Bible Commentaries

Exodus 37:1 — CHAPTER XXXVII Bezaleel and Aholiab make the ark, 1-5. The mercy-seat, 6. The two cherubim, 7-9. The table of the shew-bread, and its vessels, 10-16. The candlestick, 17-24. The golden altar of incense, 25-28. The holy anointing oil and perfume, 29. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXVIIVerse Exodus 37:1. And Bezaleel made the ark, &c. — For a description of the ark, see Exodus 25:10, &c. Exodus 25:10; Exodus 25:10.

1 Chronicles 22:2 — Verse 1 Chronicles 22:2. The strangers that were in the land — Those who had become proselytes to the Jewish religion, at least so far as to renounce idolatry, and keep what were called the seven Noahic precepts. These were to be employed in the more servile and difficult parts of the work: see on 1 Kings 9:21. For the account of building the temple, see 1 Kings 5:1-28, and the notes there.

2 Chronicles 28:21 — Verse 2 Chronicles 28:21. But he helped him not. — He did him no ultimate service. 2 Kings 16:9.After ver. 2 Chronicles 28:15, the 2 Chronicles 28:23, 2 Chronicles 28:24, and 2 Chronicles 28:25 verses are introduced before the 2 Chronicles 28:16, in the Syriac and Arabic, and the 2 Chronicles 28:22 verse is wholly wanting in both, though some of the expressions may be found in the twenty-first verse.

Job 23:1 — CHAPTER XXIII Job answers; apologizes for his complaining; wishes to plead his cause in the presence of his Maker, from whom he knows he should receive justice; but regrets that he cannot find him, 1-9. He, however, gives himself and his cause up to God, with the conviction of his own innocence, and God's justice and goodness, 10-14. He is, nevertheless, afraid when he considers the majesty of his Maker, 15-17. NOTES ON CHAP. XXIII

Job 9:20 — Verse Job 9:20. If I justify myself — God must have some reason for his conduct towards me; I therefore do not pretend to justify myself; the attempt to do it would be an insult to his majesty and justice. Though I am conscious of none of the crimes of which you accuse me; and know not why he contends with me; yet he must have some reason, and that reason he does not choose to explain.

Psalms 84:9 — Verse Psalms 84:9. Behold, O God, our shield — We have no Protector but thee. Thou seest the deadly blows that are aimed at us; cover our souls; protect our lives!Look upon the face of thine anointed. — Consider the supplications sent up by him whom thou hast appointed to be Mediator between thee and man-thy Christ. But some apply this to David, to Zerubbabel, to the people of Israel; and each has his reasons.

Proverbs 8:9 — Verse Proverbs 8:9. They are all plain — נכחים nechochim, straight forward, over against every man, level to every capacity. This is true of all that concerns the salvation of the soul.To them that find knowledge. — When a man gets the knowledge of himself, then he sees all the threatenings of God to be right. When he obtains the knowledge of GOD in Christ, then he finds that all the promises of God are right - yea and amen.

Leviticus 26:29 — Verse Leviticus 26:29. Ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, &c. — This was literally fulfilled at the siege of Jerusalem. Josephus, WARS of the Jews, book vii., chap. ii., gives us a particular instance in dreadful detail of a woman named Mary, who, in the extremity of the famine during the siege, killed her sucking child, roasted, and had eaten part of it when discovered by the soldiers! See this threatened, Jeremiah 19:9.

Ecclesiastes 9:12 — Verse Ecclesiastes 9:12. As the birds that are caught — Man acts so heedlessly, notwithstanding all his wisdom, and all his warnings, that he is often taken, as a fish is, by the baited hook; and the bird by the baited snare. And thus, an evil time, like the snare, gin, trap, hook, falleth suddenly upon them; and they are taken in a moment, and have no means of escaping. How frequently do we see these comparisons illustrated!

Isaiah 25:9 — Verse Isaiah 25:9. It shall be said - "Shall they say"] So the Septuagint and Vulgate, in the plural number. They read ואמרת veameru, the Syriac reads veamarta, thou shalt say. They shall say, i.e., the Jews and the Gentiles - Lo, this [Jesus Christ] is our God: we have waited for him, according to the predictions of the prophets. We have expected him, and we have not been disappointed; therefore will we be glad, and rejoice in his salvation.

Isaiah 28:16 — Verse Isaiah 28:16. Behold, I lay in Zion — See the notes on the parallel places in the margin (Genesis 49:32; Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; Romans 10:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-8). Kimchi understands this of Hezekiah; but it most undoubtedly belongs to Jesus Christ alone; and his application of it to himself, even the Jews could not contest. See the margin as above.

Isaiah 38:9 — Verse Isaiah 38:9. The writing of Hezekiah — Here the book of Kings deserts us, the song of Hezekiah not being inserted in it. Another copy of this very obscure passage (obscure not only from the concise poetical style, but because it is probably very incorrect) would have been of great service. The MSS. and ancient Versions, especially the latter, will help us to get through some of the many difficulties which we meet with in it.

Isaiah 50:7 — Verse Isaiah 50:7. Therefore have I set my face like a flint — The Prophet Ezekiel, Ezekiel 2:8-9, has expressed this with great force in his bold and vehement manner: "Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, And thy forehead strong against their foreheads: As an adamant, harder than a rock, have I made thy forehead; Fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, Though they be a rebellious house."

Ezekiel 1:27 — Verse Ezekiel 1:27. The colour of amber — There are specimens of amber which are very pure and beautifully transparent. One which I now hold up to the light gives a most beautiful bright yellow colour. Such a splendid appearance had the august Being who sat upon this throne from the reins upward; but from thence downward he had the appearance of fire, burning with a clear and brilliant flame. For farther particulars Ezekiel 10:9.

Daniel 9:26 — Verse Daniel 9:26. And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary — By the "prince" Titus, the son of Vespasian, is plainly intended; and "the people of that prince" are no other than the Romans, who, according to the prophecy, destroyed the sanctuary, הקדש hakkodesh, the holy place or temple, and, as a flood, swept away all, till the total destruction of that obstinate people finished the war.

Hosea 6:9 — Verse Hosea 6:9. As troops of robbers — What a sad picture is this of the state of the priesthood! The country of Gilead was infamous for its robberies and murders. The idolatrous priests there formed themselves into companies, and kept possession of the roads and passes; and if they found any person going to Jerusalem to worship the true God, they put him to death. The reason is given:-For they commit lewdness. — They are gross idolaters.

Numbers 27:17 — Verse Numbers 27:17. That the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd. — This is a beautiful expression, and shows us in what light Moses viewed himself among his people. He was their shepherd; he sought no higher place; he fed and guided the flock of God under the direction of the Divine Spirit, and was faithful in all his Master's house. To this saying of Moses our Lord alludes, Matthew 9:36.

Numbers 28:1 — CHAPTER XXVIII All the offerings of God to be offered in their due season, 1, 2. The continual burnt-offering for the morning, 3-6; and its drink-offering, 7. The continual burnt-offering for the evening, 8. The offerings for the Sabbath, 9, 10. The offerings for the beginning of each month, 11-15. Repetition of the ordinances concerning the passover, 16-25. Ordinances concerning the day of first-fruits or pentecost, 26-31. NOTES ON CHAP. XXVIII

Jonah 3:9 — Verse Jonah 3:9. Who can tell if God will turn and repent — There is at least a peradventure for our salvation. God may turn towards us, change his purpose, and save us alive. While there is life there is hope; God has no pleasure in the death of sinners; he is gracious and compassionate. Himself has prescribed repentance; if we repent, and turn to him from our iniquities, who knows then whether God will not turn, &c.

Judges 13:18 — Verse Judges 13:18. Seeing it is secret? — It was because it was secret that they wished to know it. The angel does not say that it was secret, but הוא פלאי hu peli, it is WONDERFUL; the very character that is given to Jesus Christ, Isaiah 9:6: His name shall be called, פלא Wonderful; and it is supposed by some that the angel gives this as his name, and consequently that he was our blessed Lord.