Watchman

How Nave’s arranged it

• (A sentinel)
• On the walls of cities So 3:3; 5:7
• Of Jerusalem2 Samuel 13:342 Samuel 18:242 Samuel 18:25Nehemiah 4:9Nehemiah 7:3Isaiah 52:8Isaiah 62:6
• Of BabylonJeremiah 51:12
• On towers2 Kings 9:172 Chronicles 20:24Isaiah 21:5–12Jeremiah 31:6
• At the gates of the temple2 Kings 11:62 Kings 11:7
• Alarm of, given by trumpetsEzekiel 33:3–6
• Unfaithfulness in the discharge of duty of, punished by deathEzekiel 33:6Matthew 28:14Acts 12:19

The passages, in Bible order (18)

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. 2 Samuel 13:34

   Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him, along the side of the hill. And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.”

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 13:341 voice

   “Absalom fled - This is the sequel to 2Sa 13:29. The king’s sons rose from table and fled, and Absalom taking advantage of the confusion, also escaped and fled. This information is inserted here to account for the king’s sons returning unmolested.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 13:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. 2 Samuel 18:24

   Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:241 voice

   “David sat between the two gates - He was probably in the seat of justice. Before the gate of the city it is supposed there was an enclosure, which had its gate also; David sat in the space between these two doors. Over the larger gate there appears to have been a turret, on which a sentinel or watchman stood continually, and gave information of what he saw in the country.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 18:24→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 2 Samuel 18:25

   So he called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near,

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:251 voice

   “If he be alone, there is tidings - That is, good tidings. For if the battle had been lost men would have been running in different directions through the country.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 18:25→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. 2 Kings 9:17

   Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”

   ›Commentary on 2 Kings 9:171 voice

   “A watchman on the tower - These watchmen, fixed on elevated places and generally within hearing of each other, served as a kind of telegraphs, to communicate intelligence through the whole country. But, in some cases, it appears that the intelligence was conveyed by a horseman to the next stage, as in the case before us. At this time, when the armies were at Ramoth-gilead, they were, no doubt, doubly watchful to observe the state of the country, and to notice every movement. See on 2Sa 13:34 (note).

   Everything gathered on 2 Kings 9:17→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. 2 Kings 11:6

   a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple—

   Verse page →Original language →

6. 2 Kings 11:7

   the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king.

   Verse page →Original language →

7. 2 Chronicles 20:24

   When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

   ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20:242 voices

   “When Judah came towards the watch tower in the wilderness,.... Which might stand upon the hill or cliff of Ziz, for the sake of the direction of travellers, and the preservation of them from thieves and robbers: they looked unto the multitude; which they could take a view of from the top of the hill: and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped; all to a man slain, there was not one to be seen standing on his feet.

   “The march of Judah from Jerusalem would take five or six hours. By the time they reached the watch-towers in the wilderness of Jeruel all was over.

   Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 20:24→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Nehemiah 4:9

   So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

   ›Commentary on Nehemiah 4:91 voice

   “Because of them - Or, “over against them,” i. e. opposite to the place where they were encamped, probably on the north side of the city.

   Everything gathered on Nehemiah 4:9→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Nehemiah 7:3

   And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.”

   ›Commentary on Nehemiah 7:31 voice

   “Until the sun be hot - The meaning of this is, the gates were not to be opened before sunrise, and always shut at sunset. This is the custom to the present day in many of the cities of the East if a traveler arrives after sunset, he finds the gates shut; and on no consideration will they open them till the next morning, so that those who come late are obliged to lodge in the plain, or under the walls.

   Everything gathered on Nehemiah 7:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Isaiah 21:5–12

    They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 21:5–122 voices

    “(Vers. 4, 5.) I fell down when I heard, I was troubled when I saw: my heart grew faint, darkness overwhelmed me: Babylon, my beloved, has become a wonder to me. Set the table, watch those who eat and drink: rise up, princes, take the shield. LXX: I acted unjustly so that I would not hear, I hastened so that I would not see, my heart went astray: iniquity has flooded over me; my soul is filled with fear. Set the table, watch the watchtower: eat, drink: rise up, princes, prepare the shields.

    “Prepare the table - This verse is one of the most striking and remarkable that occurs in this prophecy, or indeed in any part of Isaiah. It is language supposed to be spoken in Babylon. The first direction - perhaps supposed to be that of the king - is to prepare the table for the feast. Then follows a direction to set a watch - to make the city safe, so that they might revel without fear.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 21:5–12→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Isaiah 52:8

    Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 52:82 voices

    “(Verses 7, 8.) How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good news, who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.' The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. LXX: As the hour over the mountains, so the feet of the messenger who hears the message of peace, who hears the message of good news, for I will make my salvation heard, saying, 'Zion, your God reigns.'

    “Thy watchmen lift up the voice “All thy watchmen lift up their voice” - There is a difficulty in the construction of this place which, I think, none of the ancient versions or modern interpreters have cleared up satisfactorily. Rendered word for word it stands thus: “The voice of thy watchmen: they lift up their voice.” The sense of the first member, considered as elliptical, is variously supplied by various expositors; by none, as it seems to me, in any way that is easy and natural.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 52:8→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Isaiah 62:6

    On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves,

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 62:62 voices

    “(Verse 6, 7.) I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who shall never hold their peace day or night: you who make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. LXX: And upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen, who shall never hold their peace day or night, remembering the Lord: there is no one like you, if he corrects you, and he will make Jerusalem rejoice upon the earth.

    “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem,.... Not angels, as Jarchi; nor kings, as Kimchi; nor princes and civil magistrates, as others; nor the mourners in Zion, as Aben Ezra; but ministers of the Gospel; as the prophets of the Old Testament are called watch men, Isa 21:11, so ministers of the New, Isa 52:8 who are to watch in all things over themselves, and for the souls of men; for their good, and to guard them against that which is evil, pernicious, and dangerous, both in principle and practice, 2Ti 4:

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 62:6→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Jeremiah 31:6

    For there will be a day when watchmen will call out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Arise, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God!’”

    ›Commentary on Jeremiah 31:61 voice

    “For there shall be a day - Literally, for this is the day, or the day is come. The watchmen - the prophets. Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion - Let both Israelites and Jews join together in the worship of the Lord.

    Everything gathered on Jeremiah 31:6→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. Jeremiah 51:12

    Raise a banner against the walls of Babylon; post the guard; station the watchmen; prepare the ambush. For the LORD has both devised and accomplished what He spoke against the people of Babylon.

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Ezekiel 33:3–6

    and he sees the sword coming against that land and blows the ram’s horn to warn the people.

    ›Commentary on Ezekiel 33:3–61 voice

    “The substance of this we had before, ch. iii. He must let them know upon what terms they stand with God, that they are upon their trial, upon their good behaviour, that if a wicked man repent he shall not perish, but that if a righteous man apostatize he shall perish,

    Everything gathered on Ezekiel 33:3–6→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Ezekiel 33:6

    But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’

    ›Commentary on Ezekiel 33:61 voice

    “The substance of this we had before, ch. iii. He must let them know upon what terms they stand with God, that they are upon their trial, upon their good behaviour, that if a wicked man repent he shall not perish, but that if a righteous man apostatize he shall perish,

    Everything gathered on Ezekiel 33:6→

    Verse page →Original language →