Bible Commentaries

Exodus 20:14 — wicked, that God flung His "Thou shalt not!" squarely against it. Nevertheless, the highest intelligence and reason approve and endorse the commandment. The sin of adultery is against a number of vitally important entities: (1) It is against God (Genesis 39:9); (2) It is against the very body of the sinner (1 Corinthians 6:18); (3) It is even against the soul of the violator (Proverbs 6:32); (4) It is against the family. No marriage can withstand the destructive force of this sin (Matthew 19:9); (5) It

Exodus 27:1-8 — evidently stood somewhere near the grand entrance into the court of the tabernacle, being by far the most important thing that fell upon the eyes of anyone entering the court. "The bronze (brass) speaks of manifested divine judgment (Numbers 21:9, John 3:14, Revelation 1:15). At Calvary, Christ met the burning heat of divine justice against sin. Upon this altar the burnt offering was completely consumed, portraying Him who knew no sin, yet was `Made… sin for us, enduring the full wrath of God

Job 42:1-6 — abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes." "I know that thou canst do all things… etc." "Job acknowledges that God can achieve all that he plans, and that He plans, knowing that he can do all things."International Critical Commentary, Job, p. 371. Van Selms elaborated this somewhat, writing, "I sense, from the examples you have cited, the behemoth and the leviathan, that you are able to realize all your plans for your creation, however far these may go beyond human conception. You have reasons

Psalms 147:12-20 — word governs snow and frost and hail (Psalms 147:15-17). His word at the same time directs winds and waters, and gives to Israel a Law, thereby distinguishing them from other nations (Psalms 147:18-20).International Critical Commentary, op. cit., p. 532. "Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem; Praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; He hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders; He filleth thee with the finest of wheat. He Sendeth out his commandment

Psalms 19:4-6 — disclosing the part of the earth in each case where the eclipse would have been visible. Such order and design cannot possibly be imagined apart from the thundering truth that "There had to be a designer." And just who could that be except Almighty God? (3)    The heavens declare God's glory by their utility in demonstrating the uniqueness of the earth as the residence of mankind, a truth of the most amazing dimensions. A few years ago, Dr. A. Crescy Morrison wrote a little book called,

Psalms 72 overview — particulars. However, as Halley stated it, "The general tenor of the Psalm and some of the specific statements in it can allude only to that One Greater than Solomon."Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House), p. 243. THE JEWISH CONCEPTION OF MESSIAH When God called Abraham, He prophesied that in him and in his seed (singular) all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). That it would be some glorious Individual through whom such blessings would

Psalms 81:6-16 — which guided Israel in the day-time in the wilderness. "I proved thee at the waters of Meribah" There were two instances in which God provided water for Israel at Meribah; and these are discussed fully in our Vol. II of the Pentateuch (Exodus), pp. 230-233, and in Vol. III, (Lev.-Num.), pp. 442-445. "O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken" There seems to be an emotional factor in such pleading words as these; and they remind us of the words of the Christ: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often would

Leviticus 15:1-12 — overtones of human depravity and the need of divine cleansing. "There is an almost necessary connection between religion and sex because both belong to the sphere of the sacred."Nathaniel Micklem, Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 2 (New York: Abingdon Press, 1953), p. 74. An amazing difference here from previous chapters lies in the fact that they dealt with defiling things that were outside of man, but this deals with "the defiling things that come OUT OF US."Merrill F. Unger, Unger's Commentary on the Old

Leviticus 16:1-5 — There was also another distinction: "When the high priest went into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to wear a simple linen garment without seams, a garment of the type Jesus wore when he went to the Cross as our sacrifice (John 19:23-24)."Michael Esses, Jesus in Exodus (Plainfield, New Jersey: Logos International, 1977), p. 195. Another analogy appears in the requirement that two he-goats were to constitute the single sin-offering for the people. No single animal could have typified

Song of Solomon 4:9-15 — another possibility. "Based upon the idea that the shepherd would not have been allowed in the maiden's presence when Solomon was also there, the scene may be imaginary, or the reminiscence of the dreamy girl."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 583. This objection, if we may call it that, is cleared up completely by the consideration that this love song had been delivered to the maiden in the lover's absence. This writer is supremely grateful for this chapter; because it reveals what is undoubtedly

Ezekiel 38 overview — Ezekiel 38-39 GOG AND MAGOG It is agreed by all scholars that these two chapters are a single oracle regarding Gog and Magog, only a short paragraph at the end of Ezekiel 39 having any reference to anything else. We are a little embarrassed at the prevailing

Deuteronomy 14:22-29 — It was merely a charitable usage of the tithe already required. "The tithe of the first and second years was to be eaten before the Lord at the central sanctuary; the tithe of the third year was for the poor and needy."W. L. Alexander, op. cit., p. 238. Kline's comment on the purpose of these tithing regulations is as follows: "The purpose of this section on tithing is not so much to give a comprehensive statement of the laws on tithing, as it is to guard the tithing procedure from being prostituted

Deuteronomy 8:1-5 — all the misfortunes and hardships of life. They are not merely adversities; they are opportunities; and, "They are all examples of God's providence."G. Ernest Wright, The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. II, Deuteronomy (New York: Abingdon Press, 1954), p. 385. Harrison was impressed with the choice of the events related in Deuteronomy, especially some of those in this chapter, saying, "The way in which these incidents are described, and their correspondence with those events most likely to impress Moses

Joshua 16:5-10 — reason for the slight treatment of their inheritance. Notice that Ephraim's territory was expanded by the assignment of some of the cities that belonged to Manasseh. Cook stated that, "The reason for this can only be conjectured."F. C. Cook, op. cit., p. 393. With all that we learn of Ephraim from the prophecy of Hosea, we do not hesitate to assign as the reason for this enlargement the arrogance and ambition of Ephraim and that domination which he finally exercised over the whole ten northern tribes.

Joshua 24:19-28 — available through the Lord Jesus Christ. This passage categorically denies that there was to be any forgiveness of sins under the Mosaic Law. As a matter of fact, Jeremiah made forgiveness of sins to be the unique element of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Joshua 24:20 is a reference to the curses and blessings that characterized the ancient suzerainty-covenant treaties. Thus, we continue to find in almost every verse evidence that this renewal ceremony strictly followed the ancient pattern. "He

Judges 8:22-28 — who were defeated by Gideon were also called, "Midianites," and here it is clear that they were also identifiable as "Ishmaelites." This passage refutes the critical enemies of Genesis who allege "multiple sources," "contradictions," etc., in Genesis 37:27-28, where the company of people to whom Joseph's brothers sold him are referred to in those verses both as "Ishmaelites," and as "Midianites." "They did cast therein (into the garment) the ear-rings of their spoil" "Gideon's soldiers had made quite

1 Samuel 1:1-8 — referred to here. "Elkanah … an Ephraimite" Elkanah was an Ephraimite only in the sense that he lived in the hill country of Ephraim. He was most certainly a Levite as positively indicated in the account of his ancestry given in 1 Chronicles 6:33. Furthermore, as Keil pointed out, the very name "Elkanah" identifies him as a Levite. "All of the Elkanahs mentioned in the O.T. (with a single exception) can be proved to have been Levites."C. F. Keil, Keil and Delitzsch's Old Testament Commentaries,

1 Samuel 17:1-11 — city daily newspaper. "That Goliath killed by Elhanan was Lahmi, the brother of the Goliath of Gath (1 Chronicles 20:4-8); four different giants are mentioned as being born to the giant of Gath (Deuteronomy 2:10-11; Deuteronomy 2:20-21, and Deuteronomy 3:11-13)."Albert Barnes, Samuel, p. 42. The importance of this explanation is seen in the fact that the false identification of the two "Goliath's" as the same person is, "One of the main arguments"The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 2, p. 971. relied upon

1 Samuel 5:1-2 — of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon." "Ashdod" This was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, "located thirty-three miles west of Jerusalem,"Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary, Samuel, p. 279. "only 3 miles from the Mediterranean Sea, situated on an elevation overlooking the Philistine plain half way between Gaza and Joppa; its importance consisted in the fact of its commanding the high road from Palestine to Egypt."J. R. Dummelow's Commentary, p.

1 Samuel 6:4-9 — watch… if it goes up… but if not" The device of the Philistines in sending back the ark was clearly experimental; and they had no certain knowledge as to the way it would turn out. Therefore, we should understand the statement in 1 Samuel 6:3 that they. "would be healed" as a conditional, promise. "This indicates that they were still uncertain as to whether or not God was responsible for their plagues."John T. Willis, p. 80. The test proposed here was genuine. Normally, cows would not have