Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 26:1 — begins his reign piously and prosperously, which continued during the life of Zechariah the prophet, 1-5. He fights successfully against the Philistines, and takes and dismantles some of their chief cities, 6; prevails over the Arabians and Mehunims, 7; and brings the Ammonites under tribute, 8. He fortifies Jerusalem, and builds towers in different parts of the country, and delights in husbandry, 9, 10. An account of his military strength, warlike instruments, and machines, 11-15. He is elated with

Ezra 3:1 — CHAPTER III The altar of burnt-offerings is set up, 1-3. They keep the feast of tabernacles, 4-6. They make provision for rebuilding the temple; and lay its foundation in the second month of the second year, 7, 8. Ceremonies observed in laying the foundation, 9-11. Some weep aloud, and others shout for joy, 12-18. NOTES ON CHAP. IIIVerse Ezra 3:1. When the seventh month was come — The month Tisri, which answers to the latter part of our September, and

Nehemiah 7:2 — Verse Nehemiah 7:2. My brother Hanani — This was the person who gave Nehemiah the account of the desolate state of the Jews, Nehemiah 1:2. He is now made ruler of Jerusalem, probably because Nehemiah was about to return to the Persian court. And he found this

Job 10:1 — CHAPTER X Job is weary of life, and expostulates with God, 1-6. He appeals to God for his innocence; and pleads on the weakness of his frame, and the manner of his formation, 7-13. Complains of his sufferings, and prays for respite, 14-20. Describes the state of the dead, 21, 22. NOTES ON CHAP. XVerse Job 10:1. My soul is weary of my life — Here is a proof that נפש nephesh does not signify the animal life, but the soul

Job 11:1 — attempts to justify himself; charges him with secret iniquity, and contends that God inflicts less punishment on him than his iniquities deserve, 1-6. Shows the knowledge and perfections of God to be unsearchable, and that none can resist his power, 7-11. Warns him against vanity of mind, and exhorts him to repentance on the ground that his acceptance with God is still a possible case, and that his latter days may yet become happy and prosperous, 12-20. NOTES ON CHAP. XIVerse Job 11:1. Zophar the

Job 14:14 — live, having accomplished the days of his life? I will endure till I live again." Here is no doubt, but a strong persuasion, of the certainty of the general resurrection.All the days of my appointed time — צבאי tsebai, "of my warfare;" see on Job 7:1. Will I await till חליפתי chaliphathi, my renovation, come. This word is used to denote the springing again of grass, Psalms 90:5-6, after it had once withered, which is in itself a very expressive emblem of the resurrection.

Job 17:1 — complains of the injustice of his friends, and compares his present state of want and wo with his former honour and affluence, 1-6. God's dealings with him will ever astonish upright men; yet the righteous shall not be discouraged, but hold on his way, 7-9. Asserts that there is not a wise man among his friends, and that he has no expectation but of a speedy death, 10-16. NOTES ON CHAP. XVIIVerse Job 17:1. My breath is corrupt — Rather, My spirit is oppressed, רוחי חבלה ruchi chubbalah: My days

Job 5:7 — Verse Job 5:7. Yet man is born unto trouble — לעמל leamal, to labour. He must toil and be careful; and if in the course of his labour he meet with trials and difficulties, he should rise superior to them, and not sink as thou dost.As the sparks By upward. —

Job 7:17 — Verse. Job 7:17. What is man that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? — Two different ideas have been drawn from these words: -1. Man is not worth thy notice; why therefore dost thou contend with him?2. How astonishing

Psalms 130:1 — PSALM CXXX The prayer of a penitent to God, with confession of sin, 1-3. Confidence in God's mercy, and waiting upon him, 4-6. Israel is encouraged to hope in the Lord, because of his willingness to save, 7, 8. NOTES ON PSALM CXXXThis Psalm has no title nor author's name, either in the Hebrew, or in any of the Versions; though the Syriac says it was spoken of Nehemiah the priest. It was most probably composed during the captivity; and contains the complaint

Psalms 20:7 — Verse Psalms 20:7. Some trust in chariots — The words of the original are short and emphatic: These in chariots; and these in horses; but we will record in the name of Jehovah our God. Or, as the Septuagint, μεγαλυνθησομεθα, "we shall be magnified." Or, as the

Psalms 63:7 — Verse Psalms 63:7. Therefore in the shadow of thy wings — I will get into the very secret of thy presence, into the holy of holies, to the mercy-seat, over which the cherubs extend their wings. If the psalmist does not allude to the overshadowing of the mercy-seat

Psalms 7:2 — Verse Psalms 7:2. Lest he tear my soul like a lion — These words seem to answer well to Saul. As the lion is king in the forest; so was Saul king over the land. As the lion, in his fierceness, seizes at once, and tears his prey in pieces; so David expected to

Psalms 8:4 — mindful of him? — That thou settest thy heart upon him, keepest him continually in thy merciful view.And the son of man — ובן אדם uben Adam, and the son of Adam, the first great rebel; the fallen child of a fallen parent. See the note on Job 7:17. Some think eminent men are here intended. What is man in common; what the most eminent men; that thou shouldst be mindful of them, or deign to visit them?That thou visitest him? — By sending thy Holy Spirit to convince him of sin, righteousness,

Proverbs 15:33 — Verse Proverbs 15:33. The fear of the Lord — Proverbs 1:7. Much is spoken concerning this fear;1. It is the beginning of wisdom.2. It is also the beginning of knowledge. And,3. It is the instruction of wisdom. Wisdom derives its most important lessons from the fear of God. He who fears God much, is well taught.And

Proverbs 24:13 — repeatedly partaken. And that our Lord ate it, is evident from Luke 24:42. Nor can any man who has not eaten it in this way feel the full force of the allusions to the honey-comb and its sweetness in several parts of the sacred writings. See 1 Samuel 14:27; Psalms 19:10; Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 27:7; Song of Solomon 4:11; Song of Solomon 5:1; and the place before us.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 — Verse Ecclesiastes 7:10. The former days were better than these? — This is a common saying; and it is as foolish as it is common. There is no weight nor truth in it; but men use it to excuse their crimes, and the folly of their conduct. "In former times, say they,

Isaiah 28:26 — him — All nations have agreed in attributing agriculture, the most useful and the most necessary of all sciences, to the invention and to the suggestions of their deities. "The Most High hath ordained husbandry," saith the son of Sirach, Ecclus. 7:15. Namque Ceres fertur fruges, Liberque liquoris Vitigeni laticem mortalibus instituisse. LUCRETIUS, v. 14. "Ceres has taught mortals how to produce fruits; and Bacchus has taught them how to cultivate the vine." Ὁ δ' ηπιος ανθρωποισι Δεξια σημαινει,

Isaiah 29:13 — to get it explained. See Kimchi on the place.And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men - "And vain is their fear of me teaching the commandments of men"] I read for ותהי vattehi, ותהו vethohu, with the Septuagint, Matthew 15:9; Mark 8:7; and for מלמדה melummedah, מלמדים melummedim, with the Chaldee.

Isaiah 29:17 — Verse Isaiah 29:17. And Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field - "Ere Lebanon become like Carmel"] A mashal, or proverbial saying, expressing any great revolution of things; and, when respecting two subjects, an entire reciprocal change: explained here by some