water of affliction1 Kings 22:27
• In chainsActs 12:6
• In stocksProverbs 7:22Jeremiah 29:26Acts 16:24

The passages, in Bible order (87)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 39:20–23

   So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. While Joseph was there in the prison,

   ›Commentary on Genesis 39:20–231 voice

   “Therefore I might say Joseph was happier when he was put into prison, because he was giving witness on behalf of chastity. For modesty is a good gift but one of lesser merit when it involves no risk. Where, however, it is maintained at the risk of one's safety, there it wins a more abundant crown. With his case unheard, his truthfulness unexamined, Joseph is sent into prison as if guilty of a crime. But the Lord did not abandon him even in prison.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 39:20–23→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 40:1

   Some time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 40:12 voices

   “Both officers, especially the former, were, in ancient Egypt, always persons of great rank and importance; and from the confidential nature of their employment, as well as their access to the royal presence, they were generally the highest nobles or princes of the blood.

   “(Chapter 40, Verse 1) After these words, the chief of the king of Egypt's wine cellar sinned. Where we have placed 'chief of the wine cellar' in Hebrew it is written 'Masec', that word which we have recently read in the name of Abraham's servant, whom we can call the cupbearer according to the custom of the common people.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 40:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 40:3

   and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 40:32 voices

   “Pharaoh put them in ward, &c.--Whatever was their crime, they were committed, until their case could be investigated, to the custody of the captain of the guard, that is, Potiphar, in an outer part of whose house the royal prison was situated.

   “Where Joseph was bound - The place in which Joseph was now confined; this is what is implied in being bound; for, without doubt, he had his personal liberty. As the butler and. the baker were state criminals they were put in the same prison with Joseph, which we learn from the preceding chapter, Gen 39:20, was the king’s prison.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 40:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Genesis 41:1–44

   After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,

   ›Commentary on Genesis 41:1–442 voices

   “Pharaoh dreamed--"Pharaoh," from an Egyptian word Phre, signifying the "sun," was the official title of the kings of that country. The prince, who occupied the throne of Egypt, was Aphophis, one of the Memphite kings, whose capital was On or Heliopolis, and who is universally acknowledged to have been a patriot king.

   “It was certainly a singular honor to be instructed concerning an event yet fourteen years future: for truly the will of God was manifested to Pharaoh, just as if he had been taught by the word, except that the interpretation of it was to be sought elsewhere.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 41:1–44→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Numbers 31:9

   The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children, and they plundered all their herds, flocks, and goods.

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Numbers 31:17

   So now, kill all the boys, as well as every woman who has had relations with a man,

   ›Commentary on Numbers 31:171 voice

   “Kill every male among the little ones - For this action I account simply on the principle that God, who is the author and supporter of life, has a right to dispose of it when and how he thinks proper; and the Judge of all the earth can do nothing but what is right. Of the women killed on this occasion it may be safely said, their lives were forfeited by their personal transgressions; and yet even in this case there can be little doubt that God showed mercy to their souls.

   Everything gathered on Numbers 31:17→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Joshua 10:16–27

   Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah.

   ›Commentary on Joshua 10:16–271 voice

   “Hid themselves in a cave - It is very likely that this cave was a fortified place among some rocks; for there were many such places in different parts of Palestine.

   Everything gathered on Joshua 10:16–27→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Judges 1:6

   As Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.

   ›Commentary on Judges 1:62 voices

   “Cut off his thumbs - That he might never be able to draw his bow or handle his sword, and great toes, that he might never be able to pursue or escape from an adversary.

   “It had been barbarous thus to triumph over a man in misery, and that lay at their mercy, but that he was a devoted Canaanite, and one that had in like manner abused others, which probably they had heard of. Josephus says, "They cut off his hands and his feet," probably supposing those more likely to be mortal wounds than only the cutting off of his thumbs and his great toes.

   Everything gathered on Judges 1:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Judges 1:7

   Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.

   ›Commentary on Judges 1:71 voice

   “Threescore and ten kings - We may infer from this number of conquered kings, that the intestine wars of the Canaanites were among the causes which, under God’s Providence, weakened their resistance to the Israelites. Adoni-Bezek’s cruelty to the subject kings was the cause of his receiving (compare the marginal references) this chastisement. The loss of the thumb would make a man unfit to handle a sword or a bow; the loss of his big toe would impede his speed.

   Everything gathered on Judges 1:7→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Judges 16:21

    Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.

    ›Commentary on Judges 16:212 voices

    “But the one who has taken root as "a fruitful olive tree in the house of God" composes those words against the tyrant which we have heard in the psalm, saying, "Why do you glory in evil, you who are mighty in iniquity," whose "tongue" is "like a sharp razor." It was by means of these two things that [Samson] was led off, after [Delilah] had removed the beauty of his hair and cut off the "seven locks of curls" in which our strength lies.

    “Put out his eyes - Thus effectually, as they thought, preventing any future mischief on his part, while they prolonged their own triumph and revenge. (Compare Num 16:14; 2Ki 25:7; Jer 39:7.) They applied to the two feet fetters of brass 2Sa 3:34; Jer 52:11, and made him “grind” - the special task of slaves and captives Exo 11:5; Isa 47:2; Lam 5:13.

    Everything gathered on Judges 16:21→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 1 Samuel 15:33

    But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:332 voices

    “Hewed in pieces - Only found in this passage. Samuel thus executed the חרם chērem 1Sa 15:3 which Saul had violated, and so both saved the nation from the guilt of a broken oath, and gave a final example to Saul, but apparently in vain, of uncompromising obedience to the commandments of God. There is something awful in the majesty of the prophet rising above and eclipsing that of the king (compare 1Ki 21:20; Jer 38:14 ff; Dan 2:46; Dan 4:27).

    “He trod in the steps of his ancestors' cruelty, and those under him, it is likely, did the same; justly therefore is all the righteous blood shed by Amalek required of this generation, Matt. xxiii. Agag, that was delicate and luxurious himself, was cruel and barbarous to others.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 15:33→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. 1 Samuel 27:11

    David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 27:111 voice

    “Tidings - The word is not in the original. The sense rather is “to bring them to Gath,” as captives and slaves. The prisoners taken would naturally have been part of the spoil, but David dared not to bring them to Gath lest his deceit should be discovered. Obviously these tribes were allies of the Philistines.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 27:11→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. 2 Samuel 12:31

    David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 12:311 voice

    “For the saw as an implement of torture compare Heb 11:37. Harrows of iron - Or rather thrashing-machines (Isa 28:27; Isa 41:15, etc.). Axes - The word so rendered occurs only here and in 1Ch 20:3. It evidently means some cutting instrument.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 12:31→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 1 Kings 22:27

    and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 22:272 voices

    “Feed him with bread of affliction ... - Micaiah is to be once more put in prison, but, in order to punish him for his uncomplying spirit, upon a poorer and scantier diet than he had been previously allowed. This is to continue until Ahab returns in peace. Ahab introduces this expression purposely, in order to show his entire disbelief of Micaiah’s prophecy.

    “But by this it appeared that God had determined to destroy him, as 2 Chron. xxv. How confident is Ahab of success. He doubts not but he shall return in peace, forgetting what he himself had reminded Ben-hadad of, Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast; but there was little likelihood of his coming home in peace when he left one of God's prophets behind him in prison.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 22:27→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. 2 Kings 25:7

    And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

    ›Commentary on 2 Kings 25:72 voices

    “Before his eyes - This refinement of cruelty seems to have especially shocked the Jews, whose manners were less barbarous than those of most Orientals. It is noted by Jeremiah in two places Jer 39:6; Jer 52:10. And put out the eyes of Zedekiah - Blinding has always been among the most common of secondary punishments in the East (compare Jdg 16:2 l). The blinding of Zedekiah reconciled in a very remarkable way prophecies, apparently contradictory, which had been made concerning him. Jeremiah had prophesied distinctly that he would be carried to Babylon Jer 32:5; Jer 34:

    “What think you of Nebuchadnezzar? Have you not heard from Scripture that he was bloodthirsty, fierce, with the disposition of a lion? Have you not heard that he disinterred the kings? Have you not heard that he brought the people away into captivity? Have you not heard that he put the king's sons to the sword before Zedekiah's eyes and then blinded him? Have you not heard that he shattered the cherubim?

    Everything gathered on 2 Kings 25:7→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. 1 Chronicles 20:3

    David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. And he did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

    ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:31 voice

    “cut them with saws, &c.--The Hebrew word, "cut them," is, with the difference of the final letter, the same as that rendered "put them," in the parallel passage of Samuel [2Sa 12:31]; and many consider that putting them to saws, axes, and so forth, means nothing more than that David condemned the inhabitants of Rabbah to hard and penal servitude.

    Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 20:3→

    Verse page →Original language →