Bible Commentaries

Genesis 25:1 — CHAPTER XXV Abraham marries Keturah, 1. Their issue, 2-4. Makes Isaac his heir, 5; but gives portions to the sons of his concubines, and sends them eastward from Isaac, to find settlements, 6. Abraham's age, 7, and death, 8. Is buried by his sons Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah, 9, 10. God's blessing

Psalms 119:128 — justice."2. Though he had done so, yet he was not free from calumny and oppression. He commends, therefore, his righteous cause to God: "Leave me not to mine oppressors."3. "Be surety for thy servant:" give me an assurance that thou wilt stand by me.4. "Let not the proud oppress me." For miserable are the destitute when they fall into such hands.II. He shows us how he had prayed against his enemies, and for God's salvation."Mine eyes fail." My faith is almost gone, and the eye of my mind become dim.2.

Psalms 119:136 — The prophecies are wonderful, as predicting things, humanly speaking, so uncertain, and at such great distance of time, with so much accuracy.3. The decalogue is wonderful, as containing in a very few words all the principles of justice and charity.4. Were we to go to the New Testament, here wonders rise on wonders! All is astonishing; but the psalmist could not have had this in view.The second eulogy is, that God's law is the dispenser of light.1. The entrance of it, the first chapter of Genesis;

Psalms 119:160 — ever. They are true, and ever will be true.ANALYSIS OF LETTER RESH. - Twentieth DivisionI. 1. The psalmist begins with a petition: "Consider my affliction."2. Begs that God would help him: "Deliver me."3. The reason for both: "I do not forget thy law."4. He begs God to be his Advocate: 1. "Plead my cause." At the bar of men a just cause often miscarries for want of an able advocate, and is borne down by an unjust judge. Be thou my Advocate, and I shall not fail. 2. "Quicken me:" Revive my hopes, give

Psalms 23:4 — Verse Psalms 23:4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death — The reference is still to the shepherd. Though I, as one of the flock, should walk through the most dismal valley, in the dead of the night, exposed to pitfalls, precipices, devouring

Psalms 64:10 — Verse Psalms 64:10. The righteous shall be glad — They shall see that God does not abandon his followers to the malice of bad men. The rod of the wicked may come into the heritage of the just; but there it shall not rest. Calmet thinks that this is a prediction

Isaiah 21:11 — against the impenitent, the backslider, the lukewarm, and the careless.3. When the watchman threatens judgments, some are awakened, and some mock: Watchman, what of the night? "What are the judgments thou threatenest, and when are they to take place?"4. To this question, whether seriously or tauntingly proposed, the watchman answers:1. The morning cometh - there is a time of repentance granted; a morning of God's long - suffering kindness now appears: and also the night - the time in which God will

Isaiah 27:4 — Verse Isaiah 27:4. Fury is not in me - "I have no wall"] For חמה chemah, anger, the Septuagint and Syriac read חומה chomah, wall. An ancient MS. has חימה cheimah. For בה bah, in her, two MSS. read בם bam, in them, plural. The vineyard wishes for a wall and a fence of

Habakkuk 3:1 — clothing them in the most lofty language. As he goes along, his fancy becomes more glowing, till at length he is transported to the scene of action, and becomes an eyewitness of the wonders he describes. "I beheld the tents of Cushan in affliction," 4-6. After having touched on the principal circumstances of that deliverance which he celebrates, he returns to what passed before them in Egypt his enthusiasm having led him to begin in the midst of his subject, 7-15. And at last he ends the hymn as

John 15:26 — Verse John 15:26. But when the Comforter is come — John 14:16.Ver. John 15:26-27. He shall testify and ye also shall bear witness] He shall bear his testimony in your souls, and ye shall bear this testimony to the world. And so they did, by their miracles, their preaching, their writings, their lives, and by

Acts 11:26 — Gentiles. Saul appears also to have been a thorough master of the Greek tongue, and, consequently, the better qualified to explain the Gospel to the Greek philosophers, and to defend it against their cavils. Barnabas, also being a native of Cyprus, Acts 4:36, where the Greek language was spoken, was judged to be proper for this mission, perhaps on this account, as well as on account of his disinterestedness, holiness, and zeal.And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. — It is evident

Acts 22:3 — Gamaliel, according to the most exact manner, being exceedingly zealous for the law of our fathers, as ye all are this day.Born in Tarsus — Acts 9:11; and Acts 21:39.Feet of Gamaliel — See a full account of this man in Clarke's note on "Acts 5:34".It has been generally supposed that the phrase, brought up at the feet, is a reference to the Jewish custom, viz. that the disciples of the rabbins sat on low seats, or on the ground, whilst the rabbin himself occupied a lofty chair. But we rather

Acts 25:13 — King Agrippa — This was the son of Herod Agrippa, who is mentioned Acts 12:1. Upon the death of his father's youngest brother, Herod, he succeeded him in the kingdom of Chalcis, by the favour of the Emperor Claudius: Jos. Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 4, s. 2; and Bell. lib. ii. cap. 12, s. 1. Afterwards, Claudius removed him from that kingdom to a larger one, giving him the tetrarchy of Philip, which contained Trachonitis, Batanea, and Gaulonitis. He gave him, likewise, the tetrarchy of Lysanias,

Romans 5:1 — CHAPTER V. The effects of justification by faith, peace with God, 1. The joyous hope of eternal glory, 2. Glorying in tribulations, 3. And gaining thereby patience, experience, and hope, 4. And having the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit, 5. The state of the world when Christ died for it, 6-10. Jesus Christ is an atonement, 11. Sin and death entered into the world by Adam's transgression, and all became guilty before

Romans 7:1 — believers are delivered from the Mosaic law by Christ Jesus, and united to God, 5-7. By the law is the knowledge of sin, 8. But it gives no power over it, 9-11. Yet it is holy, just, and good, 12. How it convinces of sin, and brings into bondage, 13-24. No deliverance from its curse but by Jesus Christ, 25. NOTES ON CHAP. VII.The apostle having, in the preceding chapter, shown the converted Gentiles the obligations they were under to live a holy life, addresses himself here to the Jews who might hesitate

Romans 8:19 — emptiness of the mind. So the apostle, speaking of the Gentiles concerning whom he speaks here, tells us εματαιωθησαν, They became vain in their imaginations, Romans 1:21; and again, The Gentiles walk εν ματαιοτητι, in the vanity of their mind, Ephesians 4:17; so also, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, ὁτι εισι ματαιοι, that they are vain, 1 Corinthians 3:20. To all which let me add this farther observation, that throughout this whole place the apostle seems to allude to the bondage of the Israelites

1 Corinthians 1:31 — Verse 1 Corinthians 1:31. According as it is written — In Jeremiah 9:23-24: Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this: That he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord,

Hebrews 10:20 — vindicta. This way, says Dr. Owen, is new,1. Because it was but newly made and prepared. 2. Because it belongs unto the new covenant.3. Because it admits of no decays, but is always new, as to its efficacy and use, as in the day of its first preparation. 4. The way of the tabernacle waxed old, and so was prepared for a removal; but the Gospel way of salvation shall never be altered, nor changed, nor decay; it is always new, and remains for ever.It is also called ζωσαν, living,1. In opposition to the way

Hebrews 7:26 — and holy within; injuring none, but rather living for the benefit of others.3. He was undefiled, αμιαντος answering to the Hebrew באל מום baal mum, without blemish - having no bodily imperfection. Nothing low, mean, base, or unbecoming in his conduct.4. He was separate from sinners, κεχωρισμενος απο των ἁμαρτωλων. By his office he was separated from all men and worldly occupations, and entirely devoted to the service of God. And as to sinners, or heathens, he was never to be found in their society.5.

Revelation 2:1 — CHAPTER II. The epistle to the Church of Ephesus, commending their labour and patience, 1-3. And, reprehending their having left their first love, exhorting them to repent, with the promise of the tree of life, 4-7. The epistle to the Church of Smyrna, commending their piety, and promising them support in their tribulation, 8-11. The epistle to the Church of Pergamos, commending their steadfastness in the heavenly doctrine, 12, 13. And reprehending their laxity