Bible Commentaries

Psalms 36:5-9 — faithfulness reaches unto the skies" No matter how depraved and wicked men may be, the contrasting glory of God is here set over against it. "God's covenant faithfulness is seen everywhere on earth and also towers into the very heavens."H. C. Leupold, p. 295. "Thy faithfulness... thy righteousness" "The righteousness of God is here distinguished from his faithfulness. His faithfulness is governed by his promises, and his righteousness is determined by his holiness."F. Delitzsch, Vol. V-B, p. 5. "Thou preserveth

Psalms 38:1-10 — the literal description of some disgusting bodily disease? Furthermore, what disease ever fit such a description as that which is found here? This alleged disease was `total muscle fatigue' and `rotten bones'(Psalms 38:3), `stinking wounds' (Psalms 38:5) `arthritic pain that bent him over' (Psalms 38:6) `burning pains in the kidneys,' (Note: In the Hebrew perspective, the loins always meant, `the seat of the emotions'; and this statement is obviously figurative.), `fainting' and `bruises all over him,'

Psalms 66:13-20 — of the sacrifices to be offered indicate ability and wealth upon the part of the psalmist. "With the incense of rams" "The reference here is not to `actual incense' but to the `sweet savour' of the burning sacrifice."J. R. Dummelow's Commentary, p. 354. "All ye that fear God" There is no way that these words can be restricted to Israel alone. "They are addressed in the widest extent, as in Psalms 66:5 and Psalms 66:2, to all who fear God wheresoever such are to be found on the face of the earth."F.

Psalms 84:9-12 — beatitude spoken by the Son of God in the Sermon on the Mount. This is the third time that a blessing is pronounced in this marvelous psalm. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house (Psalms 84:4). Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee (Psalms 84:5).Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee (Psalms 84:12).

Psalms 89:29-37 — witness in the sky." Leupold summarized this paragraph. God's promises to David applied to his descendants also (Psalms 89:29); if they disobey God, God will punish them (Psalms 89:32-33); but God will not cut them off or break his covenant (Psalms 89:33-35); God's covenant is an eternal covenant and will last as long as the created world lasts (Psalms 89:36-37).H. C. Leupold, p. 638. SPECIAL WORDS REGARDING THE THRONE OF DAVID "His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall

Proverbs 6:1-5 — no time is to be lost in obtaining a release from the agreement, which (from the context here) has been apparently agreed to but not yet carried into effect."The Anchor Bible (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1982), Vol. 18, Proverbs, p. 58. In ancient times, the careless assumption of another's financial obligations could bring vast damages upon those thoughtless enough to do it; and, even today, there are examples of very extensive harm that can result from it. This writer knew a great

Song of Solomon 5:1 — "The Shulamite maiden's invitation is accepted by the Shepherd lover. He comes and eats with the bride. `Eat, O friends' is either spoken by the Shepherd inviting others to celebrate their love, or by a chorus."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 584. Note also that this celebration is not taking place in Jerusalem, but in Lebanon. Bunn read the passage as meaning that, "It relates a clandestine meeting between the lovers."Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1972), Vol. 5, p.

Isaiah 29:1-4 — Indeed, they did not; and commentators are still misunderstanding it, as did Peake: "Within a year, Ariel, that is, Jerusalem will be destroyed and will be an altar-hearth indeed, flowing with the blood of human victims."Peake's Commentary Series, p. 456. Absolutely nothing that justifies such statements is in the text. Of course, Ariel does indeed mean Jerusalem. The scholars are practically unanimous on this. It is one of those mystical and symbolical names that one often finds in the writings of

Isaiah 40:27-31 — comment on this tells of a common and popular opinion, "that the eagle lives and retains his vigor to a great age; and that beyond the common lot of other birds, he moults in his old age, and renews his feathers, and with them his youth. Psalms 103:5 has this: `Thou shalt renew thy youth like the eagle.'"Robert Lowth's Commentary, p. 319.

Isaiah 66:18-21 — Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah. And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith Jehovah." Following the terrible picture of the judgment in Isaiah 66:15-17, this paragraph returns to the glory of the New Dispensation, the rescue of the righteous remnant of Israel who, after accepting Christ, appear here as missionaries of the Gospel to the "ends of the earth," as did Paul and others. The names of Tarshish,

Jeremiah 5:1-3 — (1) either that the search was confined to certain classes of people (the magistrates, for example), or (2) that the pious had withdrawn into hiding or retirement."E. Henderson, The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah (London: Hamilton, Adams, and Company, 1851), p. 34. We do not believe any such explanation is necessary. The language here is evidently hyperbole, a figure of speech in which there is a deliberate exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis. Such figures abound throughout the Bible. A New Testament

Jeremiah 51:27-33 — Mannai of the Assyrian inscriptions. They were located in the vicinity of the lakes Van and Urmia and seem to have been a very capable people in warfare. They aided the destruction of Nineveh (612 B.C.) and also participated in the capture of Babylon in 539 B.C.)."The New Bible Dictionary, p. 828. They were vassals of Babylon in the fall of Nineveh, and of the Medes in the fall of Babylon. "The rough canker-worm" This was the name of the locust in its most devastating phase. See under Jeremiah 51:14,

Jeremiah 8:1-3 — a despised enemy. The great thing in this paragraph, however, appears in Jeremiah 8:2, where the five-fold engagement of the Jews with "the hosts of heaven," in their (1) loving them, (2) serving them, (3) walking after them, (4) seeking them, and (5) worshipping them is stressed. Very well, the people through their false leaders have been betrayed into paganism in this worship of the sun, moon, and stars; therefore, the bones of those worshippers are exposed to the sun, moon, and stars, which were

Lamentations 1:8-10 — filthiness was in her skirts." In ancient times, the punishment of an immoral woman was a brutal public display of her naked body, in which her skirts were tied above her head and she was shamefully scourged out of society. (See our commentary under Nahum 3:5 for a further discussion of this type of humiliation.) "She sigheth, and turneth backward" "She turns her back upon her spectators in order to hide herself from their gaze."Barnes' Notes on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989 reprint

Ezekiel 16:15-18 — thee images of men, and didst play the harlot with them; and thou tookest thy broidered garments and coveredst them, and didst set my oil and my incense before them." THE SHAMEFUL PROFLIGACY OF ISRAEL This extensive paragraph encompasses Ezekiel 16:15-34, but we shall subdivide it. "Playedst the harlot… poured out thy whoredoms" Although the particular sins of Israel mentioned in this long paragraph are here listed as "whoredoms," the reference is inclusive of such things as seeking alliances

Ezekiel 20:5-9 — it throughout the Bible. The worship of the Golden Calf was nothing but a throwback to Egyptian idolatry (Exodus 32). "A land that I had searched out for them" The land of Canaan is called, "the glory of all lands," both here and again in Ezekiel 20:15. From the standpoint of its location, this is especially true, being in fact adjacent to three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. Also, the ancient fertility and productivity of Palestine were, at one time, the best on earth. Many changes since those

Ezekiel 30:20-26 — the land of Egypt. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries; and they shall know that I am Jehovah." GOD HAS ALREADY BROKEN PHARAOH'S ARM "Eleventh year, first month, seventh day" "This was April 29,587 B.C."F. F. Bruce in the New Layman's Bible Commentary, p. 897. "This was three months before the fall of Jerusalem and three months later than the prophecy of Ezekiel 29:3."B, p. 375. In the meanwhile Pharaoh-Hophra's attempt to aid Jerusalem had

Ezekiel 37:11-14 — "coming up out of graves," we must seek the meaning here as something that would result in people entering literal Canaan (Ezekiel 37:12; Ezekiel 37:14). Long afterward Jesus Christ used almost the same words to speak of the general resurrection (John 5:27-29). However, almost in the same breath, and only a moment earlier, our Lord used nearly the same words to speak of the conversion of sinners through obedience to his word. As to the meaning here, Keil is correct in his declaration that, "All of

Ezekiel 37:20-23 — that when they shall be brought into the Christian Church with the fullness of the Gentiles, when Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords shall rule over them."Adam Clarke, Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (New York: T. Mason and G. Lane, 1837), Vol. 5, p. 527. Like many other great students of God's Word, Clarke here overlooked the fact that Israel, as represented by the "righteous remnant,' the apostles of Jesus, the ingathering on Pentecost, etc. have already come into Christ who is now ruling

Daniel 2:1 — Nebuchadnezzar was on that first expedition that his father Nabopolassar died; and Nebuchadnezzar suddenly left the front and went back to assume the throne."R. Dick Wilson, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Chicago: Howard-Severance Company, 1915), p. 2127. Thus, in all probability, the training of the Hebrew youths actually began a year before Nebuchadnezzar actually ascended the throne. In any case this is a picayune objection having no substance whatever. "There are too many uncertainties