Bible Commentaries

Psalms 104:9 — Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over - See Job 26:10, note; Job 38:10-11, note.That they turn not again to cover the earth - As it was before the dry land appeared; or as the earth was when “darkness was upon the face of the deep” Genesis 1:2, and when all was mingled earth and water. It is “possible”

Psalms 106:3 — to illustrate this “by contrast;” that is, by showing, in the conduct of the Hebrew people, the consequences of “disobedience,” and thus impliedly what would have been, and what always must be, the consequences of the opposite course. Compare Psalms 15:1-5.

Psalms 135:4 — claimed among all the people of the earth as especially his own. He had chosen them; he had redeemed them; he had made them his own, and he regarded them with the interest with which anyone looks on his own property, the fruit of his own toil. See Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 32:9; 1 Kings 8:53.

Psalms 136:7 — To him that made great lights - Genesis 1:14. The sun and the moon are here particularly referred to.For his mercy ... - As manifested in all that has followed from the creation and diffusion of light - (all the beauty in the universe as seen; all the life, beauty, and vigor in the vegetable

Psalms 136:8 — The sun to rule by day - Genesis 1:16. Margin, as in Hebrew, for the ruling of the day. That is, to control, as it were, the day; to determine its length - its beginning - its ending - to make it what it is.For his mercy ... - By all the blessings of day as distinguished from night and

Psalms 143:11 — Quicken me, O Lord - Give me life. Compare the notes at Ephesians 2:1. Make me equal to my circumstances, for I am ready to sink and to yield.For thy name’s sake - For thine honor. Compare the notes at Daniel 9:17-18. It is in thy cause. Thou wilt thus show thy power, thy faithfulness, thy goodness. Thou wilt thus get

Psalms 96:3 — Among the nations; the people who are not Hebrews. The meaning is, Let it be proclaimed in all lands, among all people. Let it not be confined to those who are professedly his people, but let it be announced everywhere. This is copied literally from 1 Chronicles 16:24.His wonders among all people - His “marvelous works;” those things which are suited to produce astonishment in the mind. The reference is to those works and doings of God which lie so far beyond the power of any created being, and which

Proverbs 24:27 — i. e., Get an estate into good order before erecting a house on it. To “build a house” may, however, be equivalent (compare Exodus 1:21; Deuteronomy 25:9; Ruth 4:11) to “founding a family;” and the words a warning against a hasty and imprudent marriage. The young man is taught to cultivate his land before he has to bear the burdens of a family. Further, in a spiritual sense, the

Ecclesiastes 6:7-9 — advantage have such laborers above a fool? (None, so far as they are without contentment, for) a thing present before the eyes is preferable to a future which exists only in the desire.”Ecclesiastes 6:8What - literally, what profit (as in Ecclesiastes 1:3).Knoweth ... living - i. e., “Knows how to conduct himself rightly among his contemporaries.”

Isaiah 13:9 — The day of the Lord cometh - See Isaiah 13:6.Cruel - (אכזרי 'akezārı̂y). This does not mean that “God” is cruel, but that the ‘day of Yahweh’ that was coming should be unsparing and destructive to them. It would be the exhibition of “justice,” but not of “cruelty;” and the word stands opposed

Isaiah 37:22 — The virgin, the daughter of Zion - Jerusalem (see the note at Isaiah 1:8; compare the note at Isaiah 23:12). The parallelism in this and the following verses shows that the poetic form of speech is here introduced.Hast despised thee - That is, it is secure from thy contemplated attack. The idea is, that Jerusalem would

Isaiah 37:28 — But I know - The language of God. ‘I am well acquainted with all that pertains to you. You neither go out to war, nor return, nor abide in your capital without my providential direction’ (see the notes at Isaiah 10:5-7).Thy abode - Margin, ‘Sitting.’ Among the Hebrews, sitting down, rising up, and going out, were phrases to describe the whole of a man’s life and actions (compare Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 28:6; 1 Kings 3:7; Psalms 121:8). God here says that

Isaiah 5:23 — refers, doubtless, to magistrates. They gave unjust decisions.For reward - For bribes.And take away the righteousness - That is, they do not decide the cause in favor of those who have just claims, but are determined by a bribe; see the note at Isaiah 1:23. It is remarkable, that this is introduced in immediate connection with their being mighty to mingle strong drink. One effect of intemperance is to make a man ready to be “bribed.” Its effect is seen as clearly in courts of justice, and in the decisions

Isaiah 9:13 — as in many others, such a design had not been accomplished.Unto him that smiteth them - To God, who had punished them.Neither do they seek - They do not seek his protection and favor; they do not worship and honor him.The Lord of hosts - Note, Isaiah 1:9.

Jeremiah 16:1 — In this prophecy Jeremiah 16:1-18, the punishment of the people is set forth in even sterner terms than in the last. The whole land is likened to a desert covered with the bodies of the dead, who lie unbemoaned and uncared for; and the prophet himself is commanded to abstain from

Jeremiah 2:2 — of thine espousals,” thy going “after me in the wilderness” in an unsown land. Jeremiah contrasts the present unfriendly relations between Yahweh and His people with their past love. Israel, as often elsewhere, is represented as a young bride Ezekiel 16:8; Hosea 2:20; Joel 1:8. The walking after God in the wilderness was an act of love on Israel’s part. Israel did leave Egypt at Moses’ bidding, and at Sinai was solemnly espoused to Yahweh.

Jeremiah 4:15 — Dan - The border-town of Palestine on the north Deuteronomy 34:1.Mount Ephraim - The northern boundary of Judaea itself. The invading army presses on so rapidly, that scarcely have the news arrived of its appearance at Dan, before fresh messengers announce that it has traversed the whole length of Galilee, and is

Jeremiah 6:4 — Prepare ye war - Rather, Sanctify ye war against her. War in ancient times was never undertaken without religions solemnities (see Deuteronomy 20:2 note). For some of these compare Ezekiel 21:21-23.At noon - The mid-day heat is so great in the East as to be usually passed under shelter 2 Samuel 4:5; Song of Solomon 1:7. The morning-march of an army was made fasting, and was usually over by eight or nine. But so great is the impatience of

Ezekiel 10:20 — In this departure of the glory of the Lord from the temple, the seer recognizes for the first time the full meaning of the vision which he had seen on the banks of Chebar Ezekiel 1:0. What he had seen there (did indeed imply that Yahweh had forsaken His house; but now this is made clear. The Glory has left the holy of holies, has appeared in the court, has been enthroned on the Living Four, and with them has departed from the

Ezekiel 43:15 — denote, the first a square block (N) placed upon the upper settle, the second a slab (O), the thickness of which is not given, from which rose four horns Exodus 27:2; and to which it seems probable that the victims of sacrifice were at times bound. Psalms 118:27. Why the names Harel and Ariel were used must be conjectural. Mount of God may have been a title naturally given to the place of sacrifice as elsewhere to the place of worship Ezekiel 40:2; Lion of God was a term used for the Holy City itself Isaiah