Bible Commentaries

Genesis 43:16 — 16. ruler of his house—In the houses of wealthy Egyptians one upper man servant was intrusted with the management of the house (compare :-). slay, and make ready—Hebrew, "kill a killing"—implying preparations for a grand entertainment (compare Genesis 31:54; 1 Samuel 25:11; Proverbs 9:2; Matthew 22:4). The animals have to be killed as well as prepared at home. The heat of the climate requires that the cook should take the joints directly from the hands of the flesher, and the Oriental taste

2 Chronicles 3:1 — 1. Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David—These words seem to intimate that the region where the temple was built was previously known by the name of Moriah (Genesis 22:2), and do not afford sufficient evidence for affirming, as has been done [STANLEY], that the name was first given to the mount, in consequence of the vision seen by David. Mount Moriah was one summit of a range of hills which went under the

Job 1:17 — in array three bands" ( :-). RAWLINSON distinguishes three periods: 1. When their seat of empire was in the south, towards the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates. The Chaldean period, from 2300 B.C. to 1500 B.C. In this period was Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:1), the Kudur of Hur or Ur of the Chaldees, in the Assyrian inscriptions, and the conqueror of Syria. 2. From 1500 to 625 B.C., the Assyrian period. 3. From 625 to 538 B.C. (when Cyrus the Persian took Babylon), the Babylonian period. "Chaldees"

Proverbs 30:1 — prophecy—literally, "the burden" (compare Isaiah 13:1; Zechariah 9:1), used for any divine instruction; not necessarily a prediction, which was only a kind of prophecy (1 Chronicles 15:27, "a song"). Prophets were inspired men, who spoke for God to man, or for man to God (Genesis 20:7; Exodus 7:14; Exodus 7:15; Exodus 7:16). Such, also, were the New Testament prophets. In a general sense, Gad, Nathan, and others were such, who were divine teachers, though we do not learn that they ever predicted. the man spake—literally, "the

Ecclesiastes 10:1 — is compounded by the perfumer ("apothecary") for, fragrance. "Flies" answer to "a little folly" (sin), appropriately, being small (2 Chronicles 19:2- :); also, "Beelzebub" means prince of flies. "Ointment" answers to "reputation" (Ecclesiastes 7:1; Genesis 34:30). The verbs are singular, the noun plural, implying that each of the flies causes the stinking savor.

Isaiah 42:3 — 3. bruised—"It pleased the Lord to bruise Him" (Isaiah 53:5; Isaiah 53:10; Genesis 3:15); so He can feel for the bruised. As Genesis 3:15- : described His unturbulent spirit towards His violent enemies (Matthew 12:14-16), and His utter freedom from love of notoriety, so Matthew 12:14-40.12.16- :, His tenderness in cherishing

Jeremiah 51:46 — 46. And lest—Compare, for the same ellipsis, Genesis 3:22; Exodus 13:17; Deuteronomy 8:12. "And in order that your heart may not faint at the (first) rumor" (of war), I will give you some intimation of the time. In the first "year" there shall "come a rumor" that Cyrus is preparing for war against

Lamentations 1:1 — each sentence are better balanced in antithesis, thus, "how is she that was great among the nations become as a widow! (how) she who was princess among the provinces (that is, she who ruled over the surrounding provinces from the Nile to the Euphrates, Genesis 15:18 1 Kings 4:21; 2 Chronicles 9:26; Ezra 4:20) become tributary!" [MAURER]. sit—on the ground; the posture of mourners (Lamentations 2:10; Ezra 9:3). The coin struck on the taking of Jerusalem by Titus, representing Judea as a female sitting solitary

Ezekiel 22:30 — 30. the hedge—the wall (see on Ezekiel 22:1); image for leading the people to repentance. the gap—the breach (Ezekiel 22:1- :); image for interceding between the people and God (Genesis 20:7; Exodus 32:11; Numbers 16:48). I found none— (Numbers 16:48- :) —not that literally there was not a righteous man in the city. For Jeremiah, Baruch, c., were still there but Jeremiah had been forbidden to pray for the people (Numbers 16:48-

Daniel 11:41 — of Antiochus (1 Maccabees 5:1-68). Antitypically, the Turks under Selim entered Jerusalem on their way to Egypt, and retain "the glorious land" of Palestine to this day. But they never could conquer the Arabs, who are akin to Edom, Moab, and Ammon (Genesis 16:12). So in the case of the final Antichrist.

Daniel 7:8 — probably culminate in ONE individual, to be destroyed by Christ's coming; He will be the product of the political world powers, whereas Popery which prepares His way, is a Church become worldly. eyes of man—Eyes express intelligence (Ezekiel 1:18); so (Genesis 3:5) the serpent's promise was, man's "eyes should be opened," if he would but rebel against God. Antichrist shall consummate the self-apotheosis, begun at the fall, high intellectual culture, independent of God. The metals representing Babylon

Daniel 8:23 — Israel's guilt, too, shall then be at the full, when they who rejected Christ shall receive Antichrist; fulfilling Jesus words, "I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive" (compare Genesis 15:16; Matthew 23:32; 1 Thessalonians 2:16). of fierce countenance— (Deuteronomy 28:50); one who will spare neither old nor young. understanding dark sentences—rather, "artifices" [GESENIUS]. Antiochus made himself master of Egypt and Jerusalem

Daniel 9:4 — revelation, now granted, analyzes into its successive parts that which the prophets, in prophetical perspective, heretofore saw together in one namely, the redemption from captivity, and the full Messianic redemption. God's servants, who, like Noah's father (Genesis 5:29), hoped many a time that now the Comforter of their afflictions was at hand, had to wait from age to age, and to view preceding fulfilments only as pledges of the coming of Him whom they so earnestly desired to see (Genesis 5:29- :); as now

Numbers 13:22 — form a bowl round and enclose it. "The children of Anak" mentioned in this verse seem to have been also chiefs of townships; and this coincidence of polity, existing in ages so distant from each other, is remarkable [VERE MONRO]. Hebron (Kirjath Arba, Genesis 23:2) was one of the oldest cities in the world. Zoan—(the Tanis of the Greeks) was situated on one of the eastern branches of the Nile, near the lake Menzala, and was the early royal residence of the Pharaohs. It boasted a higher antiquity

Numbers 35:11 — slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares—The practice of Goelism, that is, of the nearest relation of an individual who was killed being bound to demand satisfaction from the author of his death, existed from a very remote antiquity (Genesis 4:14; Genesis 27:45). It seems to have been an established usage in the age of Moses; and although in a rude and imperfect state of society, it is a natural and intelligible principle of criminal jurisprudence, it is liable to many great abuses;

Jonah 1:9 — 9. I am an Hebrew—He does not say "an Israelite." For this was the name used among themselves; "Hebrew," among foreigners (Genesis 40:15; Exodus 3:18). I fear the Lord—in profession: his practice belied his profession: his profession aggravated his guilt. God . . . which . . . made the sea—appropriately expressed, as accounting for the tempest sent on the sea. The heathen

Zechariah 5:3 — ( :-). cut off—literally, "cleared away." as on this side . . . as on that side—both sides of the roll [VATABLUS]. From this place . . . from this place (repeated twice, as "the house" is repeated in Zechariah 5:4) [MAURER]; so "hence" is used, Genesis 37:17 (or, "on this and on that side," that is, on every side) [HENDERSON]. None can escape, sin where he may: for God from one side to the other shall call all without exception to judgment [CALVIN]. God will not spare even "this place," Jerusalem,

Deuteronomy 19:8 — 8, 9. And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast—Three additional sanctuaries were to be established in the event of their territory extending over the country from Hermon and Gilead to the Euphrates (see Genesis 15:18; Exodus 23:31). But it was obscurely hinted that this last provision would never be carried into effect, as the Israelites would not fulfil the conditions, namely, "that of keeping the commandments, to love the Lord, and walk ever in his ways."

1 Timothy 4:4 — 4, 5. Translate as Greek, "Because" (expressing a reason resting on an objective fact; or, as here, a Scripture quotation)—"For" (a reason resting on something subjective in the writer's mind). every creature . . . good— (Genesis 1:31; Romans 14:14; Romans 14:20). A refutation by anticipation of the Gnostic opposition to creation: the seeds of which were now lurking latently in the Church. Judaism (Acts 10:11-16; 1 Corinthians 10:25; 1 Corinthians 10:26) was the starting-point

Hebrews 4:10 — verse, consist in our being united in one with God, and moulded into conformity with Him as our archetype [CALVIN]. from his own works—even from those that were good and suitable to the time of doing work. Labor was followed by rest even in Paradise (Genesis 2:3; Genesis 2:15). The work and subsequent rest of God are the archetype to which we should be conformed. The argument is: He who once enters rest, rests from labors; but God's people have not yet rested from them, therefore they have not yet entered