Bible Commentaries

Isaiah 21:7 — Verse Isaiah 21:7. And he saw a chariot, c. - "And he saw a chariot with two riders a rider on an ass, a rider on a camel"] This passage is extremely obscure from the ambiguity of the term רכב recheb, which is used three times, and which signifies a chariot, or any other

Isaiah 33:7 — Verse Isaiah 33:7. Their valiant ones shall cry without - "The mighty men raise a grievous cry"] Three MSS. read אראלים erelim, that is, lions of God, or strong lions. So they called valiant men heroes; which appellation the Arabians and Persians still use. See Bochart.

Isaiah 58:1 — particularly their hypocrisy in practising and relying on outward ceremonies, such as fasting and bodily humiliation, without true repentance, 1-5. It then lays down a clear and comprehensive summary of the duties they owed to their fellow creatures, 6, 7. Large promises of happiness and prosperity are likewise annexed to the performance of these duties in a variety of the most beautiful and striking images, 8-12. Great temporal and spiritual blessedness of those who keep holy the Sabbath day, 13, 14.

Jeremiah 12:1 — concerning the ways of Providence in permitting the wicked to prosper, 1-4. It is intimated to him that he must endure still greater trials, 5, from his false and deceitful brethren, 6; but that still heavier judgments awaited the nation for their crimes, 7-13. That God, however, would at length have compassion on them; restore them to their land; and turn his judgments against those that oppressed them, if not prevented by their becoming converts to the true religion, 14-17. NOTES ON CHAP. XIIVerse Jeremiah

Daniel 7:8 — Verse Daniel 7:8. Another little horn — Among Protestant writers this is considered to be the popedom.Before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up — These were probably,1. The exarchate of Ravenna.2. The kingdom of the Lombards. And,3. The

Hosea 7:9 — Verse Hosea 7:9. Gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. — The kingdom is grown old in iniquity; the time of their captivity is at hand, and they are apprehensive of no danger. They are in the state of a silly old man, who through age and

Amos 8:1 — CHAPTER VIII This chapter begins with a fourth vision denoting the certainty and nearness of the destruction of Israel, 1-3. The prophet then proceeds to reprove their oppression and injustice, 4-7. Strong and beautiful figures, by which is represented the complete dissolution of the Israelitish polity, 8-10. The people threatened with a most awful judgment; a FAMINE of the word of God, 11-14. NOTES ON CHAP. VIIIVerse Amos 8:1. A basket of summer

Amos 9:7 — Verse Amos 9:7. Children of the Ethiopians — Or Cushites. Cush was the son of Ham, Genesis 10:6; and his descendants inhabited a part of Arabia Petraea and Arabia Felix. All this stock was universally despised. See Bochart.The Philistines from Caphtor —

Micah 6:7 — Verse Micah 6:7. Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams — These might be procured, though with difficulty; but conscience says neither will these do.With ten thousands of rivers of oil — This is absurd and impossible; but could even these be procured,

Micah 7:3 — Verse Micah 7:3. That they may do evil with both hands — That is, earnestly, greedily, to the uttermost of their power. The Vulgate translates: Malum manuum suarum dicunt bonum; "The evil of their hands they call good."The prince asketh — A bribe, to

Matthew 11:1 — CHAPTER XI. Christ, having finished his instructions to his disciples, departs to preach in different cities, 1. John sends two of his disciples to him to inquire whether he were the Christ, 2-6. Christ's testimony concerning John, 7-15. He upbraids the Jews with their capriciousness, 16-19. The condemnation of Chorazin, and Bethsaida, and Capernaum, for their unbelief and impenitence, 20-24. Praises the Divine wisdom for revealing the Gospel to the simple-hearted, 25, 26. Shows

Matthew 15:22 — the state of a sinner, deeply conscious of the misery of his soul.Have mercy an me, c.] How proper is this prayer for a penitent! There are many excellencies contained in it1. It is short;2. humble;3. full of faith;4. fervent;5. modest;6. respectful;7. rational;8. relying only on the mercy of God;9. persevering.Can one who sees himself a slave of the devil, beg with too much earnestness to be delivered from his thraldom?Son of David — An essential character of the true Messiah.

Matthew 17:24 — Verse Matthew 17:24. They that received tribute — This was not a tax to be paid to the Roman government; but a tax for the support of the temple. The law, Exodus 30:13, obliged every male among the Jews to pay half a shekel yearly; for the support of the temple;

Matthew 2:15 — can have to the case in hand, unless we suppose, which is possible, that God might have referred to this future bringing up of his son Jesus from Egypt, under the type of the past deliverance of Israel from the same land. Midrash Tehillin, on Psalms 2:7, has these remarkable words: I will publish a decree: this decree has been published in the Law, in the Prophets, and in the Hagiographia. In the Law, Israel is my first-born son: Exodus 4:22. In the Prophets, Behold, my servant shall deal prudently:

Matthew 22:38 — things, and secures to him his proper rank in relation to them.5. In sufficiency; being in itself capable of making men holy in this life, and happy in the other.6. In fruitfulness; because it is the root of all commandments, and the fulfilling of the law.7. In virtue and efficacy; because by this alone God reigns in the heart of man, and man is united to God.8. In extent; leaving nothing to the creature, which it does not refer to the Creator.9. In necessity; being absolutely indispensable.10. In duration;

Matthew 23:1 — CHAPTER XXIII. The character of the scribes and Pharisees, and directions to the people and the disciples to receive the law from them, but not to follow their bad example, 1-7. The disciples exhorted to humility, 8-12. Different woes pronounced against the scribes and Pharisees for their intolerance, 13; rapacity, 14; false zeal, 15; superstition in oaths and tithes, 16-23; hypocrisy, 24-28. Their cruelty, 29-32. Their persecution

Matthew 26:7 — Verse Matthew 26:7. There came unto him a woman — There is much contention among commentators about the transaction mentioned here, and in John 12:3; some supposing them to be different, others to be the same. Bishop Newcome's view of the subject I have placed at

Matthew 3:12 — Verse Matthew 3:12. Whose fan is in his hand] The Romans are here termed God's fan, as, in Matthew 3:10, they were called his axe, and, in Matthew 22:7, they are termed his troops or armies.The winnowing fan of the Hindoos is square, made of split bamboo; and the corn is winnowed by waving the fan backwards with both hands-"Whose fan is in his hand."His floor — Does not this mean the land of

Matthew 7:21 — Verse Matthew 7:21. Not every one — ου πας, a Hebraism, say some, for no person. It is a Graecism and a Latinism too: ου παντων θεων, not ALL of the gods, i.e. not ANY of the gods, HOM. Odyss. Z. 240. So TERENCE Sine omni periclo, without ALL danger, i.e. without

Matthew 7:25 — Verse Matthew 7:25. And the rain descended - floods came - winds blew — In Judea, and in all countries in the neighbourhood of the tropics, the rain sometimes falls in great torrents, producing rivers, which sweep away the soil from the rocky hills; and the houses,