Unselfishness

How Nave’s arranged it

• General scriptures concerningRomans 12:10Romans 15:1–31 Corinthians 9:19–231 Corinthians 10:241 Corinthians 10:331 Corinthians 13:41 Corinthians 13:52 Corinthians 5:142 Corinthians 5:152 Corinthians 8:9Philippians 2:3Philippians 2:4James 2:8
• INSTANCES OF
• AbrahamGenesis 13:9Genesis 14:23Genesis 14:24
• King of SodomGenesis 14:21
• The children of HethGenesis 23:6Genesis 23:11
• JudahGenesis 44:33Genesis 44:34
• MosesNumbers 11:29Numbers 14:12–19
• GideonJudges 8:22Judges 8:23
• Saul1 Samuel 11:121 Samuel 11:13
• Jonathan1 Samuel 23:171 Samuel 23:18
• David1 Samuel 24:172 Samuel 15:192 Samuel 15:202 Samuel 23:162 Samuel 23:171 Chronicles 21:17Psalms 69:6
• Araunah2 Samuel 24:22–24

The passages, in Bible order (52)

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 13:9

   Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 13:92 voices

   “Is not the whole land before thee - As the patriarch or head of the family, Abram, by prescriptive right, might have chosen his own portion first, and appointed Lot his; but intent upon peace, and feeling pure and parental affection for his nephew, he permitted him to make his choice first.

   “As if he had said, "Why should we quarrel for room, while there is room enough for us both?" (1.) He concludes that they must part, and is very desirous that they should part friends: Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 13:9→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 14:21

   The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 14:212 voices

   “Give me the souls, and take thou the substance - So the Hebrew reads it. Here he fairly begs the persons, but as freely bestows the goods on Abram. Gratitude teaches us to recompense to the utmost of our power those that have undergone fatigues, or been at expence for our service.

   “Rich countries are a desirable prey, and idle luxurious countries are an easy prey, to growing greatness. The Sodomites were the posterity of Canaan whom Noah had pronounced a servant to Shem, from whom Elam descended; thus soon did that prophecy begin to e fulfilled.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 14:21→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 14:23

   that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

   ›Commentary on Genesis 14:232 voices

   “It is characteristic of the perfect mind not to take for itself any earthly thing, anything prone to bodily seduction. This is why Abraham says, "I will take nothing of what is yours." He avoids intemperance like the plague. He flees from sensual bodily temptations as from filth. He rejects worldly pleasures to seek those that are above the world. This is what it means to raise one's hands to the Lord. The hand that does good is the virtue of the soul.

   “From a thread even to a shoelatchet - This was certainly a proverbial mode of expression, the full meaning of which is perhaps not known. Among the rabbinical writers חוט chut, or חוטי chuti, signifies a fillet worn by young women to tie up their hair; taken in this sense it will give a good meaning here.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 14:23→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Genesis 14:24

   I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 14:242 voices

   “How remarkable it is, then, that Abraham did not wish to touch any of the spoil gained by his victory or to take even what was offered him? The fact is that to receive recompense diminishes the joy of a victory and blunts the gratuitous character of a favor. For it makes a great difference whether one has fought for money or for fame. In one case, a person will be regarded as a mercenary. In the other case he will be deemed worthy of fame as a deliverer.

   “Save only that which the young men have eaten - His own servants had partaken of the victuals which the confederate kings had carried away; see Gen 14:11. This was unavoidable, and this is all he claims; but as he had no right to prescribe the same liberal conduct to his assistants, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, he left them to claim the share that by right of conquest belonged to them of the recaptured booty. Whether they were as generous as Abram we are not told.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 14:24→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Genesis 23:6

   “Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 23:62 voices

   “Thou art a prince of God among us - So the word is; not only great, but good. He called himself a stranger and a sojourner, they call him a great prince.

   “Thou art a mighty prince - נשיא אלהים nesi Elohim, a prince of God - a person whom we know to be Divinely favored, and whom, in consequence, we deeply respect and reverence.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 23:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Genesis 23:11

   “No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 23:111 voice

   “Ephron answered, Nay, my lord, &c.--Here is a great show of generosity, but it was only a show; for while Abraham wanted only the cave, he joins "the field and the cave"; and though he offered them both as free gifts, he, of course, expected some costly presents in return, without which, he would not have been satisfied.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 23:11→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Genesis 44:33

   Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers.

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Genesis 44:34

   For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Numbers 11:29

   But Moses replied, “Are you jealous on my account? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would place His Spirit on them!”

   ›Commentary on Numbers 11:292 voices

   “They, however, received the gifts of the Spirit as well as their brethren. And when Moses was urged to forbid their prophesying, his answer displayed a noble disinterestedness as well as zeal for the glory of God akin to that of our Lord (Mr 9:39).

   “Enviest thou for my sake - Art thou grieved because the gifts and graces of God are imparted to others besides me? Prophets - He saith prophets, not rulers, for that he knew was absurd and impossible. So we ought to be pleased, that God is glorified and good done, tho' to the lessening of our own honour.

   Everything gathered on Numbers 11:29→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Numbers 14:12–19

    I will strike them with a plague and destroy them—and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are.”

    ›Commentary on Numbers 14:12–191 voice

    “And disinherit them - By the proposed extinction of Israel the blessings of the covenant would revert to their original donor.

    Everything gathered on Numbers 14:12–19→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Judges 8:22

    Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

    ›Commentary on Judges 8:221 voice

    “Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son - That is, Become our king, and let the crown be hereditary in thy family. What a weak, foolish, and inconstant people were these! As yet their government was a theocracy; and now, dazzled with the success of a man who was only an instrument in the hands of God to deliver them from their enemies, they wish to throw off the Divine yoke, and shackle themselves with an unlimited hereditary monarchy!

    Everything gathered on Judges 8:22→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Judges 8:23

    But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you.”

    ›Commentary on Judges 8:232 voices

    “But Gideon knew too well, and revered too piously the principles of the theocracy, to entertain the proposal for a moment. Personal and family ambition was cheerfully sacrificed to a sense of duty, and every worldly motive was kept in check by a supreme regard to the divine honor. He would willingly act as judge, but the Lord alone was King of Israel.

    “The Lord shall rule over you - Few with such power at their command would have acted as Gideon. His speech calls them back to their first principles, and should have excited in them both shame and contrition. How different is this speech from that of Oliver Cromwell when the commons offered him the crown of England!

    Everything gathered on Judges 8:23→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. 1 Samuel 11:12

    Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 11:122 voices

    “The calm and sagacious counsel of Samuel directed the popular feelings into a right channel, by appointing a general assembly of the militia, the really effective force of the nation, at Gilgal, where, amid great pomp and religious solemnities, the victorious leader was confirmed in his kingdom [1Sa 11:15].

    “15. For the Lord had said above to Samuel: They have not rejected you, but me, that I should not reign over them (1 Kings VIII, 7). But of Saul it was said a little before: Because they despised him, and did not bring him gifts (Ibid., X, 27). But he who was rejected, and he who was despised, after the enemies had been slain and victory obtained, heard the people crying out: Give us the men, and we will kill them.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 11:12→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 1 Samuel 11:13

    But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 11:132 voices

    “The calm and sagacious counsel of Samuel directed the popular feelings into a right channel, by appointing a general assembly of the militia, the really effective force of the nation, at Gilgal, where, amid great pomp and religious solemnities, the victorious leader was confirmed in his kingdom [1Sa 11:15].

    “15. For the Lord had said above to Samuel: They have not rejected you, but me, that I should not reign over them (1 Kings VIII, 7). But of Saul it was said a little before: Because they despised him, and did not bring him gifts (Ibid., X, 27). But he who was rejected, and he who was despised, after the enemies had been slain and victory obtained, heard the people crying out: Give us the men, and we will kill them.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 11:13→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. 1 Samuel 23:17

    saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:172 voices

    “Next to thee - Which he gathered either from David's generosity, and friendship to him; or from some promise made to him by David concerning it. So that the whole imports thus much;

    “This, he tells him, Saul knew very well, Jonathan having sometimes heard him say as much, whence it appears what a wicked man Saul was, to persecute one whom God favoured, and what a foolish man he was, in thinking to prevent that which God had determined and which would certainly come to pass.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 23:17→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. 1 Samuel 23:18

    So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:181 voice

    “Our covenant with God should be often renewed, and therein our communion with him kept up. David and Jonathan now parted, and never came together again, that we find, in this world; for Jonathan said what he wished, not what he had ground to expect, when he promised himself that he should be next to David in his kingdom.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 23:18→

    Verse page →Original language →