Bible Commentaries

Psalms 140 overview — most probably in the time of Saul. The psalm bears every mark of David’s style and spirit; and there can be no doubt that he was the author of it. For the reasons why it may have had a place “here” in the Book of Psalms, see the Introduction to Psalms 138:1-8. On the phrase, “To the chief Musician,” see the Introduction to Psalms 4:1-8.

Psalms 148:4 — Praise him, ye heavens of heavens - Referring to the idea that there is one heaven rising above another. See the notes at Psalms 68:33. See 1 Kings 8:27 : “Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee.” Compare 2 Chronicles 2:6.And ye waters that be above the heavens - Genesis 1:7 : “And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the

Psalms 52:4 — “swallow up” reputation and happiness. Luther, “Thou speakest gladly all things (anything) that will serve to destruction.” Anything, everything, that will serve to ruin people. The word rendered “devouring” - בלע bela‛ - occurs only here and in Jeremiah 51:44, though the verb from which it is derived occurs frequently: Isaiah 28:4; Exodus 7:12; Jonah 2:1 Jon 1:17; Genesis 41:7, Genesis 41:24, et al. The verb means to swallow; and then, to consume or destroy.O thou deceitful tongue - Margin, “and the deceitful

Psalms 88:4 — be reckoned already as among the dead. It is so manifest to others that I must die - that my disease is mortal - that they already speak of me as dead. The word “pit” here means the grave - the same as Sheol in the previous verse. It means properly(1) a pit,(2) a cistern, Genesis 37:20,(3) a prison or dungeon, Isaiah 24:22,(4) the grave, Psalms 28:1; Psalms 30:4; Isaiah 38:18.I am as a man that hath no strength - Who has no power to resist disease, no vigor of constitution remaining; who must die.

Isaiah 62:11 — Behold the Lord hath proclaimed - Proclamation is made to all nations that Yahweh is about to come and rescue his people.Say ye to the daughter of Zion - To Jerusalem (see the notes at Isaiah 1:8).Thy salvation cometh - Lowth renders this, ‘Lo!, thy Saviour cometh.’ So the Vulgate, the Septuagint, the Chaldee, and the Syriac. The Hebrew word properly means salvation, but the reference is to God as the Deliverer or Saviour. The immediate allusion

Jeremiah 9:24 — This is the prophet’s remedy for the healing of the nation. It is the true understanding and knowledge of God, of which the first means the spiritual enlightenment of the mind 1 Corinthians 2:13-14, the other the training of the heart unto obedience John 8:31-32. This knowledge of God is further said to find in Him three chief attributes,(1) “lovingkindness,” i. e., readiness to show grace and mercy;(2) “judgment,” a belief

Malachi 1:1 — that person; another, when we write ‘against’ this or that person; the one being the part of friendship, the other, the open admission of enmity.”“By the hand of Malachi;” through him, as the instrument of God, deposited with him; as Paul speaks of 1 Corinthians 9:17; Titus 1:3, “the dispensation of the Gospel 2 Corinthians 5:19, the Lord of reconciliation; Galatians 2:7, the Gospel of the uncircumcision, being committed to him.”

Matthew 5:45 — That ye may be the children of your Father - In Greek, the sons of your Father. The word “son” has a variety of significations. See the notes at Matthew 1:1. Christians are called the “sons” or “children” of God in several of these senses: as his offspring; as adopted; as his disciples; as imitators of Him. In this passage the word is applied to them because, in doing good to enemies, they resemble God.

Mark 1:32-34 — See the notes at Matthew 8:16-17.And at even, when the sun did set - See the notes at Matthew 8:16.Mark 1:33All the city - A great part of the city. A great multitude from the city.Mark 1:34And suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him - They knew that he was the

Acts 10:3 — He saw in a vision - See the notes on Acts 9:10.Evidently - Openly; manifestly.About the ninth hour - About 3 o’clock p. m. This was the usual hour of evening worship among the Jews.An angel of God - See the notes on Matthew 1:20. Compare Hebrews 1:14. This angel was sent to signify to Cornelius

Acts 22:20 — The blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed - See Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1.I also was standing by - Acts 7:58.And consenting unto his death - Acts 8:1.And kept the raiment - The outer robes or garments, which were usually laid aside when they engaged in running or labor. See Acts 7:58. All this showed that, though Paul was

Romans 9:24 — Even us ... - See Romans 1:16; Romans 2:10; Romans 3:29-30. To prove that the Gentiles might be called as well as the Jews, was a leading design of the Epistle.Us - Christians, selected from both Jews and Gentiles. This proves that he did not refer to nations primarily, but to

1 Corinthians 16:16 — treat them with distinguished respect and honor for what they have done.And to everyone that helpeth with us ... - Everyone who aids us in the ministry, or provides for our needs, etc. It is possible that Stephanas lived among them at this time (Note, 1 Corinthians 1:16), though he had been converted in Achaia; and it is probable that, as Corinth was a central place and a thoroughfare, others might come among them who were the personal friends of Paul, and who had aided him in the ministry. Towards

1 Corinthians 6:6 — But brother ... - One Christian goes to law with another. This is designed as a reproof. This was wrong:Because they ought rather to take wrong and suffer themselves to be injured 1 Corinthians 6:7; Because they might have chosen some persons to settle the matter by arbitration without a formal trial; and, Because the civil constitution would have allowed them to have settled all their differences without a lawsuit. Josephus says

2 Corinthians 9:1 — For as touching the ministering to the saints - In regard to the collection that was to be taken up for the aid of the poor Christians in Judea; see the notes on Romans 15:26; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 8:0.It is superfluous ... - It is needless to urge that matter on you, because I know that you acknowledge the obligation to do it, and have already purposed it.For me to write to you - That is, to write more,

Ephesians 6:23 — Peace be to the brethren - The Epistle is closed with the usual salutations. The expression “peace to you,” was the common form of salutation in the East (see the Matthew 10:13 note; Luke 24:36 note; Romans 15:33 note; compare Galatians 6:16; 1 Peter 5:14; 3 John 1:14), and is still the “salam” which is used - the word “salam” meaning “peace.”And love with faith - Love united with faith; not only desiring that they might

Colossians 4:3 — Withal - With all the supplications which you offer for other persons and things; or at the same time that you pray for them.Praying also for us - Notes, Ephesians 6:19-20; compare 2 Corinthians 1:11; Philippians 1:19; Hebrews 13:18-19.That God would open to us a door of utterance - To preach the gospel. He earnestly desired to have liberty to preach the gospel, and asked them to pray that this might be restored to

2 Timothy 2:10 — Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes; - see the notes at 2 Corinthians 1:6. The sense is, What I suffer is in the cause of the church, spoken of here, as it is often, as chosen, or elected; see the notes at Ephesians 1:4.That they may also obtain the salvation, ... - Their salvation, though they, were elected, could not

2 Timothy 4:7 — I have fought a good fight - The Christian life is often represented as a conflict, or warfare; see the notes on 1 Timothy 6:12. That noble conflict with sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil, Paul now says he had been able to maintain.I have finished my course - The Christian life, too, is often represented as a “race” to be run; compare the notes at 1 Corinthians

2 Samuel 10 overview — On comparing this whole chapter with 2 Samuel 8:3-13; and 1 Chronicles 19:0 with 1 Chronicles 18:0, it seems not improbable that they are two accounts of one and the same war; the former account 2 Samuel 8:3-13 being inserted out of its chronological order. The numbers slain on both occasions, 42,000