Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 — scribes around him that a town was called by his name (1 Chronicles 2:55); and to the piety of his character this passage bears ample testimony. The memory of the critical circumstances which marked his birth was perpetuated in his name (compare Genesis 35:15); and yet, in the development of his high talents or distinguished worth in later life, his mother must have found a satisfaction and delight that amply compensated for all her early trials. His prayer which is here recorded, and which,

Ecclesiastes 12:3 — 3. keepers of the house—namely, the hands and arms which protected the body, as guards do a palace (Genesis 49:24; Job 4:19; 2 Corinthians 5:1), are now palsied. strong men . . . bow— (Judges 16:25; Judges 16:30). Like supporting pillars, the feet and knees (Judges 16:30- :); the strongest members (Judges 16:30- :). grinders—the molar teeth. cease—are

Song of Solomon 1:7 — "feedest"; periods of rest are vouchsafed after labor (Isaiah 4:6; Isaiah 49:10; Ezekiel 34:13-15). Communion in private must go along with public following of Him. turneth aside—rather one veiled, that is, as a harlot, not His true bride (Genesis 38:15), [GESENIUS]; or as a mourner (Genesis 38:15- :), [WEISS]; or as one unknown [MAURER]. All imply estrangement from the Bridegroom. She feels estranged even among Christ's true servants, answering to "thy companions" (Luke 22:28), so

Song of Solomon 1:7 — rest—distinct from "feedest"; periods of rest are vouchsafed after labor (Isaiah 4:6; Isaiah 49:10; Ezekiel 34:13-15). Communion in private must go along with public following of Him. turneth aside—rather one veiled, that is, as a harlot, not His true bride (Genesis 38:15), [GESENIUS]; or as a mourner (Genesis 38:15- :), [WEISS]; or as one unknown [MAURER]. All imply estrangement from the Bridegroom. She feels estranged even among Christ's true servants, answering to "thy companions" (Luke 22:28), so long

Isaiah 19:7 — 7. paper-reeds—rather, pastures, literally, "places naked" of wood, and famed for rich herbage, on the banks of the Nile [GESENIUS]. Compare Genesis 13:10; Deuteronomy 11:10. HORSLEY translates, "nakedness upon the river," descriptive of the appearance of a river when its bottom is bare and its banks stripped of verdure by long drought: so Vulgate. the brooks—the river. mouth—rather, "the source"

Isaiah 26:20 — 20. enter . . . chambers—When God is about to take vengeance on the ungodly, the saints shall be shut in by Him in a place of safety, as Noah and his family were in the days of the flood (Genesis 7:16), and as Israel was commanded not to go out of doors on the night of the slaying of the Egyptian first-born (Exodus 12:22; Exodus 12:23; Psalms 31:20; Psalms 83:3). The saints are calmly and confidently to await the issue (Exodus 14:13; Exodus 14:14).

Isaiah 42:11 — 11. cities—in a region not wholly waste, but mainly so, with an oasis here and there. Kedar—in Arabia-Deserta (Isaiah 21:16; Genesis 25:13). The Kedarenians led a nomadic, wandering life. So Kedar is here put in general for that class of men. rock—Sela, that is, Petra, the metropolis of Idumea and the Nabathoeligan Ishmaelites. Or it may refer in general to those in Arabia-Petræa, who

Isaiah 56:11 — their own selfish interests; not to the spiritual welfare of the people (Jeremiah 6:13; Ezekiel 22:27). from his quarter—rather, "from the highest to the lowest" [LOWTH]. "From his quarter"; that is, from one end to the other of them, one and all (Genesis 19:4).

Jeremiah 5:1 — priests, as distinguished from the faithful few, whom God had openly separated from the reprobate people; among the latter not even one just person was to be found ( :-) [CALVIN]; the godly, moreover, were forbidden to intercede for them ( :-; compare Genesis 18:23; Psalms 12:1; Ezekiel 22:30). see . . . know—look . . . ascertain. judgment—justice, righteousness. pardon it—rather, her.

Ezekiel 28:13 — the person of the king of Tyre a new trial was made of humanity with the greatest earthly advantages. But as in the case of Adam, the good gifts of God were only turned into ministers to pride and self. every precious stone—so in Eden (Genesis 2:12), "gold, bdellium, and the onyx stone." So the king of Tyre was arrayed in jewel-bespangled robes after the fashion of Oriental monarchs. The nine precious stones here mentioned answer to nine of the twelve (representing the twelve tribes)

Ezekiel 28:13 — 36:35). In the person of the king of Tyre a new trial was made of humanity with the greatest earthly advantages. But as in the case of Adam, the good gifts of God were only turned into ministers to pride and self. every precious stone—so in Eden (Genesis 2:12), "gold, bdellium, and the onyx stone." So the king of Tyre was arrayed in jewel-bespangled robes after the fashion of Oriental monarchs. The nine precious stones here mentioned answer to nine of the twelve (representing the twelve tribes)

Daniel 2:1 — 1:5- :; compare Jeremiah 25:9; Ezekiel 28:12-15; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1; Romans 13:1), is honored with the revelation in the form of a dream, the appropriate form to one outside the kingdom of God. So in the cases of Abimelech, Pharaoh, c. (Genesis 20:3 Genesis 41:1-7), especially as the heathen attached such importance to dreams. Still it is not he, but an Israelite, who interprets it. Heathendom is passive, Israel active, in divine things, so that the glory redounds to "the God of

Daniel 2:1 — (Daniel 2:37; compare Jeremiah 25:9; Ezekiel 28:12-15; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1; Romans 13:1), is honored with the revelation in the form of a dream, the appropriate form to one outside the kingdom of God. So in the cases of Abimelech, Pharaoh, etc. (Genesis 20:3; Genesis 41:1-7), especially as the heathen attached such importance to dreams. Still it is not he, but an Israelite, who interprets it. Heathendom is passive, Israel active, in divine things, so that the glory redounds to “the God

Hosea 14:6 — added; these, however, are fruitless, therefore the fruitful, peace-bearing, fragrant, ever green olive is added. smell as Lebanon—which exhaled from it the fragrance of odoriferous trees and flowers. So Israel's name shall be in good savor with all (Genesis 27:27; Song of Solomon 4:11).

Hosea 3:4 — "thou shalt abide for me" (1 Chronicles 15:27- :). Abide in solitary isolation, as a separated wife. The teraphim were tutelary household gods, in the shape of human busts, cut off at the waist (as the root of the Hebrew word implies) [MAURER], (Genesis 31:19; Genesis 31:30-35). They were supposed to give responses to consulters (2 Kings 23:24; Ezekiel 21:21, Margin; Ezekiel 21:21- :). Saul's daughter, Michal, putting one in a bed, as if it were David, proves the shape to have been that of

Hosea 3:4 — to “thou shalt abide for me” (Hosea 3:3). Abide in solitary isolation, as a separated wife. The teraphim were tutelary household gods, in the shape of human busts, cut off at the waist (as the root of the Hebrew word implies) [Maurer], (Genesis 31:19, Genesis 31:30-35). They were supposed to give responses to consulters (2 Kings 23:24; Ezekiel 21:21, Margin; Zechariah 10:2). Saul‘s daughter, Michal, putting one in a bed, as if it were David, proves the shape to have been that

Zechariah 9:10 — 2:4; Hosea 2:18; Micah 5:10). Ephraim . . . Jerusalem—the ten tribes, and Judah and Benjamin; both alike to be restored hereafter. speak peace—command it authoritatively. dominion . . . from sea . . . river . . . ends of . . . earth—fulfilling Genesis 15:18; Exodus 23:31; Psalms 72:8. "Sea . . . sea," are the Red Sea and Mediterranean. The "river" is the Euphrates. Jerusalem and the Holy Land, extended to the limits promised to Abraham, are to be the center of His future dominion; whence it

Galatians 3:17 — of his entrance into Egypt, the land of bondage. It was to Christ in him, as in his grandfather Abraham, and his father Isaac, not to him or them as persons, the promise was spoken. On the day following the last repetition of the promise orally (Genesis 46:1-6), at Beer-sheba, Israel passed into Egypt. It is from the end, not from the beginning of the dispensation of promise, that the interval of four hundred thirty years between it and the law is to be counted. At Beer-sheba, after the covenant

Hebrews 4:4 — rest necessitated by fatigue, nor consisting in idleness, but is that upholding and governing of which creation was the beginning [ALFORD]. Hence Moses records the end of each of the first six days, but not of the seventh. from all his works—Hebrew, Genesis 2:2, "from all His work." God's "work" was one, comprehending, however, many "works."

Revelation 20:8 — 8. Gog and Magog— ( :-; see on :-). Magog is a general name for northern nations of Japheth's posterity, whose ideal head is Gog (Genesis 10:2). A has but one Greek article to "Gog and Magog," whereby the two, namely, the prince and the people, are marked as having the closest connection. B reads the second article before Magog wrongly. HILLER [Onomasticon] explains both words as