Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 17:1 — Baal, is the God of Israel, and that he is the LIVING God, such as Baal was not"!The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 381. "There shall not be dew nor rain these years." "Drought was the threatened punishment for national idolatry (Deuteronomy 11:16-17; 2 Samuel 2:3)"Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary, p. 225.

2 Kings 12:4-8 — the house. And the priests consented that they should take no more money from the people, neither repair the breaches of the house." "In current money" "Three kinds of money are mentioned here: (1) the half-shekel required by the Law (Exodus 30:13); (2) the money paid by those who had devoted themselves or made vows, a variable sum depending on age, sex, and property (Leviticus 27:2-8); and (3) the money offered in the way of free-will offerings."Albert Barnes, Kings, p. 260. The narrative in this

2 Kings 23:21-23 — which was necessarily so in the absence of any other possibility. But Moses, writing in Deuteronomy 16:1-8, instructed the children of Israel to observe the Passover in the place that "Jehovah should choose, for his name to dwell there." (Deuteronomy 16:2). The Book of Deuteronomy is ABSOLUTELY Mosaic, there being no evidence of any kind whatever of any other author having ever touched it. The instructions which the king ordered to be followed in the observance of this passover were not in that alleged

2 Kings 24:1-7 — fathers; and Jehoiakin his son reigned in his stead. And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land; for the king of Babylon had taken, from the brook of Egypt unto the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt." Right here in 2 Kings 24:1 is the beginning of the seventy years of captivity for the children of Israel, as Jeremiah had prophesied: "And this whole land (Palestine) shall be a desolation and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy

1 Chronicles 2:1-55 — the families of scribes that dwelt at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab." Although there is a great deal of new material in this chapter (1 Chronicles 2:25-41), other scriptures parallel much of it: "1 Chronicles 2:1-2 are parallel with Genesis 35:22 b-26 and Exodus 1:1-6. 1 Chronicles 2:3-4 are in Gen. 38:2-7,29f; 46:12a, and Numbers 26:18 f. 1 Chronicles 2:5 appears in Genesis 46:12 b; Numbers 26:21;

2 Chronicles 35 overview — JOSIAH GIVES ORDER FOR OBSERVANCE OF THE PASSOVER ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF JEHOVAH BY MOSES This passover was utterly unlike the one kept in the reign of Hezekiah, in a number of important particulars. (1) It was kept at the prescribed time. (2) The ceremonial cleanness of participants was observed. (3) And all the particulars of the Mosaic instructions were strictly observed. (4) Although the singers were mentioned, the instruments of music were not mentioned, and apparently not used. These

Psalms 116:16-19 — Jerusalem. Praise ye Jehovah (Hallelujah)." "I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid" "Thine handmaid here is `The Church,' or if Hezekiah was the author, `Thy handmaid was Abiyah, the daughter of Zechariah, who `had understanding in the vision of God (2 Chronicles 26:5; 2 Chronicles 29:1).'"The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 72. "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving" This heart-felt sacrifice is the real worship of which all the ancient bloody sacrifices were only the tokens and symbolical

Psalms 144:11 — "Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, Whose mouth speaketh deceit, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood." This verse reflects David's thought in Psalms 144:10, where he spoke of himself as "God's servant," as in 2 Samuel 7:26, indicating that David here recalled the great victories which God gave him, as recorded in that passage of 2 Samuel. As Kidner noted, "Once more, David is treating the `former mercies of God' as a measure of what God can do,"Derek Kidner,

Jeremiah 48 overview — THE PROPHECY AGAINST MOAB There are three remarkable differences in this prophecy, as compared with others, as cited by Green. "These are (1) its unusual length, (2) its use of material from other prophets, and (3) the large number of place names in it."Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971), p. 187. A number of other prophets also received messages from God regarding the eventual judgment

Amos 1 overview — This chapter actually combines with Amos 2 to form the first division of the prophecy of Amos, in which the prophet thunders the warning of the impending judgment of God upon no less than eight nations, beginning with Israel's surrounding pagan neighbors, then resting for a moment upon Judah,

Numbers 8:1-4 — characteristics of the sacred narrative is that of returning over and over again to the same subject, with additional details or instructions added in each reference. The same sacred pattern is here: The details of the lampstand are given elsewhere: (1) in Exodus 25:31-40, where it is planned; (2) in Exodus 37:17-29, where it is made; (3) in Exodus 40:24-25, where it is actually set up; (4) in Leviticus 24:2, where details for the sacred oil is given; and (5) here we find the actual lighting of it in a particular

Malachi 3:3 — very passage in mind: "The proof of your faith, being more precious than gold… proved by fire… ye are built up a spiritual house… a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ, etc. (1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 2:5). The sacrifices "in righteousness" offered by the Christian include: our faith (Philippians 2:17), the love of God (Mark 12:33), our words, "the calves of our lips" (Hosea 14:2), our confession of Christ (Hebrews 13:15-16), our baptism into Christ

Matthew 10:34 — the earth: I came not to send peace but a sword. That a sword should be identified with Christ in any sense is a warning of the severity which is one characteristic of his glorious nature. "Behold the goodness and severity of God" (Romans 11:22). One who obeys Christ despite filial or parental opposition feels the edge of that sword. A young woman who maintains her ideals and purity in an office where low standards prevail soon feels that sword in her heart. All who live for Christ and bleed

John 7:41 — Others said, This is the Christ. But others said, What, doth Christ come out of Galilee? Galilee … was indeed the residence of Jesus, but the people seemed ignorant of the fact that he was born in Bethlehem as the prophet had foretold (Micah 5:2). It seems that they merely assumed that since he lived in Galilee he had also been born there. Also, added to the difficulty of the people was the slander of the Pharisees that no prophet had ever come out of Galilee; but they were wrong about that

2 Corinthians 10:1 — Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you. Paul was about to deal with "some" who were still incorrigible sinners at Corinth (2 Corinthians 10:2); but his attitude toward his beloved converts has not changed. He "entreats," as always, being filled with the meekness and gentleness of Christ. In your presence … lowly … From the days of Chrysostom, this

2 Corinthians 10:12 — understanding. The dramatically repeated plurals in this verse compel the understanding of several false apostles, rather than some special "ringleader." As Farrar pointed out, this verse ties in with what Paul had already written "in 2 Corinthians 3:1 and 2 Corinthians 4:12." Ibid. "The value of a comparison depends on the standard"; John William Russell, Compact Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book Rouse, 1964), p. 452. and, as for the

2 Thessalonians 1:4 — here cited the reason why the Thessalonians were entitled to praise. "To be a true Christian in the time of peace is a great matter; but to be a true Christian in the season of persecution is greater." P. J Gloag, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 21 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 2. Moreover, as Lipscomb pointed out, "It is at all times right and profitable that the vigor and prosperity of a church should be known to all." David Lipscomb, Commentary

1 Timothy 1:15 — and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: Faithful is the saying… There are five of these expressions in this group of letters, the other four being: 1 Timothy 3:1; 1 Timothy 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11, and Titus 3:8. "These axiomatic truths of Christian faith would be easily memorized; and, being frequently repeated, they soon became almost proverbial in the early church." Alan G. Nute, op. cit., p. 508. Despite the above,

Judges 14:1-4 — occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel" "Samson went down to Timnah" "This was one of the daughter cities of the Philistine city of Ekron, located four miles west of Zorah."Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 442. The words "went down," and "came up" refer to the respective altitudes of the two places. "Samson… saw a woman" Here was the first of many foolish mistakes this hero made. He chose a wife, contrary to the Word of God, contrary to the

2 Peter 3:16 — considered "Scripture" and "inspired." Kelcy was doubtless correct in the observation that, "The canon of Scripture, which later was to exist in completeness, was in process of formation." Raymond C. Kelcy, op. cit., p. 162. Speaking in them of these things … There are many subjects discussed in 1 Peter, which were also discussed by Paul in his letters. Among these are: (1) the great apostasy; (2) the eternal judgment; (3) the second coming of Christ; (4) the longsuffering