Bible Commentaries

Genesis 35:26 — 26. Sons of Jacob . . . born to him in Padan-aram—It is a common practice of the sacred historian to say of a company or body of men that which, though true of the majority, may not be applicable to every individual. (See Matthew 19:28; John 20:24; Hebrews 11:13). Here is an example, for Benjamin was born in Canaan [Hebrews 11:13- :]. Genesis 35:28; Genesis 35:29. DEATH OF ISAAC.

Genesis 36:6 — 6, 7. Esau . . . went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob—literally, "a country," without any certain prospect of a settlement. The design of this historical sketch of Esau and his family is to show how the promise (Genesis 27:39; Genesis 27:40) was fulfilled. In temporal prosperity he far exceeds his brother; and it is remarkable that, in the overruling providence of God, the vast increase of his worldly substance was the occasion of his leaving Canaan and thus making

Genesis 48:4 — 4. Behold, I will make thee fruitful—This is a repetition of the covenant (Genesis 28:13-15; Genesis 35:12). Whether these words are to be viewed in a limited sense, as pointing to the many centuries during which the Jews were occupiers of the Holy Land, or whether the words bear a wider meaning and intimate that the scattered tribes of Israel are to be reinstated in the land of promise, as their "everlasting possession," are points that have not yet been satisfactorily determined.

Exodus 13:19 — 19. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him—in fulfilment of the oath he exacted from his brethren (Genesis 50:25; Genesis 50:26). The remains of the other patriarchs (not noticed from their obscurity) were also carried out of Egypt (Acts 7:15; Acts 7:16); and there would be no difficulty as to the means of conveyance—a few camels bearing these precious relics would give a true picture of Oriental customs, such as is still to be seen in the immense pilgrimages to Mecca.

Job 15:19 — 19. Eliphaz speaks like a genuine Arab when he boasts that his ancestors had ever possessed the land unmixed with foreigners [UMBREIT]. His words are intended to oppose Job's ( :-); "the earth" in their case was not "given into the hand of the wicked." He refers to the division of the earth by divine appointment (Genesis 10:5; Genesis 25:32). Also he may insinuate that Job's sentiments had been corrupted from original purity by his vicinity to the Sabeans and Chaldeans [ROSENMULLER].

Job 42:14 — 14. Names significant of his restored prosperity (Genesis 4:25; Genesis 5:29). Jemima—"daylight," after his "night" of calamity; but MAURER, "a dove." Kezia—"cassia," an aromatic herb (Psalms 45:8), instead of his offensive breath and ulcers. Keren-happuch—"horn of stibium," a paint with which females dyed their eyelids; in contrast to his "horn defiled in the dust" (Psalms 45:8- :). The names also imply the beauty of his daughters.

Job 42:17 — 17. full of days—fully sated and contented with all the happiness that life could give him; realizing what Eliphaz had painted as the lot of the godly (Job 5:26; Psalms 91:16; Genesis 25:8; Genesis 35:29). The Septuagint adds, "It is written, that he will rise again with those whom the Lord will raise up." Compare Matthew 27:52; Matthew 27:53, from which it perhaps was derived spuriously.

Psalms 105:15 — 15. Touch not—referring to :-, where Abimelech says of Isaac, "He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." mine anointed—as specially consecrated to Me ( :-). The patriarch was the prophet, priest, and king of his family. my prophets—in a similar sense, compare Genesis 20:7. The "anointed" are those vessels of God, consecrated to His service, "in whom (as Pharaoh said of Joseph, Genesis 20:7- :) the Spirit of God is" [HENGSTENBERG].

Psalms 119:54 — 54. songs—As the exile sings songs of his home (Psalms 137:3), so the child of God, "a stranger on earth," sings the songs of heaven, his true home (Psalms 137:3- :). In ancient times, laws were put in verse, to imprint them the more on the memory of the people. So God's laws are the believer's songs. house of my pilgrimage—present life (Genesis 17:8; Genesis 47:9; Hebrews 11:13).

Isaiah 54:9 — 9. I am about to do the same in this instance as in Noah's flood. As I swore then that it should not return (Genesis 8:21; Genesis 9:11), and I kept that promise, so I swear now to My people, and will perform My promise, that there shall be no return of the deluge of My wrath upon them. LOWTH, on insufficient authority, reads (the same will I do now as), "in the days of Noah."

Jeremiah 34:18 — 18. passed between the parts thereof—The contracting parties in the "covenant" (not here the law in general, but their covenant made before God in His house to emancipate their slaves, Jeremiah 34:8; Jeremiah 34:9) passed through the parts of the animal cut in two, implying that they prayed so to be cut in sunder (Matthew 24:51; Greek, "cut in two") if they should break the covenant (Genesis 15:10; Genesis 15:17).

Ezekiel 20:12 — Sabbath is specified as a sample of the whole law, to show that the law is not merely precepts, but privileges, of which the Sabbath is one of the highest. Not that the Sabbath was first instituted at Sinai, as if it were an exclusively Jewish ordinance (Genesis 2:2; Genesis 2:3), but it was then more formally enacted, when, owing to the apostasy of the world from the original revelation, one people was called out (Genesis 2:3- :) to be the covenant-people of God. sanctify them—The observance of the

Hosea 13:15 — 15. fruitful—referring to the meaning of "Ephraim," from a Hebrew root, "to be fruitful" (Genesis 41:52). It was long the most numerous and flourishing of the tribes (Genesis 41:52- :). wind of the Lord—that is, sent by the Lord (compare Genesis 41:52- :), who has His instruments of punishment always ready. The Assyrian, Shalmaneser, c.,

Amos 9:7 — Israel is threatened with a return to Egypt whence they had been delivered. The "Ethiopians," Hebrew, "Cushites," were originally akin to the race that founded Babylon: the cuneiform inscriptions in this confirming independently the Scripture statement (Genesis 10:6; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 10:10).

Malachi 3:1 — (Isaiah 5:19; Amos 5:18; 2 Peter 3:3; 2 Peter 3:4)? In the case of the godly, the desire for Messiah was sincere (Luke 2:25; Luke 2:28). He is called "Angel of God's presence" (Isaiah 63:9), also Angel of Jehovah. Compare His appearances to Abraham (Genesis 18:1; Genesis 18:2; Genesis 18:17; Genesis 18:33), to Jacob (Genesis 31:11; Genesis 48:15; Genesis 48:16), to Moses in the bush (Genesis 48:16- :); He went before Israel as the Shekinah (Genesis 48:16- :), and delivered the law at Sinai (Genesis

Deuteronomy 33:20 — 20, 21. of Gad he said—Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself in the first portion of land conquered. In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, "he dwelt as a lion" (compare Genesis 30:11; Genesis 49:19). Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" [Deuteronomy 33:21] in the invasion of Canaan.

Romans 4:3 — 3. For what saith the, Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it—his faith. was counted to him for righteousness— (Genesis 15:6). Romish expositors and Arminian Protestants make this to mean that God accepted Abraham's act of believing as a substitute for complete obedience. But this is at variance with the whole spirit and letter of the apostle's teaching. Throughout

Galatians 3:8 — point not here raised; but strictly "in thee," as followers of thy faith, it having first shown the way to justification before God [ALFORD]; or "in thee," as Father of the promised seed, namely, Christ (Galatians 3:16), who is the Object of faith (Genesis 22:18; Psalms 72:17), and imitating thy faith (see on Galatians 3:9). all nations—or as above, "all the Gentiles" (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18). be blessed—an act of grace, not something earned by works. The blessing of justification was

Hebrews 11:18 — 18. Of whom—rather as Greek "He (Abraham, not Isaac) TO whom it was said" [ALFORD]. BENGEL supports English Version. So :- uses the same Greek preposition, "unto," for "in respect to," or "of." This verse gives a definition of the "only-begotten Son" ( :-). in Isaac shall thy seed be called— (Genesis 21:12). The posterity of Isaac alone shall be accounted as the seed of Abraham, which is the heir of the promises (Genesis 21:12- :).

Judges 8:24 — 24-26. Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you—This was the contribution of an earring (singular). As the ancient Arabians (Ishmaelites and Midianites being synonymous terms, Genesis 37:25; Genesis 37:28) were gorgeously adorned with barbaric pearl and gold, an immense amount of such valuable booty had fallen into the hands of the Israelitish soldiers. The contribution was liberally made, and the quantity of gold given to him is estimated at £3113 sterling.