Bible Commentaries

Ecclesiastes 10:1 — CHAPTER X Observations on wisdom and folly, 1-3. Concerning right conduct towards rulers, 4. Merit depressed, and worthlessness exalted, 5-7. Of him who digs a pit and removes a landmark, 8, 9. The use of wisdom and experience, 10. Of the babbler and the fool, 11-15. The infant king, 16. The well-regulated

Song of Solomon 5:3 — Verse Song of Solomon 5:3. I have put off my coat — The bride must have been in a dream or in much disorder of mind to have made the frivolous excuses here mentioned. The words relate to the case of a person who had gone to take rest on his bed. As they wore nothing but

Isaiah 5:7 — And he looked for judgment — The paronomasia, or play on the words, in this place, is very remarkable; mishpat, mishpach, tsedakah, tseakah. There are many examples of it in the other prophets, but Isaiah seems peculiarly fond of it. See Isaiah 13:6; Isaiah 24:17; Isaiah 32:7; Isaiah 28:1; Isaiah 57:6; Isaiah 61:3; Isaiah 65:11-12. Rabbi David Kimchi has noticed the paronomasia here: he expected משפט mishpat, judgment, but behold משפח mishpach, oppression; he expected צדקה tsedakah, righteousness,

Jeremiah 2:1 — CHAPTER II God expresses his continued regard for his people, long since chosen, 1-3. He then expostulates with them on their ungrateful and worse than heathen return to his regard, 4-11; at which even the inanimate creation must be astonished, 12, 13. After this their guilt is declared to be the sole cause of the calamities which their

Jeremiah 2:18 — Verse Jeremiah 2:18. What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt — Why dost thou make alliances with Egypt?To drink the waters of Sihor? — This means the Nile. See on Isaiah 23:3.The way of Assyria — Why make alliances with the Assyrians? All such connexions will only expedite thy ruin.To drink the waters of the river? — The Euphrates, as נהר nahar or הנהר hannahar always means Euphrates, the country between the

Jeremiah 3:14 — Verse Jeremiah 3:14. I will take you one of a city, and two of a family — If there should be but one of a city left, or one willing to return, and two only of a whole tribe, yet will I receive these, and bring them back from captivity into their own land. I have

Jeremiah 7:18 — children gather wood — Here is a description of a whole family gathered together, and acting unitedly in idolatrous worship.1. The children go and collect wood, and bring it to the place of sacrifice.2. The fathers lay it in order, and kindle a fire.3. The mother and her maids knead dough, make their batch, and out of it form cakes, and bake them for the honour of the queen of heaven; most probably the moon, though perhaps not exclusive of the sun and planets, generally called the host of heaven.Family

Lamentations 3:1 — and showing his trust in God, 21, encourages his people to the like resignation and trust in the Divine and never-failing mercy, 22-27. He vindicates the goodness of God in all his dispensations, and the unreasonableness of murmuring under them, 28-39. He recommends self-examination and repentance; and then, from their experience of former deliverances from God, encourages them to look for pardon for their sins, and retribution to their enemies, 40-66. NOTES ON CHAP. IIIVerse Lamentations 3:1. I

Micah 1:3 — Verse Micah 1:3. For, behold, the Lord cometh forth — See this clause, Amos 4:13. He represents Jehovah as a mighty conqueror, issuing from his pavilion, stepping from mountain to mountain, which rush down and fill the valleys before him; a consuming fire accompanying

Zephaniah 3:10 — Verse Zephaniah 3:10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia — This may denote both Africa and the southern Arabia. Bochart thinks that Arabia Chusaer is meant; and that the rivers are Besor, which flows into the Mediterranean; Rhinocorura, which flows into the Lake

Zephaniah 3:9 — The word has certainly this meaning in Psalms 81:5; where, as God is the speaker, the words should not be rendered, "I heard a language which I understood not," but, "I heard a religious confession, which I approved not." See Isaiah 19:18; Hosea 14:3; and see Joel 2:28, where a similar promise is found.

Zechariah 8:23 — Verse Zechariah 8:23. Ten men - shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew — The converts from among the Gentiles shall be to the Jews as ten to one. But ten may here signify a great number, without comparison. And from this scripture it appears as if the Jews,

Matthew 14:3 — Verse Matthew 14:3. For Herodias' sake — This infamous woman was the daughter of Aristobulus and Bernice, and grand-daughter of Herod the Great. Her first marriage was with Herod Philip, her uncle, by whom she had Salome: some time after, she left her husband, and

Matthew 18:26 — deference, submission, and anxiety.Have patience with me — μακροθυμησον επ' εμοι, be long-minded towards me - give me longer space.The means which a sinner should use to be saved, are,1. Deep humiliation of heart - he fell down.2. Fervent prayer.3. Confidence in the mercy of God - have patience.4. A firm purpose to devote his soul and body to his Maker - I will pay thee all.A sinner may be said, according to the economy of grace, to pay all, when he brings the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to the

Matthew 20:27 — directions of our Lord, we may easily discern what sort of a spirit his ministers should be of.1. A minister of Christ is not to consider himself a lord over Christ's flock.2. He is not to conduct the concerns of the Church with an imperious spirit.3. He is to reform the weak, after Christ's example, more by loving instruction than by reproof or censure.4. He should consider that true apostolic greatness consists in serving the followers of Christ with all the powers and talents he possesses.5.

Matthew 9:3 — Verse Matthew 9:3. This man blasphemeth. — βλασφημεω comes either from βλαπτειν την φημην, to hurt or blast the reputation or credit of another, or from βαλλειν ταις φημαις, to smite with reports. Whenever it is used in reference to GOD, it simply signifies, to

Luke 2:27 — Verse 27. He came by the Spirit into the temple — Probably he had in view the prophecy of Malachi, Malachi 3:1, The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple. In this messenger of the covenant, the soul of Simeon delighted. Now the prophecy was just going to be fulfilled; and the Holy Spirit, who dwelt in the soul of this righteous man, directed

Luke 24:37 — Verse 37. And supposed that they had seen a spirit. — But if there be no such thing as a disembodied spirit, would not our Lord have shown them their error? Instead of this, he confirms them in their opinion, by saying, A spirit hath not flesh and bones

Luke 6:13 — Verse Luke 6:13. He chose twelve — εκλεξαμενος απ αυτων, He chose twelve OUT of them. Our Lord at this time had several disciples, persons who were converted to God under his ministry; and, out of these converts, he chose twelve, whom he appointed to the work

John 1:5 — Verse John 1:5. And the light shineth in darkness — By darkness here may be understood:1. The heathen world, Ephesians 5:8.2. The Jewish people.3. The fallen spirit of man.Comprehended it not. — αυτο ου κατελαβεν, Prevented it not-hindered it not, says Mr. Wakefield, who adds the following judicious note:-"Even in the midst of that darkness of ignorance and idolatry which overspread the