Bible Commentaries

Genesis 21:22 — 22. Abimelech and Phichol—Here a proof of the promise (Genesis 12:2) being fulfilled, in a native prince wishing to form a solemn league with Abraham. The proposal was reasonable, and agreed to [Genesis 12:2- :].

Job 19:3 — 3. These—prefixed emphatically to numbers (Genesis 27:36). ten—that is, often (Genesis 27:36- :). make yourselves strange—rather, "stun me" [GESENIUS]. (See Margin for a different meaning [that is, "harden yourselves against me"]).

Job 26:10 — light and darkness. When the light falls on our horizon, the other hemisphere is dark. UMBREIT and MAURER translate "He has most perfectly (literally, to perfection) drawn the bound (taken from the first clause) between light and darkness" (compare Genesis 1:4 Genesis 1:6; Genesis 1:9): where the bounding of the light from darkness is similarly brought into proximity with the bounding of the waters.

Psalms 14:1 — 1. Sinners are termed "fools," because they think and act contrary to right reason (Genesis 34:7; Joshua 7:15; Psalms 39:8; Psalms 74:18; Psalms 74:22). in his heart—to himself (Genesis 6:12).

Psalms 50:5 — 5. my saints— ( :-). made—literally, "cut" a covenant, c.—alluding to the dividing of a victim of sacrifice, by which covenants were ratified, the parties passing between the divided portions (compare Genesis 15:10 Genesis 15:18).

Psalms 72:17 — 17. His name—or, "glorious perfections." as long as the sun—(Compare Psalms 72:5). men shall be blessed— (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18).

Proverbs 23:33 — 33, 34. The moral effects: it inflames passion (Genesis 19:31; Genesis 19:35), lays open the heart, produces insensibility to the greatest dangers, and debars from reformation, under the severest sufferings.

Proverbs 3:18 — 18. Wisdom allegorized as a tree of life— (Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22) whose fruit preserves life, gives all that makes living a blessing.

Isaiah 10:9 — 9. Is not . . . as—Was there any one of these cities able to withstand me? Not one. So Rab-shakeh vaunts (Isaiah 36:19). Calno—Calneh, built by Nimrod (Genesis 10:10), once his capital, on the Tigris. Carchemish—Circesium, on the Euphrates. Taken afterwards by Necho, king of Egypt; and retaken by Nebuchadnezzar: by the Euphrates (Genesis 10:10- :). Hamath—in Syria, north of Canaan (Genesis 10:18).

Isaiah 43:26 — 26. Put me in remembrance—Remind Me of every plea which thou hast to urge before Me in thy defense. Image from a trial (Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 41:1). Our strongest plea is to remind God of His own promises. So Jacob did at Mahanaim and Peniel (Genesis 32:9; Genesis 32:12). God, then, instead of "pleading against us with His great power," "will put His strength" in us (Genesis 32:12- :); we thus become "the Lord's remembrancers" (Isaiah 62:6, Margin). "Declare God's righteousness" vindicated

Isaiah 5:19 — 19. work—vengeance ( :-). Language of defiance to God. So Lamech's boast of impunity (Genesis 4:23; Genesis 4:24; compare Jeremiah 17:15; 2 Peter 3:3; 2 Peter 3:4). counsel—God's threatened purpose to punish.

Isaiah 60:6 — dromedaries—They have one hunch on the back, whereas the camel has two: distinguished for swiftness (Isaiah 30:6- :). Midian—east of the Elanitic branch of the Red Sea, and stretching northward along Mount Seir. Associated with the Ishmaelites in traffic (Genesis 37:25; Genesis 37:28). Ephah—part of Midian, east of the Dead Sea. It abounded in camels (Genesis 37:28- :). Sheba—in Arabia-Felix, famed for frankincense and gold (Psalms 72:15; Jeremiah 6:20), which they traded in (Isaiah 45:14; Job 6:19; Ezekiel

Isaiah 65:25 — 25. (See on :-). and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock—(See on :-). and dust—rather, "but dust," c. The curse shall remain on the serpent [HORSLEY], (Genesis 3:14 Micah 7:17). "To lick the dust" is figurative of the utter and perpetual degradation of Satan and his emissaries (Isaiah 49:23; Psalms 72:9). Satan fell self-tempted; therefore no atonement was contrived for him, as there was for man, who

Daniel 1:17 — 3:12; Job 32:8; James 1:5; James 1:17). Daniel had understanding in . . . dreams—God thus made one of the despised covenant-people eclipse the Chaldean sages in the very science on which they most prided themselves. So Joseph in the court of Pharaoh (Genesis 40:5; Genesis 41:1-8). Daniel, in these praises of his own "understanding," speaks not through vanity, but by the direction of God, as one transported out of himself. See my Genesis 41:1-1.41.8- : "CONTENTS OF THE BOOK."

Malachi 2:14 — 14. Wherefore?—Why does God reject our offerings? Lord . . . witness between thee and . . . wife—(so Genesis 31:49; Genesis 31:50). of thy youth—The Jews still marry very young, the husband often being but thirteen years of age, the wife younger (Proverbs 5:18; Isaiah 54:6). wife of thy covenant—not merely joined to thee by the marriage covenant

Deuteronomy 1:10 — 10. ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude—This was neither an Oriental hyperbole nor a mere empty boast. Abraham was told (Genesis 15:5; Genesis 15:6) to look to the stars, and though they "appear" innumerable, yet those seen by the naked eye amount, in reality, to no more than three thousand ten in both hemispheres. The Israelites already far exceeded that number, being

1 Corinthians 11:9 — 9. Neither—rather, "For also"; Another argument: The immediate object of woman's creation. "The man was not created for the sake of the woman; but the woman for the sake of the man" (Genesis 2:18; Genesis 2:21; Genesis 2:22). Just as the Church, the bride, is made for Christ; and yet in both the natural and the spiritual creations, the bride, while made for the bridegroom, in fulfilling that end, attains her own true "glory," and

1 Corinthians 13:6 — 6. rejoiceth in the truth—rather, "rejoiceth with the truth." Exults not at the perpetration of iniquity (unrighteousness) by others (compare Genesis 9:22; Genesis 9:23), but rejoices when the truth rejoices; sympathizes with it in its triumphs (Genesis 9:23- :). See the opposite (2 Timothy 3:8), "Resist the truth." So "the truth" and "unrighteousness" are contrasted (2 Timothy 3:8- :). "The

Hebrews 11:5 — 5. Faith was the ground of his pleasing God; and his pleasing God was the ground of his translation. translated— (Genesis 5:22; Genesis 5:24). Implying a sudden removal (the same Greek as in Genesis 5:24- :) from mortality without death to immortality: such a CHANGE as shall pass over the living at Christ's coming (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Corinthians 15:52). had

Judges 8:8 — 8. he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise—a neighboring city, situated also in the territory of Gad, near the Jabbok, and honored with this name by Jacob (Genesis 32:30; Genesis 32:31).