The valley of craftsmen.] See 1 Chron. iv. 14. Probably this latter town was built in this valley.

Matthew Henry Commentary

--In all ages, men have preferred their own ease and advantage to the public good. Even the professors of religion too commonly seek their own, and not the things of Christ. Few have had such attachment to holy things and holy places, as to renounce pleasure for their sake. Ye surely, our souls should delight to dwell where holy persons an opportunities of spiritual improvement most abound. If we have not thi love to the city of our God, and to every thing that assists ou communion with the Saviour, how shall we be willing to depart hence; to be absent from the body, that we may be present with the Lord? To the carnal-minded, the perfect holiness of the New Jerusalem would be stil harder to bear than the holiness of God's church on earth. Let us see first the favour of God, and his glory; let us study to be patient contented, and useful in our several stations, and wait, with cheerfu hope, for admission into the holy city of God __________________________________________________________________

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