Bible Commentaries

Exodus 31:1 — CHAPTER XXXI Bezaleel appointed for the work of the tabernacle, 1-5. Aholiab appointed for the same, 6. The particular things on which they were to be employed, the ark and mercy-seat, 7. Table, candlestick, and altar of incense, 8. Altar of burnt-offering and the laver, 9. Priest's garments, 10. Anointing oil and sweet incense, 11. God renews the command relative to the sanctification of the Sabbath, 12-17. Delivers to Moses the two tables of stone, 18. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXI

2 Kings 2:16 — Verse 2 Kings 2:16. Fifty strong men — Probably the same fifty who are mentioned 2 Kings 2:7, and who saw Elijah taken up in the whirlwind.Cast him upon some mountain — Though they saw him taken up towards heaven, yet they thought it possible that the Spirit of the Lord might have descended with him, and left him on some remote mountain or valley.Ye shall not send. — He knew that he was translated to heaven, and that therefore it would be useless.

2 Chronicles 8:1 — CHAPTER VIII Solomon's buildings, conquests, and officers, 1-10. He brings Pharaoh's daughter to his new-built palace, 11. His various sacrifices, and arrangement of the priests, Levites, and porters, 12-16. He sends a fleet to Ophir, 17, 18. NOTES ON CHAP. VIIIVerse 2 Chronicles 8:1. At the end of twenty years — He employed seven years and a half in building the temple, and twelve and a half, or thirteen, in building his own house. - Compare this with 1 Kings 7:1.

Esther 2:7 — Verse Esther 2:7. He brought up Hadassah — הדשה hadassah signifies a myrtle in Chaldee: this was probably her first or Babylonish name. When she came to the Persian court, she was called Esther, [Persian] aster, or [Persian] sitara, which signifies a star in Persian:

Job 13:7 — Verse Job 13:7. Will ye speak wickedly for God? — In order to support your own cause, in contradiction to the evidence which the whole of my life bears to the uprightness of my heart, will ye continue to assert that God could not thus afflict me, unless flagrant iniquity were found in my ways; for it is on this ground alone that ye pretend to vindicate the providence of God. Thus ye tell lies for God's sake, and thus ye wickedly contend for your Maker.

Job 21:7 — Verse Job 21:7. Wherefore do the wicked live — You have frequently asserted that the wicked are invariably punished in this life; and that the righteous are ever distinguished by the strongest marks of God's providential kindness; how then does it come that many wicked men live long and prosperously, and at last die in peace, without any evidence whatever of God's displeasure? This is a fact that is occurring daily; none can deny it; how then will you reconcile it with your maxims?

Job 29:1 — CHAPTER XXIX Job laments his present condition, and gives an affecting account of his former prosperity, having property in abundance, being surrounded by a numerous family, and enjoying every mark of the approbation of God, 1-6. Speaks of the respect he had from the young, 7, 8; and from the nobles, 9, 10. Details his conduct as a magistrate and judge in supporting the poor, and repressing the wicked, 11-17; his confidence, general prosperity, and respect, 18-25. NOTES ON CHAP. XXIX

Psalms 12:7 — Versículo Salmo 12:7 . Los guardarás - los preservarás. En lugar del pronombre ellos en estas cláusulas, varios manuscritos, con la Septuaginta , la Vulgata y el árabe , nos tienen. El sentido es igualmente bueno en ambas lecturas. Dios sacó a los israelitas de Babilonia, según su palabra; los separó de aquella generación , y los restauró en su propia tierra, conforme a su palabra; y ciertamente los ha preservado de generación en generación hasta el día de hoy, de la manera más notable.

Psalms 58:7 — Verse Psalms 58:7. Let them melt away as waters — Let them be minished away like the waters which sometimes run in the desert, but are soon evaporated by the sun, or absorbed by the sand.When he bendeth his bow] When my adversaries aim their envenomed shafts against me, let their arrows not only fall short of the mark, but he broken to pieces in the flight. Some apply this to GOD. When he bends his bow against them, they shall all be exterminated.

Psalms 7:12 — Verse Psalms 7:12. If he turn not — This clause the Syriac adds to the preceding verse. Most of the versions read, "If ye return not." Some contend, and not without a great show of probability, that the two verses should be read in connection, thus: "God is a just Judge; a God who is provoked every day. If (the sinner) turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready." This, no doubt, gives the sense of both.

Leviticus 26:11 — Verse Leviticus 26:11. I will set my tabernacle among you — This and the following verse contain the grand promise of the Gospel dispensation, viz. the presence, manifestation, and indwelling of God in human nature, and his constant in dwelling in the souls of his followers. So John 1:14 the WORD was made flesh, και εσκηνωσεν εν ἡμιν, and MADE HIS TABERNACLE among us. And to this promise of the law St. Paul evidently refers, 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 and 2 Corinthians 7:1

Numbers 1:16 — Literally, the called, of the congregation - those who were summoned by name to attend. The order of the tribes In the above enumeration may be viewed thus: - 1. Reuben | 2. Simeon | 3. Judah |- Sons of Leah. 4. Issachar | 5. Zebulun | 6. Ephraim | 7. Manasseh |- Sons of Rachel. 8. Benjamin | 9. Dan......... 1st son of Bilhah, Rachel's maid 10. Asher....... 2d son of Zilpah, Leah's maid. 11. Gad......... 1st son of Zilpah. 12. Naphtali.... 2d son of Bilhah.

Numbers 22:7 — Verse Numbers 22:7. The rewards of divination — Whoever went to consult a prophet took with him a present, as it was on such gratuitous offerings the prophets lived; but here more than a mere present is intended, perhaps every thing necessary to provide materials for the incantation. The drugs, c., used on such occasions were often very expensive. It appears that Balaam was very covetous, and that he loved the wages of unrighteousness, and probably lived by it see 2 Peter 2:15.

Numbers 5:24 — Verse Numbers 5:24. The bitter water that causeth the curse — Though the rabbins think that the priest put some bitter substance in the water, yet as nothing of the kind is intimated by Moses, we may consider the word as used here metaphorically for affliction, death, c. These waters were afflicting and deadly to her who drank them, being guilty. In this sense afflictions are said to be bitter, Isaiah 38:17 so also is death, 1 Samuel 15:32: Ecclesiastes 7:26.

Deuteronomy 6:16 — Verse Deuteronomy 6:16. Ye shall not tempt the Lord — Ye shall not provoke him by entertaining doubts of his mercy, goodness, providence, and truth.As ye tempted him in Massah. — How did they tempt him in Massah? They said, Is the Lord among us or not? Exodus 17:1-7. After such proofs as they had of his presence and his kindness, this was exceedingly provoking. Doubting God's kindness where there are so many evidences of it, is highly insulting to God Almighty.

Deuteronomy 7:8 — Verse Deuteronomy 7:8. But because the Lord loved you — It was no good in them that induced God to choose them at this time to be his peculiar people: he had his reasons, but these sprang from his infinite goodness. He intended to make a full discovery of his goodness to the world, and this must have a commencement in some particular place, and among some people. He chose that time, and he chose the Jewish people; but not because of their goodness or holiness.

Joshua 1:7 — Verse Joshua 1:7. Only be thou strong, and very courageous — Ισχυε ουν, και ανδριζου σφοδρα. - Sept. Be strong therefore, and play the man to the uttermost. Though God had promised him that no man should be able to stand before him, yet it was on condition that he should use all his military skill, and avail himself to the uttermost of all the means, natural and providential, which God should place within his reach. God will not have them who refuse to help themselves.

Joshua 7:11 — Verse Joshua 7:11. Israel hath sinned — It is impossible that God should turn against his people, if they had not turned away from him. They have taken of the accursed thing, notwithstanding my severe prohibition. They have also stolen, supposing, if not seen by their brethren, I should either not see or not regard it. They have dissembled - pretended to have kept strictly the command I gave them; and have put it among their own stuff - considered it now as a part of their own property.

1 Samuel 16:7 — Verse 1 Samuel 16:7. Man looketh on the outward appearance — And it is well he should, and confine his looks to that; for when he pretends to sound the heart, he usurps the prerogative of God.In what way were these communications made from God to Samuel? It must have been by direct inspirations into his heart. But what a state of holy familiarity does this argue between God and the prophet! I believe Moses himself was not more highly favoured than Samuel.

1 Samuel 7:13 — Verse 1 Samuel 7:13. They came no more into the coast of Israel — Perhaps a more signal victory was never gained by Israel; the Lord had brought them low, almost to extermination; and now, by his miraculous interference, he lifts them completely up, and humbles