Bible Commentaries

Genesis 27:1-4 — we have given this paragraph. It contrasts vividly with that found in many commentaries. Peake entitled it, "Jacob Cheats Esau of His Father's Blessing";Arthur S. Peake, Peake's Commentary on the Bible (London: T. C. and E. C. Jack, Ltd., 1924), p. 157. and Robinson entitled it, "Jacob Steals Esau's Blessing!"Theodore H. Robinson, Abingdon Bible Commentary (New York: Abingdon Press, 1929), p. 236. Such views cannot be correct. What is in view here is a plot — initiated by Esau, concurred in

Exodus 18:11-12 — i.e., that Jethro was indeed a priest of the true God. Davies accepted this view: "Yahwism (the worship of Jehovah) had been practiced by Jethro and his people for a long time."G. Henton Davies, 20th Century Commentary (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1955), p. 137. Fields has this: "The fact that Aaron and the elders came (Exodus 18:12) stresses the validity of Jethro's priesthood. He was a legitimate priest before God, like Melchizedek."Wilbur Fields, op. cit., p. 382. It is impossible for us to believe

1 Kings 12:25-33 — Dummelow's Commentary, p. 220. There is absolutely nothing in all the Bible that supports any such notion. The comment that, "The bull images set up by Jeroboam were traditional symbols of Yahweh's strength,"The Layman's Bible Commentary, Vol. 7., p. 50. cannot possibly be correct. "W. F. Albright has built an excellent case on archaeological grounds showing that bull images were not images of Jehovah, but pedestals upon which the invisible God of Israel stood,"Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary, p.

Psalms 49:13-15 — their right of dominion in whatever the purpose of God may be shall be preferred `over' and above that of the wicked whose destiny is the lake of fire. "But God shall redeem my soul; from the power of Sheol; For He (God) will receive me" (Psalms 49:15). Both liberal and conservative scholars alike have tried to surpass each other in extolling the glory and importance of these words: "Here is the solution to the `parable' and the `dark saying' (Psalms 49:4). The souls of the righteous will be redeemed,

Proverbs 7:6-23 — arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life." "I looked forth through my lattice" "This ancient window was something comparable to our Venetian blinds."The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 154. "I beheld among the simple ones" "The word simple is here used in the bad sense for `empty-headed, empty-hearted.'"Barnes' Notes on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, a 1987 reprint of the 1878 Edition), Proverbs, p. 28. He was hanging

Isaiah 41:1-7 — writings on these seven verses, but the text does not even mention him at all! Here are our reasons for applying Isaiah 41:2 to Abraham, rather than to Cyrus. 1.    Cyrus is not mentioned here; and when Isaiah introduced him in Isaiah 45:1 ff, there is no notice whatever of his having already been introduced. 2.    As noted above, there were three Great Servants of God who would figure prominently in the lifting of Israel's captivity, these being Israel herself,

Ezekiel 27:1-11 — text in which they perverted the Word of God, changing what the sacred text says into what the translators thought the Holy Spirit should have said! This passage reads entrances into the sea, not entry.Charles Lee Feinberg in Ezekiel (Moody Press), p. 152. Tyre had two great harbors, the Sidonian on the north, and the Egyptian harbor on the south. Thus "entrances of the sea" is correct. Another example of the same type of error by translators appears in Acts 17:40 (KJV), where translators changed "rudders"

Ezekiel 40 overview — is nothing less than the Church of Jesus Christ. Certainly, God never entered a temple that was never built. The sound of the rushing mighty wind was the same sound heard when God left the Jewish temple because of the sins of Israel (Ezekiel 10-11). (5)    Observance of New Moons and Sabbaths appear in this section as forms of worship; but Jesus Christ himself took the sabbaths out of the way, nailing them to his cross (Colossians 2:14). In the same passage, an Apostle warned Christians

Numbers 16:1-3 — his name's appearance here at the head of the narrative, but, as in every rebellion in all ages, there must of necessity have been others besides the leader who associated with it. Despite the plural "they" in Numbers 16:3, it was Korah who took the 250 princes (Numbers 16:2); and Dathan and Abiram, the dissident Reubenites, are mentioned as satellites and subordinates. True, Moses, in Deuteronomy 11:6, mentioned what God "did to Dathan and Abiram," with no mention of Korah, but the rebellion was

Numbers 33:50-56 — prophets. (4)    Added to all of this, the natural revulsion of normal human beings against taking the lives of vast numbers of helpless and defeated peoples must have entered unto Israel's utter failure to follow the Divine instructions here given. (5)    And, in addition to all this, the deployment of two and a half tribes of Israel east of Jordan robbed Israel of sufficient strength to have disposed of this commission quickly and efficiently. "Demolish all their high places"

Numbers 8:5-13 — sprinkling with water (Numbers 8:7 a) (2)    by shaving all their flesh (Numbers 8:7 b) (3)    by washing their garments (Numbers 8:7 c) (4)    by atonement being made for them (Numbers 8:8-12) (5)    by identifying them with all Israel who were represented by them (Numbers 8:9-10) (6)    by their being waved before Jehovah (Numbers 8:11-13) (7)    by the subordination of the Levites

Deuteronomy 15:12-18 — on every page of it. Here it is alleged that in the parallel account of this manumission of servants in the seventh year, with special reference to the ceremony of boring the ear for one who desired to remain a servant, "The Exodus account (Exodus 21:5) indicates that the ceremony shall take place `before God,' i. e., in the tabernacle, but here, the place of the ceremony is not mentioned!" So, this is a CONTRADICTION? How ridiculous! Yet Dummelow insisted that, "In Exodus 21:6 the ceremony is performed

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 — Jerusalem, the author of Revelation contradicts all heathen conceptions, the principle being that God reverses human judgments."Leon Morris, Tyndale Bible Commentaries, Vol. 20, Revelation (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1969), p. 252. "Rhabdomancy" This is a class name for a number of ways to make decisions, one of which was described by Keil, thus: Two rods were held upright, and then allowed to fall while incantations were uttered, and the oracle was inferred from the way in

Deuteronomy 4:1-8 — said what He has said, Israel must bring its attitudes and life into harmony with the will of God if the people are to live and prosper in the world."Edward P. Blair, The Layman's Bible Commentary, Deuteronomy (Richmond: John Knox Press, 1963), p. 25. "Ye shall not add unto the word… neither shall ye diminish from it" (Deuteronomy 4:2.). Craigie pointed out that this passage, along with Revelation 22:18-19, has been considered by the historical Christian Church, "as a commandment of God with

Mark 13:2 — around the city, he gave a specific commandment to his entire army forbidding its demolition, intending to preserve it as a "monument to the empire."James Macknight, A Harmony of the Four Gospels (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1950), p. 412. Therefore, Christ was here stating the purpose and intention of Almighty God. Since the destruction of the temple must then be viewed as contrary to the will of both the Jews and the Romans, being accomplished by providential circumstances

Mark 4:10-12 — religions of the Roman Empire."Henry E. Turlington, The Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1946), p. 298. "Mystery" in the New Testament sense refers to a glorious truth long concealed but now revealed (Romans 16:25-26). Cranfield described the mystery as the fact "that the kingdom of God has come in the person, words, and works of Jesus."C. E. B. Cranfield, op. cit., p. 153. According to New Testament definitions of it: (1) it is the enlightenment of

Judges 11:34-40 — with it the idea of death, but of something offered completely unto God. Of course, this was carried out in animal sacrifice, but the word would also accurately describe a young woman giving herself completely to the Lord as a temple servant."Ibid. (5)    "Let me alone for two months… that I may bewail my virginity" (Judges 11:37). This cannot mean, "Let me bewail my untimely death." It was her dedication to the tabernacle as a life-long servant, during which she would

Revelation 20 overview — beast (Revelation 19:19-21). From this, it should naturally be expected that the seventh and final presentation of the judgment should describe the overthrow of the devil himself; and that is exactly what is depicted in this chapter (Revelation 20:7-15). There is only one judgment day visible in the entire Bible; and these seven views of it are all descriptive of one and the same event. Each of the seven sections of this prophecy (classified according to the judgment scenes) is a recapitulation in

1 Samuel 13:8-14 — the great majority of scholars accept the view advocated by Keil that, "The cooperation of the priests in performing the duties belonging to them is taken for granted, just as in the case of the sacrifices offered by David and Solomon (2 Samuel 24:25; 1 Kings 3:4; 1 Kings 8:63)."C. F. Keil, Keil and Delitzsch's Old Testament Commentaries, p. cit., p. 128. That this view is probably correct appears in the rebuke of Samuel which made no mention of Saul's usurping any prerogative belonging to the priesthood. "As

2 Samuel 17:5-14 — reject the advice that could have given him the victory? Of course, it was the will of God that he should have done so. The flattering counsel of Hushai was one link in the chain of events that caused it, but only one link. David's prayer (2 Samuel 15:31) was another link. We also believe that the temptation of Absalom regarding his sexual gratification of his lust with those ten concubines of David was another link. As we noted above, that temptation was probably the bait by which Ahithophel would