Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 20:38 — Ashes - Rather, “a bandage” (and in 1 Kings 20:41). The object of the wound and bandage was double. Partly, it was to prevent Ahab from recognizing the prophet’s face; partly, to induce him to believe that the man had really been engaged in the recent war.

1 Kings 6:34 — Fir-tree - Rather, juniper (1 Kings 5:6 note). Each door was made in two parts, which folded back one on the other like shutters, by means of hinges. The weight of the doors no doubt made it inconvenient to open the whole door on every occasion.

2 Kings 12:10 — The king’s scribe - Or “secretary” (1 Kings 4:3 note). Such persons are often seen in the Assyrian sculptures, with a roll, apparently of parchment, in one hand and a pen in the other, taking account for the king of the spoil brought in from foreign expeditions.

2 Kings 4:16 — Do not lie - Compare a similar incredulity in Genesis 17:17; Genesis 18:12; Luke 1:20. The expression, “do not lie,” which is harsh to us, accords with the plain, straightforward simplicity of ancient speech. It would not mean more than “deceive” (compare the marginal reference).

1 Chronicles 21:6 — To omit the Levites would be to follow the precedent recorded in Numbers 1:47-49. The omission of Benjamin must he ascribed to a determination on the part of Joab to frustrate the king’s intention, whereby he might hope to avert God’s wrath from the people.

2 Chronicles 13:9 — Seven rams - “A bullock and two rams” was the offering which God had required at the original consecration of the sons of Aaron Exodus 29:1; Leviticus 8:2. Jeroboam, for reasons of his own, enlarged the sacrifice, and required it at the consecration of every priest.

2 Chronicles 20:1 — The present Hebrew (and English) text mentions the Ammonites twice over. Hence, some adopt a different reading and translate “the children of Ammon, and with them certain of the Maonites,” etc. Compare 2 Chronicles 20:10, note; Judges 10:12, note; 1 Chronicles 4:41, note.

2 Chronicles 3:4 — The height was an hundred and twenty cubits - This height, which so much exceeds that of the main building 1 Kings 6:2, is probably to be corrected by the reading of the Arabic Version and the Alexandrian Septuagint, “twenty cubits.” But see 2 Chronicles 3:9.

Psalms 78:16 — He brought streams also out of the rock ... - literally, “flowings.” The waters were poured out in an over-flowing stream. Those streams continued to flow, thus constituting a continued proof of the presence of God. See this fully explained in the notes at 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Daniel 2:1 — And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar - There is an apparent chronological difficulty in this statement which has given some perplexity to expositors. It arises mainly from two sources.(1) That in Jeremiah 25:1, it is said that the first year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar corresponded with the fourth year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and as the captivity was in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim Daniel 1:1, the time here would

Deuteronomy 1:44 — The Amorites - In Numbers 14:45, it is “the Amalekites and the Canaanites” who are said to have discomfited them. The Amorites, as the most powerful nation of Canaan, lend their name here, as in other passages (eg. Deuteronomy 1:7) to the Canaanite tribes generally.

James 3:17 — But the wisdom that is from above - Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:6-7. The wisdom which has a heavenly origin, or which is from God. The man who is characterised by that wisdom will be pure, peaceable, etc. This does not refer to the doctrines of religion, but to its spirit.Is first pure - That is, the

Judges 3:11 — The land - means here, as in Judges 1:2, not the whole land of Canaan, but the part concerned, probably the land of the tribe of Judah. Forty years, here and elsewhere, is (like fourscore years, Judges 3:30) a round number, perhaps equivalent to a generation.

Revelation 11:18 — la tierra; a todos los esfuerzos que se hicieron para destituir a su gobierno y aplastar su iglesia. En este período de triunfo glorioso era natural mirar hacia atrás a aquellos tiempos oscuros cuando las "naciones se enfurecieron" (compárese Salmo 2:1), y cuando la existencia misma de la iglesia estaba en peligro. Y ha venido tu ira - Es decir, el momento en que los castigarás por todo lo que han hecho en oposición a ti, y cuando los impíos serán cortados apagado. Habrá, en el establecimiento del

Revelation 4 overview — Análisis del capítulo Este capítulo Apocalipsis 4:1 comienza adecuadamente la serie de visiones con respecto a eventos futuros, e introduce esas descripciones simbólicas notables que fueron diseñadas para alegrar los corazones de aquellos a quienes se envió el libro por primera vez, en sus pruebas y

1 Samuel 14:2 — Under a pomegranate - Compare 1 Samuel 22:6; Judges 4:5. Saul was at the northern extremity of Gibeah, about an hour’s march from Geba, where Jonathan was.Migron, if the reading is correct, must be a different place from the Migron of Isaiah 10:28.

1 Samuel 15:30 — The pertinacity with which Saul clings to Samuel for support is a striking testimony to Samuel’s integrity. With all his worldly-mindedness Saul could perceive and appreciate the purity of Samuel’s character as a man of God.The Lord thy God - As above, 1 Samuel 15:15.

1 Samuel 28:13 — Gods - אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym is here used in a general sense of a supernatural appearance, either angel or spirit. Hell, or the place of the departed (compare 1 Samuel 28:19; 2 Samuel 12:23) is represented as under the earth Isaiah 14:9-10; Ezekiel 32:18.

1 Samuel 28:8 — Divine - Compare to 1 Samuel 6:2, note; Numbers 23:23, note.Bring me him up - The art of the ventriloquist seems to have been always connected with necromancy. The Greeks had necromancers who called up departed spirits to give answers to those who consulted them.

2 Samuel 15:32 — Render ... “when David was come to the top of the mount where people worship God.” The top here, and in 2 Samuel 16:1, is used almost as a proper name. No doubt there was a high-place upon the top of the Mount of Olives.