Bible Commentaries

Exodus 23:23 — indeed to be “utterly” destroyed, every trace of their idolatries was to be blotted out, no social contact was to be held with them while they served other gods, nor were alliances of any kind to be formed with them. (See Deuteronomy 7:0; Deuteronomy 12:1-4, Deuteronomy 12:29-31.) But it is alike contrary to the spirit of the divine law, and to the facts bearing on the subject scattered in the history, to suppose that any obstacle was put in the way of well disposed individuals of the denounced nations

1 Kings 10:27 — greatly by the residence of the court, the constant influx of opulent strangers, and the periodical visits of all Israelites not hindered by some urgent reason at the great festivals.The “sycomore-trees in the vale” (Shephelah) are mentioned also in 1 Chronicles 27:28. Like the olives and the vines, they were placed by David under a special overseer, on account of their value. The tree meant seems to be the sycomore proper, or “fig-mulberry,” which is still common in Palestine, and is highly esteemed

1 Kings 12:1 — probably soon risen again, and was once more a chief city, or perhaps “the” chief city, of Ephraim. Its central position made it a convenient place for the general assembly of the tribes, as it had been in the days of Joshua Joshua 8:30-35; Joshua 24:1-28; and this would furnish an additional reason for its selection.

2 Kings 1:2 — wood, which open outward; so that, if the fastening is not properly secured, one who leans against them may easily fall out.Baal-zebub - literally, “Lord (i. e., averter) of flies.” Flies in the East constitute one of the most terrible of plages Psalms 105:31; Exodus 8:24; and Orientals would be as likely to have a “god of flies” as a god of storm fand thunder. To inquire 2 Kings 1:3 of Baal-zebub was practically to deny Yahweh. Ahaziah cast aside the last remnant of respect for the old religion, and

1 Chronicles 21:16 — Here a picture of awful grandeur takes the place of the bare statement of the earlier historian 2 Samuel 24:17. And here, as elsewhere, the author probably extracts from the ancient documents such circumstances as harmonize with his general plan. As the sanctity of the temple was among the points whereon he was most anxious to lay stress, he gives in full all

Leviticus 1:4 — And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering - The usual ceremony. By it the sacrificer identified himself with his victim Leviticus 3:2, Leviticus 3:8; Leviticus 4:15; Leviticus 8:14; Romans 12:1.To make atonement for him - This phrase belongs more especially to the sin-offerings and the trespass-offerings (compare Leviticus 4:20, Leviticus 4:26, Leviticus 4:31, Leviticus 4:35; Leviticus 5:16, Leviticus 5:18; Leviticus

Leviticus 19:31 — The devotion of faith, which would manifest itself in obedience to the commandment to keep God’s Sabbaths and to reverence His sanctuary Leviticus 19:30, is the true preservative against the superstition which is forbidden in this verse. The people whose God was Yahweh were not to indulge those wayward feelings of their human nature which are gratified in magical arts and pretensions. Compare Isaiah

Leviticus 3:16 — Yahweh. Our bodily taste and smell furnish figures of the satisfaction with which the Lord accepts the appointed symbols of the true worship of the heart. All that was sent up in the fire of the altar, including the parts of the sin-offering Leviticus 4:31, as well as the burnt-offering (Leviticus 1:9, etc.), was accepted for “a sweet savour”: but the word food may here have a special fitness in its application to the peace-offering, which served for food also to the priests and the offerer, and so symbolized

Numbers 21:20 — promise. The interest attaching to the spot, and the need of a convenient name for it, has led Christians often to designate it as “Nebo,” rather than as “the mountain of, or near to, Nebo;” but the latter is the more correct: Nebo denoted the town Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:1, Jeremiah 48:22 on the western slope of the ridge.

Numbers 21:4 — The direct route to Moab through the valleys of Edom being closed against them Numbers 20:20-21, they were compelled to turn southward. Their course lay down the Arabah; until, a few hours north of Akaba (Ezion-Geber) the Wady Ithm opened to them a gap in the hostile mountains, allowed them to turn to their left, and to march northward toward

Numbers 24:24 — only one visible from Palestine, and so the representative to Balsam and to Israel of all those unknown western regions across the Mediterranean Sea, from which were at length to come the conquerors of the mighty empires of the East. Compare Isaiah 23:1, Isaiah 23:12; Jeremiah 2:10.Eber - i. e., the descendants of Shem. Of these Asshur was one (compare marginal references), and is here specified by name, since the Assyrians attained, in the empires of Babylon and Nineveh, to an extraordinary grandeur,

Numbers 32:39 — But the renown acquired by his descendants raised his family almost to the dignity of a tribe; and the Machirites are in the next verse styled Machir, just as the children of Judah or of Ephraim are often spoken of as Judah or Ephraim. So in Judges 5:14 Machir is coupled with Ephraim and Zebulun.Went - i. e., “had gone:” the statement is preparatory to the ensuing record of the grant to them of the land they had won.Gilead - More strictly part of north Gilead; which, though inhabited by the Amorites,

Deuteronomy 31:2 — e., discharge my duties among you. There is no inconsistency with Deuteronomy 34:7. Moses here adverts to his own age as likely to render him in future unequal to the active discharge of his office as leader of the people: the writer of Deuteronomy 34:1-12, one of Moses’ contemporaries, remarks of him that up to the close of life “his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated” Deuteronomy 31:7; i. e. that he was to the last, in the judgment of others, in full possession of faculties and strength.

Galatians overview — Introduction to GalatiansSection 1. The Situation of Galatia, and the Character of the PeopleGalatia was a province of Asia Minor, having Pontus on the east. Bithynia and Paphlagonia north, Cappadocia and Phrygia south, and Phrygia west. See the map prefixed to the Acts of the Apostles.

Joshua 10:3 — For Hebron, see Genesis 13:18. Jarmuth, afterward one of the cities of Judah Joshua 15:35, is probably identified with the modern Yarmuk. Lachish was also a city of Judah Joshua 15:39, and, like Jarmuth, occupied by Jews after the captivity, Neh. 11:39. It was fortified by Rehoboam

Judges 15:4 — Foxes - Rather, “jackals,” which are still very common in Palestine, especially about Joppa and Gaza. 1 Samuel 13:17 and Joshua 15:28; Joshua 19:3, are indications of the abundance of foxes or jackals giving names to places, especially in the country of the Phililstines. It belongs to Samson’s character, and agrees with the incident about the lion, that

Judges 18:7 — Laish - Afterward called “Dan” Judges 18:29. The exact site has not been identified, but it was the northern extremity of Israel, near the sources of the Jordan, and about four miles from Panium, or Caesarea-Philippi. It is thought to have stood where the village Tell-el-Kadi now stands.After

Judges 3:31 — of their deliverer having no better weapon enhances his faith, and the power of his divine helper. At the same time it shows how low the men of Judah were brought at this time, being disarmed by their oppressors Judges 5:8, as was also the case later 1 Samuel 13:19.

Jude 1:13 — Las furiosas olas del mar - Comparar 2 Pedro 2:18. Son como las olas salvajes e inquietas del océano. La imagen aquí parece ser, que eran ruidosos y audaces en sus profesiones, y eran tan salvajes e ingobernables en sus pasiones como las olas del mar. Espumando su propia vergüenza - Las olas se

Revelation 3:9 — significado es que, aunque eran de origen judío y se jactaban de ser judíos, estaban realmente bajo la influencia de Satanás, y sus asambleas merecían llamarse su "sinagoga". Y no lo son, pero mienten - Es una profesión totalmente falsa. Compare notas en 1 Juan 1:6. He aquí, haré que vengan y adoren ante tus pies - La palabra traducida "adorar" aquí, significa, propiamente, postrarse por completo; y luego para rendir homenaje, o para adorar en el sentido apropiado, ya que esto se hacía comúnmente al