Bible Commentaries

Exodus 32:1 — CHAPTER XXXII The Israelites, finding that Moses delayed his return, desire Aaron to make them gods to go before them, 1. Aaron consents, and requires their ornaments, 2. They deliver them to him, and he makes a molten calf, 3, 4. He builds an altar before it, 5; and the people offer burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, 6. The Lord commands Moses to go down, telling him that the people had corrupted themselves, 7, 8. The Lord is angry, and threatens to destroy them, 9, 10. Moses

Exodus 32:4 — Verse Exodus 32:4. Fashioned it with a graving tool — There has been much controversy about the meaning of the word חרט cheret in the text: some make it a mould, others a garment, cloth, or apron; some a purse or bag, and others a graver. It is likely that some

2 Kings 18:4 — Verse 2 Kings 18:4. Brake in pieces the brazen serpent. — The history of this may be seen in Numbers 21:8; Numbers 21:9; see the notes there.We find that this brazen serpent had become an object of idolatry, and no doubt was supposed to possess, as a telesm or amulet,

Psalms 117:2 — salvation; and then, when fulfilled, praise him for the enjoyment of this salvation, - for the remission of sins, and gift of the Holy Ghost.2. He speaks to the converted Jews, whom he notes under the name of people, as they are called Psalms 2:1; Acts 4:25. As they and the Gentiles are intended to make one Church, so they should join in the praise of him of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.II. The reason given: - 1. Because his mercy is great. It is strong; confirmed toward us, in

Psalms 119:32 — He returns to his confession, and states what he purposes to do.1. "My soul melts:" I am full of trouble and distress.2. "Strengthen thou me:" Give me the grace thou hast promised.3. "Remove from me the way of lying:" Give me power to avoid all sin.4. "Grant me thy law graciously:" Print the matter of it in my heart, and abolish my corruption.5. He chooses the truth.6. He adheres to it.7. He will continue in it.8. Yea, and with greater diligence than ever. To make up for lost time, he will now run:

Psalms 120:7 — shall fall on such deceivers and slanderers.1. Arrows - which wound afar off, suddenly and invisibly.2. Sharp arrows, well-headed and keen, that can pierce deeply.3. "Sharp arrows of the mighty," shot by a strong hand, and so much the more dangerous.4. "With coals - inflamed arrows," such as set all things on fire.5. "With coals of juniper," which of all coals are the hottest, and keep fire the longest.III. The psalmist complains of his banishment.1. He laments his situation on account of the wickedness

Psalms 131:3 — afflictions will wear out. No; look to God, and depend on him, that he may bring them to a happy conclusion.Remember that he is Jehovah.1. Wise to plan.2. Good to purpose.3. Strong to execute, and will withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly.4. Trust from henceforth. If you have not begun before, begin now.5. And do not be weary; trust for ever. Your case can never be out of the reach of God's power and mercy.

Psalms 14:1 — PSALM XIV The sentiments of atheists and deists, who deny the doctrine of a Divine providence. Their character: they are corrupt, foolish, abominable, and cruel, 1-4. God fills them with terror, 5; reproaches them for their oppression of the poor, 6. The psalmist prays for the restoration of Israel, 7. NOTES ON PSALM XIVThere is nothing particular in the title; only it is probable that the word לדוד ledavid, of

Psalms 65:1 — PSALM LXV God is praised for the fulfilment of his promises, and for his mercy in forgiving sins, 1-,3. He is praised for the wonders that he works in nature, which all mankind must acknowledge, 4-8; for the fertilizing showers which he sends upon the earth, and the abundance thereby produced both for men and cattle, 9-13. NOTES ON PSALM LXVThe title, "To the chief Musician or conqueror, a Psalm and Song of David." So the Hebrew; and, in effect,

Psalms 95:1 — of his favour, 8-11. NOTES ON PSALM XCVThis Psalm is also without a title, both in the Hebrew and Chaldee: but is attributed to David by the Vulgate, Septuagint, AEthiopic, Arabic, and Syriac; and by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Hebrews 4:3-7. Calmet and other eminent critics believe that it was composed during the time of the captivity, and that the apostle only followed the common opinion in quoting it as the production of David, because in general the Psalter was attributed to him.The

Isaiah 11:1 — CHAPTER XI The Messiah represented as a slender twig shooting up from the root of an old withered stem, which tender plant, so extremely weak in its first appearance, should nevertheless become fruitful and mighty, 1-4. Great equity of the Messiah's government, 5. Beautiful assemblages of images by which the great peace and happiness of his kingdom are set forth, 6-8. The extent of his dominion shall be ultimately that of the whole habitable globe, 9. The prophet,

Isaiah 14:4 — Verse Isaiah 14:4. This proverb - "This parable"] משל mashal, I take this to be the general name for poetic style among the Hebrews, including every sort of it, as ranging under one or other, or all of the characters, of sententious, figurative, and sublime; which

Isaiah 23:1 — years before its accomplishment, at a period when the Tyrians were in great prosperity, and the Babylonians in abject subjection to the Assyrian empire; and, consequently, when an event of so great magnitude was improbable in the highest degree, 1-14. Tyre shall recover its splendour at the termination of seventy years, the days of ONE king, or kingdom, by which must be meant the time allotted for the duration of the Babylonish empire, as otherwise the prophecy cannot be accommodated to the event,

Isaiah 24:1 — CHAPTER XXIV Dreadful judgments impending over the people of God, 1-4. Particular enumeration of the horrid impieties which provoked the Divine vengeance, 5, 6. Great political wretchedness of the transgressors, 7-12. The calamities shall be so great that only a small remnant shall be left in the land, as it were the

Isaiah 49:17 — Verse Isaiah 49:17. Thy children shall make haste - "They that destroyed thee shall soon become thy builders"] Auctor Vulgatae pro בניך banayich, videtur legisse בוניך bonayich, unde vertit, structores tui; cui et Septuaginta fere consentiunt, qui verterunt ωκοδομηθης,

Isaiah 52:2 — ὑπο δε θρηνυς ποσιν ηεν. Iliad xviii. 389. "High on a throne, with stars of silver graced, And various artifice, the queen she placed; A footstool at her feet." POPE. Ὁ γαρ θρονος αυτος μονον ελευθεριος εστι καθεδρα συν ὑποποδιῳ. Athenaeus, v. 4."A throne is nothing more than a handsome sort of chair with a footstool." - L.

Jeremiah 8:1 — threatened in the last chapter are here declared to extend to the very dead, whose tombs should be opened, and the carcasses treated with every mark of indignity, 1-3. From this the prophet returns to reprove them for their perseverance in transgression, 4-6; and for their thoughtless stupidity, which even the instinct of the brute creation, by a beautiful contrast, is made to upbraid, 7-9. This leads to farther threatening expressed in a variety of striking terms, 10-13. Upon which a chorus of Jews is

Ezekiel 34:4 — Verse Ezekiel 34:4. The diseased have ye not strengthened — No person is fit for the office of a shepherd, who does not well understand the diseases to which sheep are incident, and the mode of cure. And is any man fit for the pastoral office, or to be a shepherd

Deuteronomy 33:29 — the reader is therefore requested to compare the two places, and to consider the notes on each, as they have some tendency to cast light on each other. Both these chapters constitute a part of those Scriptures which, according to St. Paul, Romans 15:4, were written for our learning; and, as to instruct the reader and make him wise unto salvation was the gracious design of God, we should particularly beg of him "that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that,

Joshua 3:16 — have been easily accumulated, the whole Israelitish army would have all got safely to the opposite side.Very far from the city Adam - beside Zaretan — Where these places were it is difficult to say. The city Adam is wholly unknown. From 1 Kings 4:12 we learn that Zartanah was below Jezreel near Bethshean, or Scythopolis, and not far from Succoth, 1 Kings 7:46. And it appears from Genesis 33:17, Joshua 13:27, that Succoth lay on the east side of Jordan, not far from the lake of Gennesareth; and