Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 2:22 — remained widows for the rest of their lives, or became the wives of the deceased king’s successor. When a monarch was murdered, or dethroned, or succeeded by one whose title was doubtful, the latter alternative was almost always adopted (compare 2 Samuel 12:8; 2 Samuel 16:22). Public opinion so closely connected the title to the crown and the possession of the deceased monarch’s wives, that to have granted Adonijah’s request would have been the strongest encouragement to his pretensions. Solomon, seeing

1 Kings 21:10 — Sons of Belial - i. e., “worthless persons” (Deuteronomy 13:13 note). Witnesses must be two in number according to the Law Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15.The word rendered “blaspheme” is that which commonly means “bless.” The opposite sense of “cursing,” seems, however, to be required here

2 Kings 25:18 — those who by their offices would be likely to have had most authority - the high priest; the second priest (2 Kings 23:4 note); three of the temple Levites; the commandant of the city; five members of the king’s Privy Council (or seven, see 2 Kings 25:19 note); and the secretary (or adjutant) of the captain of the host. To these he added sixty others, who were accounted “princes.” Compared with the many occasions on which Assyrian and Persian conquerers put to death hundreds or thousands after taking

Psalms 119:116 — in the trials and the temptations of life. Help me to bear afflictions without sinking under them; to meet temptations without yielding to them; to encounter opposition from the enemies of religion without being overcome.According unto thy word - (1) According to the requirements of thy word - that I may be conformed to them;(2) according to the promises of thy word - that they may be verified in me.That I may live - That my life may not be cut off by my foes, and that I may not sink under my burdens.And

Psalms 138:8 — then fail to fulfill his promise. He will not encourage me, and then cast me off. So of us. He will complete what he begins. He will not convert a soul, and then leave it to perish. “Grace will complete what grace begins.” See the notes at Philippians 1:6.Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever - See the notes at Psalms 136:1.Forsake not the works of thine own hands - What thou hast made; what thou hast begun to do. Do not leave me to perish. Prayer is one of the means - and an essential means - by which

Psalms 37:24 — not always successful, but who finds disappointment spring up in his path.He shall not be utterly cast down - The word used here - טול ṭûl - means to “throw down at full length, to prostrate;” then, “to cast out, to throw away.” Compare Isaiah 22:17; Jeremiah 16:13; Jeremiah 22:26; Jonah 1:5, Jonah 1:15. Here it means that he would not be “utterly” and “finally” prostrated; he would not fall so that he could not rise again. The calamity would be temporary, and there would be ultimate prosperity.For

Psalms 41:11 — his prayer would be answered, and that he would be restored to health. How he had this assurance we are not informed, but it seems most probable that it was by an intimation conveyed to his mind by God himself. Compare, for a similar case, Philippians 1:25. See the notes at that passage.That thou favorest me - That thou dost delight in me; that thou art my friend.Because mine enemy doth not triumph over me - The word here rendered triumph properly means to shout, or to make a noise. As a sign of exultation,

Psalms 43:4 — Then will I go unto the altar of God - The altar on Mount Zion, where sacrifices were offered: 2 Samuel 6:17. The meaning is, that he would again unite with others in the public and customary worship of God. Compare the notes at Psalms 42:4.Unto God - Into the immediate presence of God; the place where he was worshipped.My exceeding joy - Margin, the gladness

Psalms 5:5 — urging the fact that they “had” such a character as a reason why God should hear him, and deliver him. The word “foolish” here, הוללים hôleliym, is used to denote the wicked, under the common idea in the Scriptures that sin is folly. Compare Psalms 14:1. It is rendered by Prof. Alexander, “the proud” or “insolent.” The Aramaic renders it “deriders;” Latin Vulgate: “unjust;” Septuagint “transgressors;” Gesenius, Lexicon, “proud.” So DeWette. The common idea, however, is the correct one, referring

Psalms 59:17 — Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing - The source of strength to me; the real strength by which I have obtained deliverance is in thee. See the notes at Psalms 18:1.For God is my defense - See the notes at Psalms 59:9.And the God of my mercy - The God who has showed mercy to me; he from whom all these favors have sprung. Whatever means might be used to secure his own safety (compare 1 Samuel 19:12 ff) still

Psalms 90:6 — strong, healthy, vigorous, hopeful, in the morning, are at night pale, cold, and speechless in death! How striking is this as an emblem of man in general: so soon cut down; so soon numbered with the dead. Compare the notes at Isaiah 40:6-8; notes at 1 Peter 1:24-25.

Psalms 98:3 — He hath remembered his mercy - Compare the notes at Luke 1:54-55 (note), Luke 1:72 (note), where this passage in the Psalms was not improbably referred to by Mary and Zacharias. The idea is, that God had called to mind his promise of mercy to his people; that he had not suffered it to pass out of his recollection;

Song of Solomon 4:8 — shalt look around (or wander forth) from the height (literally “head”) of Amana, from the height of Shenir and Hermon, from dens of lions, from mountain-haunts of leopards. It is evidently a solemn invitation from the king in the sense of Psalms 45:10-11. Four peaks in the same mountain-system are here named as a poetical periphrasis for northern Palestine, the region in which is situated the native home of the bride. (1) Amana (or Abana, 2 Kings 5:12), that part of the Anti-libanus which overlooks

Isaiah 8:11 — Margin, ‘With strength of hand.’ That is, when the hand of God urged me. A strong prophetic impulse is often represented as being produced by God’s laying his hand on the prophet; or by his being thus, as it were, urged or impelled to it; Ezekiel 3:14 : ‘The hand of Jehovah was strong upon me;’ 2 Kings 3:15 : ‘And it came to pass, that when the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came upon him;’ Jeremiah 20:7 : ‘O Lord, thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed;’ see also Ecclesiastes 2:24;

Ezekiel 11:10 — En la frontera de Israel - Hamath era la frontera norte de Israel (referencia de margen). En Riblah en Hamat, el rey de Babilonia juzgó y condenó a Sedequías y a los príncipes de Judá Jeremias 52:9-1.

Daniel 1:18 — Ahora al final de los días ... - Después de tres años. Ver Daniel 1:5. El príncipe de los eunucos los trajo - Daniel, sus tres amigos y los otros que habían sido seleccionados y entrenados para el mismo propósito.

John 7:30 — Luego buscaron llevarlo - Los gobernantes y sus amigos. Hicieron esto: 1.Debido a su reprensión; y, 2. Por profesar ser el Mesías. Su hora - El momento apropiado y el tiempo señalado para su muerte. Ver Mateo 21:46.

Joshua 11:8 — One portion of the defeated host fled north-westward toward Zidon; the other northeastward up the Ard el Huleh.Zidon, as the metropolis of various subject towns and territories, appears Joshua 19:28 to have been afterward assigned to Asher, but was not, in fact, conquered by that tribe Judges 1:31. It is mentioned in Egyptian papyri of great antiquity, and by Homer, and was in the most ancient times the capital of Phoenicia. In later times

Joshua 9:17 — Jerusalem on the road to Jaffa (and by Conder with Soba). The town was numbered among those belonging to Judah, and was in the northern boundary of that tribe. Beyond this city the six hundred Danites encamped on their famous expedition to Laish Judges 18:12. Kirjath-jearim was also, and probably before the Israelite conquests exclusively, called Baalah and Kirjath-baal Joshua 15:9, Joshua 15:60, names which seem to point to its early sanctity as a special seat of Baal-worship. To this place also the

1 Samuel 17:4 — camps:” i. e., one who did not fight in the ranks like an ordinary soldier, but came forth into the space between the hostile camps to challenge the mightiest man of his enemies to come and fight him.Goliath of Gath - One of the places mentioned in Joshua 11:22 as still retaining a remnant of the sons of Anak; Gaza and Ashdod being the others. The race of giants (the Rephaim, from רפא râphâ' ) is mentioned again in the account of David’s Philistine wars 2 Samuel 21:15-22; 1 Chronicles 20:4-8. It appears