Bible Commentaries

Psalms 107:10 — death." The place where death reigns, over which he has projected his shadow; those against whom the sentence of death has been pronounced.3. They are bound in this darkness, have no liberty to revisit the light, and cannot escape from their executioners.4. They are afflicted, not only by want and privation in general, but they are tortured in the prison, עני oni, afflicted, humbled, distressed.5. Their fetters are such as they cannot break; they are iron. The reason of their being in this wretched state

Psalms 16:8 — our Lord did, said, or suffered, he kept the glory of the Father and the accomplishment of his purpose constantly in view. He tells us that he did not come down from heaven to do his own will, but the will of the Father who had sent him. See John 17:4.He is at my right hand — That is, I have his constant presence, approbation, and support. All this is spoken by Christ as man.I shall not be moved. — Nothing can swerve me from my purpose nothing can prevent me from fulfilling the Divine

Psalms 17:4 — Verse Psalms 17:4. The paths of the destroyer. — Some render, hard or difficult paths, the sense of which is given above. But the passage is exceedingly obscure. My old Psalter translates and paraphrases as follows: -Trans. That my mouthe speke noght the werkes

Psalms 67:1 — kingdom, 1, 2; calls upon all nations to serve him, because he judges and governs righteously, 3-5; promises prosperity to the faithful and obedient, 6, 7. NOTES ON PSALM LXVIIThe title here is the same with that of Psalm iv., where see the notes. Psalms 4:1. It is supposed to have been written at the return from the Babylonish captivity, and to foretell the conversion of the Gentiles to the Christian religion. The prayer for their salvation is very energetic.Verse Psalms 67:1. God be merciful unto us

Psalms 69:12 — heard. No doubt many vexatious complaints were made against the poor captives; and false accusations, through which they grievously suffered; so that, literally, they were often "obliged to restore that which they had not taken away." See Psalms 69:4.The song of the drunkards. — These poor miserable people were exposed to all sorts of indignities. Though the conduct is base, the exultation over a fallen enemy is frequent. How miserable was this lot! Forsaken by friends, scorned by enemies,

Psalms 70:1 — PSALM LXX The psalmist prays for speedy deliverance, 1; prays against those who sought his life, 2, 3; and for the blessedness of those who sought God, 4; urges his speedy deliverance, 5. NOTES ON PSALM LXXThe title in the Hebrew is, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. There seems little sense in this title. It seems to intimate that the Psalm was written as a memorial

Psalms 91:12 — charge. From God thou art to expect them; and for their help he alone is to receive the praise. It is expressly said, He shall give his angels charge; to show that they are not to be prayed to nor praised; but GOD alone, whose servants they are. Matthew 4:6.

Proverbs 8:15 — just laws and their righteous administration come from this source. In this and the following verse five degrees of civil power and authority are mentioned.1. מלכים melachim, KINGS.2. רזנים rozenim, CONSULS.3. שרים sarim, PRINCES, CHIEFS of the people.4. נדיבים nedibim, NOBLES. And5. שפטים shophetim, JUDGES or CIVIL MAGISTRATES.All orders of government are from God. Instead of שפטי ארץ shophetey arets,"judges of the earth," שפטי צרק shophetey tsedek, "righteous judges," or "judges of righteousness,"

Ecclesiastes 11:1 — CHAPTER XI Give alms to all, 1-4. The works of God unknown to man, 5. Diligence necessary, 6. Prosperity frequently succeeded by adversity, 7, 8. There will be a day of judgment, 9, 10. NOTES ON CHAP. XIVerse Ecclesiastes 11:1. Cast thy bread upon the waters — An allusion to

Isaiah 61:4 — Verse Isaiah 61:4. "And they that spring from thee"] A word is lost here likewise. After ובנו ubanu, "they shall build," add ממך mimmecha, they that spring from thee. Four MSS. have it so, (two of them ancient,) and one of mine has it in the margin, and it is confirmed

Jeremiah 28:9 — not overthrow this city; and that in two years from this time, not only the sacred vessels already taken away shall be restored, but also that Jeconiah and all the Jewish captives shall be restored, and the Babylonish yoke broken, see Jeremiah 28:2-4. Now I say that Nebuchadnezzar will come this year, and destroy this city, and lead away the rest of the people into captivity, and the rest of the sacred vessels; and that there will be no restoration of any kind till seventy years from this time.

Jeremiah 7:23 — - paid no regard to my word.2. They inclined not the ear - showed no disposition to attend to my counsels.3. They walked in the imaginations of their evil heart - followed its irregular and impure motions, rather than the holy dictates of my Spirit.4. They went backward and not forward. Instead of becoming more wise, obedient, and holy, they grew more corrupt; so that they became more profligate than their fathers.

Hosea 10:4 — Verse Hosea 10:4. They have spoken words — Vain, empty, deceitful words.Swearing falsely — This refers to the alliances made with strange powers, to whom they promised fidelity without intending to be faithful; and from whom they promised themselves protection

Hosea 14:4 — Verse Hosea 14:4. I will heal their backsliding — Here is the answer of God to these prayers and resolutions. See its parts: -1. Ye have backslidden and fallen, and are grievously and mortally wounded by that fall; but I, who am the Author of life, and who redeem

Hosea 4:3 — Verse Hosea 4:3. Therefore shall the land mourn — Fruitful seasons shall be denied.That dwelleth therein shall languish — Endemic and epidemic disorders shall prevail, and multitudes shall die; so that mourning shall be found in all quarters.The beasts

Amos 4:10 — Verse Amos 4:10. I have sent - the pestilence — After the blasting and the mildew, the pestilence came; and it acted among them as one of the plagues of Egypt. Besides this, he had suffered their enemies to attack and prevail against them; alluding to the

Amos 7:17 — were executed.1. His wife was to be a public prostitute; she was probably such already privately in the temple, as the wife of an idolatrous priest.2. His sons and daughters were to fall by the sword. 3. Their inheritance was to be taken by strangers.4. And himself was to die a captive in a heathen land.Israel shall surely go into captivity — He now declares fully what he had not declared before, though Amaziah had made it a subject of accusation. This particular was probably revealed at this

Jonah 1:17 — scarcely admit a man's leg; but it might have been a shark, which abounds in the Mediterranean, and whose mouth and stomach are exceedingly capacious. In several cases they have been known to swallow a man when thrown overboard. See the note on Matthew 12:40, where the whole subject of this verse is considered at large. That days and nights do not, among the Hebrews, signify complete days and nights of twenty-four hours, see Esther 4:16, compared with Esther 5:1; Judges 14:17-18. Our Lord lay in the grave

Jonah 4:3 — Verse Jonah 4:3. Take, I beseech thee, my life from me — קח נא את נפשי kach na eth naphshi, "Take, I beseech thee, even my soul." Do not let me survive this disgrace. Thou hast spared this city. I thought thou wouldst do so, because thou art merciful and gracious,

Micah 5:4 — Verse Micah 5:4. He shall stand and feed — The Messiah shall remain with his followers, supporting and governing them in the strength and majesty of the Lord, with all the miraculous interferences of his power, and all the glories of his grace.And they shall