Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 20:18 — This prophecy had two fulfillments, each complementary to the other. Manasseh, Hezekiah’s actual son, was “carried to Babylon” 2 Chronicles 33:11, but did not become a eunuch in the palace. Daniel and others, not his actual sons, but of the royal seed Daniel 1:3, and therefore Hezekiah’s descendants, are thought by some to have literally fulfilled the latter part of the prophecy, being eunuchs in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.

1 Chronicles 27:16-22 — Gad and Asher are omitted from this list of the tribes. Similarly, Dan and Zebulon are omitted from the genealogical survey of the tribes 1 Chr. 4–8. We can only suppose that the lists, as they came down to the writer of Chronicles, were incomplete. The “rulers” or “princes” of the tribes appear to have been the oldest lineal descendants of the patriarchs according to the law of primogeniture.

2 Chronicles 14:8 — The men of Judah served as heavy-armed troops, while the Benjamites were light-armed. Their numbers accord well with those of 2 Chronicles 13:3. As the boundaries of Judah had been enlarged 2 Chronicles 13:19, and as for ten years at least there had been no war 2 Chronicles 14:1, the effective force had naturally increased. It was 400, 000; it is now 580, 000.

Job 29:13 — The blessing of him that was ready to perish ... - Of the man who was falsely accused, and who was in danger of being condemned, or of him who was exposed to death by poverty and want.And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy - By becoming her patron and friend; by vindicating her cause, and saving her from the oppressive exactions of others; compare Isaiah 1:17.

Psalms 119:58 — I entreated thy favor - Margin, as in Hebrew, “face.” That is, he prayed that God would lift upon him the light of his countenance; that he would not avert his face from him in anger.With my whole heart - With sincere, undivided affections. See Psalms 119:2, Psalms 119:10, Psalms 119:34; Psalms 9:1.Be merciful unto me according to thy word - See the notes at Psalms 119:41.

Psalms 135:2 — Ye that stand in the house of the Lord - See the notes at Psalms 134:1. That is, those who were appointed to conduct the services of religion, the priests and Levites.In the courts of the house of our God - The areas, or parts assigned for different classes of worshippers around the tabernacle and the temple. See the notes at Matthew 21:12; notes at Psalms 92:13.

Psalms 145:1 — I will extol thee ... - I will lift thee up; I will lift up thy name and praise, so that it may be heard afar.And I will bless thy name forever and ever - I will bless or praise thee. I will do it now; I will do it in all the future. I will do it in time; I will do it in eternity. See the notes at Psalms 30:1.

Psalms 145:10 — All thy works shall praise thee - Or, do praise thee; that is, all thy works show what thou art, and combine in setting forth thy perfections. See the notes at Psalms 19:1.And thy saints shall bless thee - Or, do bless thee. All those who are holy in heaven and on earth, the angels around thy throne, and thy people below, all combine to proclaim thy praise.

Psalms 72:12 — For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth - The sufferer; the down-trodden; the oppressed. See the notes at Psalms 72:4. Compare the notes at Isaiah 61:1.The poor also ... - All who have no protector; all who are exposed to injustice and wrong from others. This is everywhere declared to be the characteristic of the reign of the Messiah. See the notes at Isaiah 11:4.

Proverbs 13:9 — Very beautiful in its poetry is the idea of the light “rejoicing” in its brightness (compare Psalms 19:5; Job 38:7). Note also the distinction between the “light” and the “lamp.” The righteous ones have the true light in them. That which belongs to the wicked is only derived and temporary, and even that shall be extinguished before long. Compare a like distinction in John 1:8; John 5:35.

Proverbs 31:1 — That his mother taught him - Compare Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 6:20. If we refer the chapter to Israelite authorship, we may remember the honor paid to the wisdom of Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah; if it was the honor paid to an Edomite or an Arabian, we may think of the Queen of Sheba, whose love of Wisdom led her to sit at the feet of the son of David.

Proverbs 9:14 — Contrast with Proverbs 9:1, etc. The foolish woman has her house, but it is no stately palace with seven pillars, like the home of Wisdom. No train of maidens wait on her, and invite her guests, but she herself sits at the door, her position as prominent as that of Wisdom, counterfeiting her voice, making the same offer to the same class (compare Proverbs 9:16 with Proverbs 9:4).

Song of Solomon 4:1 — Thou hast doves’ eyes ... - Thine eyes are doves behind thy veil. So also in Song of Solomon 4:3; Song of Solomon 6:7; Isaiah 47:2, “veil” is better than “locks.”That appear from ... - Or, “that couch upon Mount Gilead.” The point of comparison seems to be the multitudinousness of the flocks seen browsing on the verdant slopes of the rich pasture-lands Numbers 32:1; Micah 7:14.

Jeremiah 19:7 — Make void - The verb used here is that from which “bottle” Jeremiah 19:1 is derived, and as it represents the sound made by the water running out, it would be better translated, “pour out.” Jeremiah perhaps carried the bottle to Tophet full of water, the symbol in the East of life Isaiah 35:6; Isaiah 41:18, and at these words emptied it before the assembled elders.

Jeremiah 22:30 — Childless - No child to sit on David’s throne. See 1 Chronicles 3:17 note.Jeconiah was the last king of David’s line. His uncle indeed actually reigned after him, but perished with his sons long before Jeconiah’s death (literally 10): and yet from so dead a trunk, from a family so utterly fallen, that spiritual King came forth whose name is “Yahweh our righteousness” Jeremiah 23:5-6.

Jeremiah 6:15 — They are brought to shame becauseThey have “committed abomination:”Shame nevertheless they feel not;To blush nevertheless they know not;“Therefore they shall fall among” the falling;“At the time” when “I visit them, they shall” stumble,“Saith Yahweh.”The fact is expressed that their conduct was a disgrace to them, though they did not feel it as such. “Abomination” has its usual meaning of idolatry Jeremiah 4:1.

Lamentations 4:2 — The precious sons of Zion - The whole nation was consecrated to God, and formed “a kingdom of priests” Exodus 19:6 : in this respect, a type of the Christian Church 1 Peter 2:5.Comparable to fine gold - literally, “weighed with” solid gold, and so equal to their weight in it. With this is contrasted the hollow pitcher easily broken, and made of materials of no intrinsic value.

Lamentations 4:6 — Rather, “For” the iniquity “of the daughter of my people was greater than” the sin “of Sodom.” The prophet deduces this conclusion from the greatness of Judah’s misery (compare Jeremiah 30:11; see also Luke 13:1-5).No hands stayed on her - Or, “no hands were round about her.” Sodom’s sufferings in dying were brief: there were no starving children, no mothers cooking their offspring for food.

Ezekiel 32:17 — The seventh prophecy against Egypt Ezekiel 32:17-32. A funeral dirge founded on Ezekiel 31:18. The figure is the same as in Isaiah 14:0, where see the notes. In this dirge Pharaoh is especially addressed. The other nations are represented by their kings, the nations’ overthrow being depicted by the king’s body laid low in the grave.The month - i. e., the twelfth (see Ezekiel 32:1).

Ezekiel 41:16 — Galleries - The upper story of the side-chambers was probably built in the form of an open gallery.Over against the door - The rows of the side-chambers extended to the front of the temple, so that they were “over against” the opening, but did not extend so far as the porch.Cieled - Overlaid. Pillars, galleries, narrow windows were overlaid with wood 1 Kings 6:15-16.Were covered - With wood.