Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 14:25 — northern boundary; the “sea of the plain,” or the Dead Sea, is the southern boundary (see the marginal references): here Israel adjoined on Moab. The entire tract east of Jordan had been lost to Israel in the reign of Jehu and that of Jehoahaz 2 Kings 10:33; 2Ki 13:3, 2 Kings 13:25. All this was now recovered: and not only so, but Moab was reduced Amos 6:14, and the Syrians were in their turn forced to submit to the Jews 2 Kings 14:28. The northern conquests were perhaps little less important than

2 Kings 22:3 — the Law and of the Passover (marginal reference, and 2 Kings 23:23), but is not meant to apply to all the various reforms of Josiah as related in 2 Kings 23:4-20. The true chronology of Josiah’s reign is to be learned from 2Ch 34:3-8; 2 Chronicles 35:1. From these places it appear that at least the greater part of his reforms preceded the finding of the Book of the Law. He began them in the 12th year of his reign, at the age of 20, and had accomplishied all, or the greater part, by his 18th year,

Job 22:25 — The margin is the more correct translation. The word is the same which occurs in the previous verse בצר betser, and there rendered “gold.” The word may have the sense of “defense,” as the verb בצר bâtsar is often used with such a reference; Numbers 13:28; Deuteronomy 1:28; Deuteronomy 3:5; Deuteronomy 9:1, et al. The meaning of such places, where the word is applied to walled towns or fortified places, is, that the enemy was, by means of walls, “cut off” from approach. Here, however, the idea of

Psalms 119:63 — shows where the heart is; what the preferences are; what are the tastes; what is the real condition of the soul. We seek our friends in accordance with our tastes and preferences; our love to God is indicated by our love to his friends. Compare Psalms 139:21-22.And of them that keep thy precepts - That obey thy law. On the sentiment here, compare the notes at Psalms 1:1. A man may determine much in regard to his own character by asking himself what is the character of his chosen friends and companions.

Psalms 126:2 — Then was our mouth filled with laughter - Then were we happy; completely happy. See Job 8:21.And our tongue with singing - We expressed our joy in songs - the natural expression of joy. Young converts - those “turned” from sin to God - sing. Their feelings find expression in the songs of Zion. This is natural; this is proper; this will occur

Psalms 139:21 — them, must be understood in the sense that he disapproved of their conduct; that he did not desire to be associated with them; that he wished to avoid their society, and to find his friends among men of a different character. See the notes at Psalms 1:1. Compare Isaiah 5:5.And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? - The expression here - “grieved” - explains the meaning of the word “hate” in the former member of the verse. It is not that hatred which is followed by malignity or ill-will;

Psalms 140:13 — Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name - Unto thee.(1) they will have occasion to do it;(2) they will be disposed to do it.They will not be unmindful of the favors conferred upon them; it will be a characteristic of them that they “will” be thankful.The upright shall dwell in thy presence - They shall

Psalms 25:21 — Let integrity and uprightness preserve me - The word here rendered “integrity” means properly “perfection.” See it explained in the notes at Job 1:1. The language here may refer either:(a) to God - as denoting His perfection and uprightness, and then the psalmist’s prayer would be that He, a righteous God, would keep him; or(b) to his own integrity and uprightness of character, and then the prayer

Psalms 76:4 — the word would properly refer to a luminous or “shining” object - as the sun, the source of light. Hence, it means “shining,” splendid, glorious; and it is thus applied to the Divine Being with reference to his perfections, being like light. Compare 1 John 1:5. The word rendered “excellent,” means exalted, noble, great. These words are applied here to God from the manifestation of his perfections in the case referred to.Than the mountains of prey - The word “prey” as employed here - טרף ṭereph -

Psalms 84:9 — Behold, O God our shield - Our defense, as a shield is a defense in the day of battle. Compare Psalms 5:12, note; Psalms 18:2, note; Psalms 33:20, note. It is an appeal to God as a protector. The psalmist was an exile - a wanderer - and he looked to God as his defense.And look upon the face of thine anointed - Look favorably upon; look with benignity and

Isaiah 15:3 — on the tops of the houses.They shall gird themselves with sackcloth - The common token of mourning; and also worn usually in times of humiliation and fasting. It was one of the outward acts by which they expressed deep sorrow (Genesis 37:34; 2Sa 3:31; 1 Kings 21:27; 2 Kings 19:1; Job 16:15; the note at Isaiah 3:24).On the tops of the houses - The roofs of the houses in the East were, and still are, made flat, and were places of resort for prayer, for promenade, etc. The prophet here says, that all

Isaiah 23:8 — magnificent like princes. The former, however, is probably the meaning.Whose traffickers - (כנעניה kı̂ne‛âneyhâ, Canaanites). As the ancient inhabitants of Canaan were “traffickers or merchants,” the word came to denote merchants in general (see Job 41:6; Ezekiel 17:4; Hosea 12:7; Zephaniah 1:1 l). So the word Chaldean came to mean astrologers, because they were celebrated for astrology.

Isaiah 3:10 — Say ye to the righteous - The meaning of this verse and the following is sufficiently plain, though expositors have given some variety of interpretation. They declare a great principle of the divine administration similar to what is stated in Isaiah 1:19-20. Lowth reads it, ‘Pronounce ye a blessing on the just; verily good (shall be to him).’That it shall be well ... - The word rendered ‘well,’ means ‘good.’ The sense evidently is, that in the divine administration it shall be well to be righteous.

Isaiah 42:7 — their real condition; they are ignorant of God, and of the truths pertaining to their future existence; and they need, therefore, some one who shall enlighten, and sanctify, and save them.To bring out the prisoners from the prison - (Compare Isaiah 61:1-2). This evidently refers to a spiritual deliverance, though the language is derived from deliverance from a prison. It denotes that he would rescue those who were confined in mental darkness by sin; and that their deliverance from the thraldom and

Isaiah 65:2 — I have spread out my hands - To spread out the hands is an action denoting invitation or entreaty Proverbs 1:24. The sense is, that God had invited the Jews constantly to partake of his favors, but they had been rebellious, and had rejected his offers.All the day - I have not ceased to do it. The Chaldee renders this, ‘I sent my prophets all the day to a rebellious

Ezekiel 45:13-17 — shortcomings in these respects Malachi 3:8. This is obviated, and regularity ensured in the new order of things. No mention is made of wine for the drink-offering, or of bullocks for the burnt-offering, so that the enumeration is not complete.Ezekiel 45:14Cor - Translated “measure” in 1 Kings 5:11, ... Here it is a synonym of “homer.”Ezekiel 45:17The people’s gifts were to be placed in the hands of the prince, so as to form a common stock, out of which the prince was to provide what was necessary for

Hosea 5:11 — “commandment,” which “Ephraim willingly went after,” was doubtless that of Jeroboam; “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought you out of the land of Egypt; and Jeroboam ordained a feast unto the children of Israel” 1 Kings 12:28, 1 Kings 12:32-33. Through this “commandment,” Jeroboam earned the dreadful title, “who made Israel to sin.” And Israel “went willingly after it,” for it is said; “This thing became a sin; and the people went to worship before the one, even

Zephaniah 3:3 — enemies, without, destroy her, butHer princes within her - In the very midst of the flock, whom they should in God’s stead “feed with a true heart,” destroy her as they will, having no protection against them. “Her judges are evening wolves” (see Habakkuk 1:8); these who should in the Name of God redress all grievances and wrongs, are themselves like wild beasts, when most driven by famine. “They gnaw not the bones until the morrow or on the morrow” (literally, in the morning). They reserve nothing until

Zechariah 3:3 — Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy - when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion” Isaiah 4:3-4. “There is a generation, pure in its own eyes, and it is not washed from its filthiness” Proverbs 30:12. The same is expressed by different words, signifying pollution, defilement by sin; “Woe unto her that is filthy and polluted” Zephaniah 3:1; “The land was defiled with blood” Psalms 106:38; “they were defiled with their own works”. It is symbolized

Judges 20:1 — technical term for the whole community of the Israelite people. Its occurrence here is an indication of the early date of these transactions.From Dan to Beer-sheba - We cannot safely infer from this expression that the settlement of Dan, recorded in Judges 18:0 had taken place at this time. It only proves that in the writer’s time, from Dan to Beer-sheba was a proverbial expression for all Israel (compare the marginal reference).With the land of Gilead - Meaning all the trans-Jordanic tribes; mentioned