Bible Commentaries

Genesis 13:7 — afraid of doing anything that might tend to injure its character or bring discredit on its name, and he rightly judged that such unhappy effects would be produced if two persons whom nature and grace had so closely connected should come to a rupture [Genesis 13:8]. Waiving his right to dictate, he gave the freedom of choice to Lot. The conduct of Abraham was not only disinterested and peaceable, but generous and condescending in an extraordinary degree, exemplifying the Scripture precepts (Matthew

Genesis 43:2 — 2. their father said, . . . Go again, buy us a little food—It was no easy matter to bring Jacob to agree to the only conditions on which his sons could return to Egypt (Genesis 42:15). The necessity of immediately procuring fresh supplies for the maintenance of themselves and their families overcame every other consideration and extorted his consent to Benjamin joining in a journey, which his sons entered on with mingled

1 Chronicles 1:37 — in the modern tribes of Arabia. But it is unnecessary to mention any more of these obscure nomads, except to notice that Jobab (1 Chronicles 1:44), one of the kings of Edom, is considered to be Job, and that his seat was in the royal city of Dinahab (Genesis 36:32; 1 Chronicles 1:43), identified with O'Daeb, a well-known town in the center of Al Dahna, a great northern desert in the direction of Chaldea and the Euphrates [FORSTER].

1 Chronicles 21:5 — stationed on the Philistine frontier (2 Samuel 6:1). So large a population at this early period, considering the limited extent of the country and comparing it with the earlier census (2 Samuel 6:1- :), is a striking proof of the fulfilment of the promise (Genesis 15:5).

Job 1:7 — fro—rather, "hurrying rapidly to and fro." The original idea in Arabic is the heat of haste (Matthew 12:43; 1 Peter 5:8). Satan seems to have had some peculiar connection with this earth. Perhaps he was formerly its ruler under God. Man succeeded to the vice royalty (Genesis 1:26; Psalms 8:6). Man then lost it and Satan became prince of this world. The Son of man (Psalms 8:6- :) —the representative man, regains the forfeited inheritance (Revelation 11:15). Satan's replies are characteristically curt and short. When

Job 14:15 — 15. namely, at the resurrection (John 5:28; Psalms 17:15). have a desire to—literally, "become pale with anxious desire:" the same word is translated "sore longedst after" (Genesis 31:30; Psalms 84:2), implying the utter unlikelihood that God would leave in oblivion the "creature of His own hands so fearfully and wonderfully made." It is objected that if Job knew of a future retribution, he would make it the leading topic

Isaiah 10:28 — 28-32. Onward gradual march of Sennacherib's army towards Jerusalem, and the panic of the inhabitants vividly pictured before the eyes. come to—come upon as a sudden invader (Genesis 34:27). Aiath—same as Ai (Joshua 7:2; Nehemiah 7:32). In the north of Benjamin; so the other towns also; all on the line of march to Jerusalem. Michmash—nine miles northeast of Jerusalem. laid up . . . carriages—He has left his heavier baggage

Isaiah 23:12 — in kind (see on Isaiah 23:2). But VITRINGA refers it to the calamities which befell the Tyrians in their settlements subsequently, namely, Sicily, Corcyra, Carthage, and Spain, all flowing from the original curse of Noah against the posterity of Canaan (Genesis 9:25-27).

Ezekiel 27:15 — 15. Dedan—near the Persian Sea: thus an avenue to the commerce of India. Not the Dedan in Arabia (Ezekiel 27:20), as the names in the context here prove, but the Dedan sprung from Cush [BOCHART], (Genesis 10:7). merchandise of thine hand—that is, were dependent on thee for trade [FAIRBAIRN]; came to buy the produce of thy hands [GROTIUS]. a present—literally, "a reward in return"; a price paid for merchandise. horns of ivory—Ivory is so termed

Amos 3:7 — 7. his secret—namely, His purpose hidden from all, until it is revealed to His prophets (compare Genesis 18:17). In a wider sense, God's will is revealed to all who love God, which it is not to the world (Psalms 25:14; John 15:15; John 17:25; John 17:26). unto his servants—who being servants cannot but obey their Lord in setting forth His purpose

Amos 5:21 — conjunction express God's strong abhorrence. your feast days—yours; not Mine; I do not acknowledge them: unlike those in Judah, yours are of human, not divine institution. I will not smell—that is, I will take no delight in the sacrifices offered (Genesis 8:21; Leviticus 26:31). in your solemn assemblies—literally, "days of restraint." Leviticus 26:31- : is parallel. Isaiah is fuller; Amos, more condensed. Amos condemns Israel not only on the ground of their thinking to satisfy God by sacrifices

Matthew 1:1 — 1. The book of the generation—an expression purely Jewish; meaning, "table of the genealogy." In Genesis 5:1 the same expression occurs in this sense. We have here, then, the title, not of this whole Gospel of Matthew, but only of the first seventeen verses. of Jesus Christ—For the meaning of these glorious words, see on Genesis 5:1- :; Matthew

Acts 17:26 — 26, 27. and hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth—Holding with the Old Testament teaching, that in the blood is the life (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 12:23), the apostle sees this life stream of the whole human race to be one, flowing from one source [BAUMGARTEN]. and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation—The apostle

1 Corinthians 11:5 — her: in putting away the veil, she puts away the badge of her subjection to man, which is her true "honor"; for through him it connects her with Christ, the head of the man. Moreover, as the head-covering was the emblem of maiden modesty before man (Genesis 24:65), and conjugal chastity (Genesis 20:16); so, to uncover the head indicated withdrawal from the power of the husband, whence a suspected wife had her head uncovered by the priest (Numbers 5:18). ALFORD takes "her head" to be man, her symbolical,

Colossians 3:12 — the sanctified, feeling God's love, imitate it [BENGEL]. bowels of mercies—Some of the oldest manuscripts read singular, "mercy." Bowels express the yearning compassion, which has its seat in the heart, and which we feel to act on our inward parts (Genesis 43:30; Jeremiah 31:20; Luke 1:78, Margin). humbleness of mind—True "lowliness of mind"; not the mock "humility" of the false teachers (Colossians 2:23; Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 4:32).

Hebrews 11:3 — 3. we understand—We perceive with our spiritual intelligence the fact of the world's creation by God, though we see neither Him nor the act of creation as described in Genesis 1:1-31. The natural world could not, without revelation, teach us this truth, though it confirms the truth when apprehended by faith (Genesis 1:1-1.1.31- :). Adam is passed over in silence here as to his faith, perhaps as being the first who fell

Hebrews 11:40 — 40. provided—with divine forethought from eternity (compare Genesis 22:8; Genesis 22:14). some better thing for us— (Hebrews 7:19); than they had here. They had not in this world, "apart from us" (so the Greek is for "without us," that is, they had to wait for us for), the clear revelation of the promised salvation

Hebrews 13:5 — lucre follow one another as closely akin, both alienating the heart from the Creator to the creature. such things as ye have—literally, "present things" ( :-). I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee—A promise tantamount to this was given to Jacob (Genesis 28:15), to Israel (Deuteronomy 31:6; Deuteronomy 31:8), to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:8- :), to Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:20). It is therefore like a divine adage. What was said to them, extends also to us. He will neither withdraw His presence ("never leave

Hebrews 7:14 — indisputable; a proof that whatever difficulties may now appear, then Jesus Christ's genealogy labored under none. our Lord—the only place where this now common title occurs without "Jesus," or "Christ," except :-. sprang—as a plant, and a branch. Judah— Genesis 49:10; Luke 1:27; Luke 1:39 (Hebron of Judah, where LIGHTFOOT thinks Jesus was conceived) Luke 2:4; Luke 2:5; Revelation 5:5. of which tribe . . . priesthood—"in respect to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests" (so the oldest manuscripts

Revelation 19:2 — corrupt" continually. "Instead of opposing and lessening, she promoted the sinful life and decay of the world by her own earthliness, allowing the salt to lose its savor" [AUBERLEN]. avenged—Greek, "exacted in retribution." A particular application of the principle (Genesis 9:5). blood of his servants—literally shed by the Old Testament adulterous Church, and by the New Testament apostate Church; also virtually, though not literally, by all who, though called Christians, hate their brother, or love not the brethren