Bible Commentaries

Genesis 21:3 — 3, 4. Abraham called the name of his son . . . Isaac . . . and circumcised—God was acknowledged in the name which, by divine command, was given for a memorial (compare Genesis 17:19), and also in the dedication of the child by administering the seal of the covenant (compare Genesis 17:10-12).

Genesis 3:16 — 16. unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow—She was doomed as a wife and mother to suffer pain of body and distress of mind. From being the help meet of man and the partner of his affections [Genesis 2:18; Genesis 2:23], her condition would henceforth be that of humble subjection.

Genesis 47:23 — 23-28. Joseph said, Behold, c.—The lands being sold to the government (Genesis 47:19 Genesis 47:20), seed would be distributed for the first crop after the famine; and the people would occupy them as tenants-at-will on the payment of a produce rent, almost the same rule as obtains in Egypt in the present day.

Job 3:12 — 12. Why did the knees prevent me?—Old English for "anticipate my wants." The reference is to the solemn recognition of a new-born child by the father, who used to place it on his knees as his own, whom he was bound to rear (Genesis 30:3; Genesis 50:23; Isaiah 66:12).

Psalms 80:17 — 17. thy hand . . . upon—that is, strengthen (Ezra 7:6; Ezra 8:22). man of . . . hand—may allude to Benjamin (Genesis 35:18). The terms in the latter clause correspond with those of Genesis 35:18- :, from "and the branch," &c., literally, and confirm the exposition given above.

Proverbs 4:3 — 3. father's son—emphatic, a son specially regarded, and so called tender, as an object of special care (compare 1 Chronicles 22:7; 1 Chronicles 29:1); an idea further expressed by only beloved—or, "as an only son" (Genesis 22:2), though he had brothers (see on Genesis 22:2- :).

Ecclesiastes 1:3 — 3. What profit . . . labour—that is, "What profit" as to the chief good ( :-). Labor is profitable in its proper place (Genesis 2:15; Genesis 3:19; Proverbs 14:23). under the sun—that is, in this life, as opposed to the future world. The phrase often recurs, but only in Ecclesiastes.

Jeremiah 27:6 — mysterious instinct of nature. A reproof to men that they did not recognize God's will, which the very beasts acknowledged (compare :-). As the beasts are to submit to Christ, the Restorer of the dominion over nature, lost by the first Adam (compare Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:19; Genesis 2:20; Psalms 8:6-8), so they were appointed to submit to Nebuchadnezzar, the representative of the world power and prefigurer of Antichrist; this universal power was suffered to be held by him to show the unfitness

Jeremiah 33:22 — 22. (Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17). The blessing there promised belonged to all the tribes; here it is restricted to the family of David and the tribe of Levi, because it was on these that the welfare of the whole people rested. When the kingdom and priesthood flourish in the person of Messiah, the whole nation shall temporally and spiritually prosper.

Jeremiah 51:25 — 25. destroying mountain—called so, not from its position, for it lay low (Jeremiah 51:13; Genesis 11:2; Genesis 11:9), but from its eminence above other nations, many of which it had "destroyed"; also, because of its lofty palaces, towers, hanging gardens resting on arches, and walls, fifty royal cubits broad and two hundred high. roll thee

Lamentations 5:8 — 8. Servants . . . ruled . . . us—Servants under the Chaldean governors ruled the Jews ( :-). Israel, once a "kingdom of priests" ( :-), is become like Canaan, "a servant of servants," according to the curse (Genesis 9:25). The Chaldeans were designed to be "servants" of Shem, being descended from Ham (Genesis 9:26). Now through the Jews' sin, their positions are reversed.

Hosea 11:1 — and therefore in one common prophecy. Messiah's people and Himself are one, as the Head and the body. Hosea 13:4- : calls Him "Israel." The same general reason, danger of extinction, caused the infant Jesus, and Israel in its national infancy (compare Genesis 42:1-43; Genesis 45:18; Genesis 46:3; Genesis 46:4; Ezekiel 16:4-6; Jeremiah 31:20) to sojourn in Egypt. So He, and His spiritual Israel, are already called "God's sons" while yet in the Egypt of the world.

Hosea 13:1 — within itself the germ of death, though that death may not visibly take effect till long after. Compare Job 29:21- :, "Sin revived, and I died." So Adam in the day of his sin was to die, though the sentence was not visibly executed till long after (Genesis 2:17; Genesis 5:5). Israel is similarly represented as politically dead in Genesis 5:5- :.

Jonah 1:1 — 1. Jonah—meaning in Hebrew, "dove." Compare Genesis 8:8; Genesis 8:9, where the dove in vain seeks rest after flying from Noah and the ark: so Jonah. GROTIUS not so well explains it, "one sprung from Greece" or Ionia, where there were prophets called Amythaonidæ. Amittai—Hebrew for "truth," "truth-telling"; appropriate to a prophet.

Mark 6:48 — exhaustion and despondency bordering on despair; and now at length, having tried them long enough. he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea—"and draweth nigh unto the ship" ( :-). and would have passed by them—but only in the sense of Luke 24:28; Genesis 32:26; compare Genesis 18:3; Genesis 18:5; Genesis 42:7.

Joshua 8:28 — 28. Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever—"For ever" often signifies "a long time" (Genesis 6:3). One of the remarkable things with regard to the tell we have identified with Ai is its name—the tell of the heap of stones—a name which to this day remains [VAN DE VELDE]. Genesis 6:3- :. THE KING HANGED.

Hebrews 11:4 — revelation of God on which it fastens. The revelation in this case was doubtless God's command to sacrifice animals ("the firstlings of the flock") in token of the forfeiture of men's life by sin, and as a type of the promised bruiser of the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15), the one coming sacrifice: this command is implied in God's having made coats of skin for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21): for these skins must have been taken from animals slain in sacrifice: inasmuch as it was not for food they were slain,

Hebrews 11:8 — Abraham," his name being changed from Abram to Abraham, on the occasion of God's making with him and his seed a covenant sealed by circumcision, many years after his call out of Ur. "By faith, he who was (afterwards) called Abraham (father of nations, Genesis 17:5, in order to become which was the design of God's bringing him out of Ur) obeyed (the command of God: to be understood in this reading), so as to go out," c. which he should after receive—He had not fully received even this promise when

Revelation 12:9 — 9. that old serpent—alluding to Genesis 3:1; Genesis 3:4. Devil—the Greek, for "accuser," or "slanderer." Satan—the Hebrew for "adversary," especially in a court of justice. The twofold designation, Greek and Hebrew, marks the twofold objects of his accusations and temptations, the elect Gentiles and the elect Jews. world—Greek, "habitable world."

Ruth 1:11 — 11. are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?—This alludes to the ancient custom (Genesis 38:26) afterwards expressly sanctioned by the law of Moses (Genesis 38:26- :), which required a younger son to marry the widow of his deceased brother.