Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 2:23 — soldier, or one fit to go out to battle; and is so translated in a multitude of places in our common English version. I shall mention but a few, because they are sufficiently decisive: Isaac was called נער naar when twenty-eight years old, Genesis 21:5-12; and Joseph was so called when he was thirty-nine, Genesis 41:12. Add to these 1 Kings 20:14: "And Ahab said, By whom [shall the Assyrians be delivered into my hand?] And he said, Thus saith the Lord, by the YOUNG MEN, בנערי benaarey, of the princes

Job 28:16 — is of several colours, and from them it has obtained several names.1. The transparent or translucent is called the white sapphire.2. The blue is called the oriental sapphire.3. The violet blue, the oriental amethyst.4. The yellow, the oriental topaz.5. The green, the oriental emerald.6. That with pearly reflections, the opalescent sapphire.7. When transparent, with a pale, reddish, or bluish reflection, it is called the girasol sapphire.8. A variety which, when polished, shows a silvered star of

Job 28:18 — from this remarkable property of coral, "it always grows from the tops of marine rocky caverns with the head downwards." Red coral is found in the Mediterranean, about the isles of Majorca and Minorca, on the African coast, and in the Ethiopic ocean.5. גביש gabish, PEARLS, from גבש gabash, in Arabic, to be smooth, to shave off the hair; and hence gabish, the pearl, the smooth round substance; and also hail or hailstones, because of their resemblance to pearls. The pearl is the production of a shell-fish

Psalms 119:96 — those forget them who reap no good from them.2. This word had quickened him, i.e., God speaking and working by that word.3. He will therefore be the Lord's servant for ever: "I am thine."4. He knows he cannot continue so, but by Divine help: "Save me!"5. He shows his love to God's word: "He seeks his precepts," that he may obey them.III. He needed the help of God, because he had inveterate enemies. These he describes:1. By their diligence: "The wicked have waited for me."2. By their cruelty: "They

Psalms 135:21 — Verse Psalms 135:21. Blessed be the Lord out of Zion — Who has once more restored our temple and city, and now condescends to dwell with us in Jerusalem.ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH PSALMIn this Psalm the prophet invites the servants of God, and especially

Psalms 138:8 — bow it is the symbol of his presence.4. "And praise thy name," c. From a feeling sense of thy goodness. 1. "For thy lovingkindness," &c. In calling me to the kingdom from the sheepfold. 2. "And for thy truth." In performing thy promise. By which,5. "Thou hast magnified," &c. This clause is differently read. "Thou hast magnified thy name in thy word by performing thy word above all things." Or, "Thou hast magnified thy name and thy word above all things." See the notes.6. "In the day when

Psalms 15:3 — Verse Psalms 15:3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue — לא רגל על לשנו lo ragal al leshono, "he foots not upon his tongue."4. He is one who treats his neighbour with respect. He says nothing that might injure him in his character, person, or property; he

Psalms 16:1 — to leave his own country through Saul's persecution, cries to God for help; expresses his abhorrence of idolatry, and his desire to be again united to God's people, 1-4; and declares his strong confidence in God, who had dealt bountifully with him, 5-7. Then follows a remarkable prophecy of the resurrection of Christ, 8-11. NOTES ON PSALM XVIThe title of this Psalm in the Hebrew is מכתם לדוד michtam ledavid, which the Chaldee translates, "A straight sculpture of David." The Septuagint, Στηλογραφια

Psalms 18:1 — PSALM XVIII David's address of thanks to Jehovah, 1-3. A relation of sufferings undergone, and prayers made for assistance, 4-6. A magnificent description of Divine interposition in behalf of the sufferer, 7-15; and of the deliverance wrought for him, 16-19. That this deliverance was in consideration of his righteousness, 20-24; and according to the tenor of God's equitable proceedings, 25-28. To Jehovah is ascribed the glory of the victory, 29-36; which is

Psalms 52:9 — Verse Psalms 52:9. I will praise thee for ever — Because I know that all my good comes from thee; therefore, will I ever praise thee for that good.I will wait on thy name — I will expect all my blessings from the all-sufficient Jehovah, who is eternal

Isaiah 35:1 — of our God. 3. Strengthen ye the feeble hands, And confirm ye the tottering knees. 4. Say ye to the faint-hearted, Be ye strong; Fear ye not; behold your God! Vengeance will come; the retribution of God: He himself will come, and will deliver you. 5. Then shall be unclosed the eyes of the blind; And the ears of the deaf shall be opened: 6. Then shall the lame bound like the hart, And the tongue of the dumb shall sing; For in the wilderness shall burst forth waters, And torrents in the desert:

Isaiah 40:3 — Isaiah, or from the common notions of his countrymen: "For God hath appointed that every high hill, and banks of long continuance, should be cast down, and valleys filled up, to make even the ground, that Israel may go safely in the glory of God." Baruch 5:7.The Jewish Church, to which John was sent to announce the coming of Messiah, was at that time in a barren and desert condition, unfit, without reformation, for the reception of her King. It was in this desert country, destitute at that time of all

Isaiah 64:5 — Verse Isaiah 64:5. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness - "Thou meetest with joy those who work righteousness"] The Syriac reads פוגע אתה שש בעשי poga attah shesh baashi, as above.In those is continuance, and we shall be saved - "Because of our deeds,

Isaiah 9:5 — Verse Isaiah 9:5. Every battle of the warrior - "The greaves of the armed warrior"] שאון שאון seon soen. This word, occurring only in this place, is of very doubtful signification. Schindler fairly tells us that we may guess at it by the context. The Jews have explained

Isaiah 9:7 — in the way of ordinary generation. He is a Son given-the human nature, in which the fulness of the Godhead was to dwell, being produced by the creative energy of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin. See Matthew 1:20-21; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 1:25, and Luke 1:35, and Isaiah 7:14, and the notes on those passages. As being God manifested in the flesh, he was wonderful in his conception, birth, preaching, miracles, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension; wonderful in his person, and wonderful

Micah 6:8 — Newcome, on Micah 6:1; Micah 6:2, by calling on man to urge his plea in the face of all nature, and on the inanimate creation to hear the expostulation of Jehovah with his people, is truly awakening and magnificent. The words of Jehovah follow in Micah 6:3-5. And God's mercies having been set before the people, one of them is introduced in a beautiful dramatic form; asking what his duty is towards so gracious a God, Micah 6:6; Micah 6:7. The answer follows in the words of the prophet, Micah 6:8. Some think

Zechariah 9:1 — afterwards by Alexander. Some apply the beginning of this chapter (1-7) to the one event, and some to the other. The close of the seventh verse relates to the number of Philistines that should become proselytes to Judaism; (see Joseph. Antiq. xiv. 15, 4;) and the eighth, to the watchful providence of God over his temple in those troublesome times. From this the prophet passes on to that most eminent instance of God's goodness to his Church and people, the sending of the Messiah, with an account

Matthew 6:5 — Verse Matthew 6:5. And when thou prayest — Οταν προσευχη. Προσευχη, prayer, is compounded of προς with, and ευχη a vow, because to pray right, a man binds himself to God, as by a vow, to live to his glory, if he will grant him his grace, c. ευχομαι signifies to

Mark 16:18 — to give, when such a proof may be serviceable to the cause of truth, this evidence of their being continually under the power and protection of God, and that all nature is subject to him. This also was literally fulfilled in the case of Paul, Acts 28:5.If they drink any deadly thing — θανασιμον (φαρμακον) being understood-if they should through mistake, or accident, drink any poisonous matter, their constant preserver will take care that it shall not injure them. See a similar promise, Isaiah

Judges 4:24 — Canaan.2. That peace was no doubt made, as all transactions of the kind were, with a sacrifice and an oath.3. Sisera, knowing this, came to her tent with the utmost confidence.4. She met him with the most friendly greetings and assurances of safety.5. Having asked for water, to show her friendship and respect she gave him cream, and that in a vessel suitable to his dignity.6. She put him in the secret part of her own tent, and covered him in such a way as to evidence her good faith, and to inspire