Bible Commentaries

Genesis 36:1 — 1. these are the generations—history of the leading men and events (compare :-). Esau who is Edom—A name applied to him in reference to the peculiar color of his skin at birth [Genesis 25:25], rendered more significant by his inordinate craving for the red pottage [Genesis 25:25- :], and also by the fierce sanguinary character of his descendants (compare Ezekiel 25:12; Obadiah 1:10).

Genesis 42:17 — 17-24. put them . . . into ward three days—Their confinement had been designed to bring them to salutary reflection. And this object was attained, for they looked upon the retributive justice of God as now pursuing them in that foreign land. The drift of their conversation is one of the most striking instances on record of the power of conscience [Genesis 42:21; Genesis 42:22].

1 Chronicles 7:6 — 6. The sons of Benjamin—Ten are named in Genesis 46:21, but only five later (1 Chronicles 8:1; Numbers 26:38). Perhaps five of them were distinguished as chiefs of illustrious families, but two having fallen in the bloody wars waged against Benjamin (Judges 20:46), there remained only three branches of this tribe, and these only are enumerated. Jediael—Or Asbel (Genesis 46:21).

Job 2:8 — 8. a potsherd—not a piece of a broken earthen vessel, but an instrument made for scratching (the root of the Hebrew word is "scratch"); the sore was too disgusting to touch. "To sit in the ashes" marks the deepest mourning (Jonah 3:6); also humility, as if the mourner were nothing but dust and ashes; so Abraham (Genesis 18:27). Genesis 18:27- :. JOB REPROVES HIS WIFE.

Job 31:33 — 33. Adam—translated by UMBREIT, "as men do" (Hosea 6:7, where see Margin). But English Version is more natural. The very same word for "hiding" is used in Genesis 3:8; Genesis 3:10, of Adam hiding himself from God. Job elsewhere alludes to the flood. So he might easily know of the fall, through the two links which connect Adam and Abraham (about Job's time), namely, Methuselah and Shem. Adam is representative

Job 6:19 — 19. the troops—that is, "caravans." Tema—north of Arabia-Deserta, near the Syrian desert; called from Tema son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15; Isaiah 21:14; Jeremiah 25:23), still so called by the Arabs. Job 6:19; Job 6:20 give another picture of the mortification of disappointed hopes, namely, those of the caravans on the direct road, anxiously awaiting the return of their companions

Psalms 104:6 — 6-9. These verses rather describe the wonders of the flood than the creation (Genesis 7:19; Genesis 7:20; 2 Peter 3:5; 2 Peter 3:6). God's method of arresting the flood and making its waters subside is poetically called a "rebuke" (Psalms 76:6; Isaiah 50:2), and the process of the flood's subsiding by undulations among the hills and valleys is vividly described.

Psalms 105:1 — 1. call . . . name— (Psalms 79:6; Romans 10:13). Call on Him, according to His historically manifested glory. After the example of Abraham, who, as often as God acquired for Himself a name in guiding him, called in solemn worship upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:4). among the people—or, "peoples" (Psalms 18:49). deeds—or, "wonders" (Psalms 103:7).

Psalms 18:10 — 10. cherub—angelic agents (compare Genesis 3:24), the figures of which were placed over the ark (Genesis 3:24- :), representing God's dwelling; used here to enhance the majesty of the divine advent. Angels and winds may represent all rational and irrational agencies of God's providence (compare Psalms 104:3; Psalms 104:4). did fly—Rapidity of motion adds to the grandeur of the scene.

Jeremiah 25:20 — Uz—in the geographical order here, between Egypt and the states along the Mediterranean; therefore not the "Uz" of Ezekiel 30:5- : (north of Arabia-Deserta), but the northern part of Arabia-Petræa, between the sea and Idumea (Ezekiel 30:5- :; see Genesis 36:20; Genesis 36:28). remnant of Ashdod—called a "remnant," because Ashdod had lost most of its inhabitants in the twenty-nine years siege by Psammetichus. Compare also see on Genesis 36:28- :. Gath is not mentioned because it was overthrown

Jeremiah 3:2 — 2. high places—the scene of idolatries which were spiritual adulteries. In . . . ways . . . sat for them—watching for lovers like a prostitute (Genesis 38:14; Genesis 38:21; Proverbs 7:12; Proverbs 23:28; Ezekiel 16:24; Ezekiel 16:25), and like an Arab who lies in wait for travellers. The Arabs of the desert, east and south of Palestine, are still notorious as robbers.

Ezekiel 25:12 — taking vengeance—literally, "revenging with revengement," that is, the most unrelenting vengeance. It was not simple hatred, but deep-brooding, implacable revenge. The grudge of Edom or Esau was originally for Jacob's robbing him of Isaac's blessing (Genesis 25:23; Genesis 27:27-41). This purpose of revenge yielded to the extraordinary kindness of Jacob, through the blessing of Him with whom Jacob wrestled in prayer; but it was revived as an hereditary grudge in the posterity of Esau when they saw

Daniel 7:19 — (Israel) for a time (Numbers 23:8-10; Numbers 23:28; Numbers 24:2; Numbers 24:7-9; Numbers 24:22-24). To Balaam's "Asshur" correspond Daniel's two eastern kingdoms, Babylon and Medo-Persia; to "Chittim," the two western kingdoms, Greece and Rome (compare Genesis 10:4; Genesis 10:11; Genesis 10:22). In Babel, Nimrod the hunter (revolter) founds the first kingdom of the world (Genesis 10:8-13). The Babylonian world power takes up the thread interrupted at the building of Babel, and the kingdom of Nimrod.

Hosea 4:10 — 10. eat, and not have enough—just retribution on those who "eat up (greedily) the sin of My people" (Hosea 4:8; Micah 6:14; Haggai 1:6). whoredom, and . . . not increase—literally, "break forth"; used of giving birth to children (Genesis 28:14, Margin; compare Genesis 38:29). Not only their wives, but their concubines, shall be barren. To be childless was considered a great calamity among the Jews.

Amos 1:12 — 12. Teman—a city of Edom, called from a grandson of Esau (Genesis 36:11; Genesis 36:15; Obadiah 1:8; Obadiah 1:9); situated five miles from Petra; south of the present Wady Musa. Its people were famed for wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7). Bozrah—a city of Edom (Isaiah 63:1). Selah or Petra is not mentioned, as it had been overthrown by Amaziah (Isaiah 63:1- :).

Amos 2:9 — 9. Yet—My former benefits to you heighten your ingratitude. the Amorite—the most powerful of all the Canaanite nations, and therefore put for them all (Genesis 15:16; Genesis 48:22; Deuteronomy 1:20; Joshua 7:7). height . . . like . . . cedars— (Numbers 13:32; Numbers 13:33). destroyed his fruit . . . above . . . roots . . . beneath—that is, destroyed him utterly (Job 18:16; Ezekiel 17:9; Malachi 4:1).

Galatians 3:16 — the spiritual, His body, the Church). Christ not having come when the law was given, the covenant could not have been then fulfilled, but awaited the coming of Him, the Seed, to whom it was spoken. promises—plural, because the same promise was often repeated (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 12:7; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 22:18), and because it involved many things; earthly blessings to the literal children of Abraham in Canaan, and spiritual and heavenly blessings to his spiritual children;

Philippians 2:15 — 5:14-16; Ephesians 5:8-13). as lights in the world—The Greek expresses "as luminaries in the world," as the sun and moon, "the lights," or "great lights," in the material world or in the firmament. The Septuagint uses the very same Greek word in the passage, Genesis 1:14; Genesis 1:16; compare Note,, see on Genesis 1:16- :.

Hebrews 11:21 — 21. both the sons—Greek, "each of the sons" (Genesis 47:29; Genesis 48:8-20). He knew not Joseph's sons, and could not distinguish them by sight, yet he did distinguish them by faith, transposing his hands intentionally, so as to lay his right hand on the younger, Ephraim, whose posterity was to

Judges 19:15 — wrapping themselves up in their cloaks, pass the night in the open air. In the Arab towns and villages, however, the sheik, or some other person, usually comes out and urgently invites the strangers to his house. This was done also in ancient Palestine (Genesis 18:4; Genesis 19:2). That the same hospitality was not shown in Gibeah seems to have been owing to the bad character of the people. Genesis 19:2- :. AN OLD MAN ENTERTAINS HIM AT GIBEAH.