Bible Commentaries

Genesis 18 overview — full of joy and hope, stands in parallel and contrast to the birth, unheralded, unwanted and degrading of the two ancestors of Moab and Ammon.David F. Payne, The New Layman's Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1979), p. 148. (2)    It was high noon when God and two angels appeared before Abraham; and it was a terrible night at the time of their arrival in Sodom. (3)    Abraham's tent was a place of honor and righteousness, but Lot's

Exodus 21:22-25 — ages of the grossest paganism, the societies of which wallowed in the most primitive and debased emotional darkness. The law as practiced by that shameful world was: (1) If you kill my child, I will kill you, your family, and your whole generation. (2) If you knock out my tooth, I will knock out all of yours and gouge out your eyes in additional! Etc., etc. Thus, the introduction of the law called the "Lex Talionis,"Wilbur Fields, op. cit., p. 472. was a vast improvement over what preceded it. This

Exodus 24:7-8 — spoken we will do" This reaffirmation on the peoples' part that they would indeed obey the word of God followed the reading of the Book of the Covenant in their hearing by Moses himself. "This was Israel's third promise to obey. See Exodus 19:8; Exodus 24:3; and Exodus 23:22.Wilbur Fields, op. cit., p. 536. "And Moses took the blood… and sprinkled it on the people" Note that none was sprinkled on the pillars. This double blood-sprinkling was the establishment of the covenant, the covenant being

Exodus 5:5-7 — appears to be some disagreement among scholars as to the exact meaning of this, but, apparently, Johnson's suggestion that it means merely, "common working people"Philip C. Johnson, Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), p. 56. is as good a rendition as any. "The taskmasters of the people" There are no less than three classes of overseers mentioned in this chapter, and a differentiation among them is vital to the understanding of it. There are three different words

Psalms 51 overview — is the sinner who repents; the wicked man is the sinner who refuses, either to acknowledge his sins or cast himself upon the mercy of God in prayers for pardon."The Layman's Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, p. 85. The scriptural background of this psalm is 2 Samuel 11-12. Ash's discerning words about this psalm are: "This is the zenith of the penitential psalms (Psalms 6; Psalms 32; Psalms 38; Psalms 102; Psalms 130; Psalms 143). There may be no more impassioned or beautiful prayer for forgiveness and renewal

Psalms 77 overview — experience of personal perplexity and darkness, caused by the contemplation of Israel's national distress. It may be dated approximately in the time of the exile: (1) Psalms 77:1-3 describe the psalmist's trouble, in which prayer has brought no comfort. (2) Psalms 77:4-9 tell how his remembrance of a brighter past suggests that perhaps God has now cast off his people forever. (3) In Psalms 77:10-20, he turns for comfort to the story of God's wondrous works of old, such as (a) the deliverance of Israel

Leviticus 1:10-13 — this chapter three times - Leviticus 1:9; Leviticus 1:13; Leviticus 1:17. This figure also appears in the N.T. as well. "Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell" (Ephesians 5:2). In appealing to a metaphor found so often in the O.T., Paul likewise taught the typical significance of all these things as being foreshadowings of the great spiritual realities destined to appear in the fullness of time in the spiritual kingdom of

Leviticus 19:1 — in a nation without religious sanction is like the attempt to keep alive the flame of fire when the fuel from which the flame derives has been removed. `I am the Lord' is a basis for morality that never fails."F. Meyrick, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 2, Leviticus (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 291. Such a view is not merely "preacher talk." Will and Ariel Durant's remarkable summary of all human history has this: "There is no significant example in history (before our

Leviticus 3:1-5 — this was noted by Kellogg thus: "The purpose of this offering was to express the conception of friendship, peace, and fellowship with God as secured by the shedding of blood."S. H. Kellogg, The Book of Leviticus (Cincinnati: Jennings and Graham), p. 82. Clements did not see this and commented that, "Nothing is said directly in this chapter about the atoning value of the peace-offering,"Ronald E. Clements, Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, Leviticus (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1972), p. 15. and, while

Leviticus 5:17-19 — us, a view, which upon consideration must surely be correct. Allis wrote that what seems to be the difference here is that this type of transgression required restitution, thus distinguishing it from the sins recounted by the same words in Leviticus 4:2; Leviticus 4:13; Leviticus 4:22; Leviticus 4:27.Oswald T. Allis, op. cit., p. 146. Allis' view is logical and explains fully why the heavier penalty was required here. Inherent in this also is the truth that any sin against one's fellow man is also

Numbers 23:1-30 — a man, of which he had to deliver himself as best he might in such words as came to him. His inward eye was fixed on this revelation, and he gave utterance to it without consideration of those who heard."Thomas Whitelaw, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 2, Numbers (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 313. It appears that such communications came when the prophet was in an unusual type of trance, in which his eyes remained open. Today, we would refer to these pronouncements simply

Numbers 7:18-88 — vessels and gold spoons were filled with fine flour mingled with oil, and incense, respectively, and that the weight of these vessels, given in shekels, was after the "shekel of the sanctuary," representing that each shekel calculated was of the full 20 gerahs. Note also that there were three classes of offerings (a) meal; (b) sin; and (c) peace. GIFTS OF THE PRINCESNameTribeSilver and Gold1 bull, 2 oxen,Vessels6 rams, 6 goats(full of flour, etc.)and 6 he-lambs.NAHSHONJUDAH""NATHANELISSACHAR""ELIABZEBULUN""ELIZURREUBEN""SHELUMIELSIMEON""ELIASAPHGAD""ELISHAMAEPHRAIM""GAMALIELMANASSEH""ABIDANBENJAMIN""AHIEZERDAN""PAGIELASHER""AHIRANAPHTALITOTALS:12

Deuteronomy 4 overview — structure of Deuteronomy has apparently been solved, and in a way that simultaneously vindicates its unity, and illuminates its purpose."Peter E. Cousins, The New Layman's Bible Commentary, Deuteronomy (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1979), p. 283. Furthermore, we do not hesitate to add that this understanding has also corroborated the Mosaic authorship of Deuteronomy. The key fact is that Deuteronomy follows very closely the covenant (treaty) pattern in vogue during the mid-second millennium

John 21 overview — This chapter has been called a supplement, William Hendriksen. Exposition of the Gospel according to John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House. 1961), II, p. 475. an appendix, W. F. Howard, The Interpreters' Bible (New York: Abingdon Press, 1952), p. 802. an epilogue, B. F. Westcott, The Gospel according to St. John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971), p. 299. or a postscript, Alan Richardson, The Gospel according to John (London: SCM Press. 1959), p. 214.

James 5 overview — whose approaching doom was prophetically announced in this denunciation. This paragraph (James 5:1-6) is parallel to those passages in the gospels which Jesus Christ pronounced against Jerusalem, and the similar pronouncement of the apostle Paul in Acts 28:25-28. Calvin was probably correct in failing to find here any call to repentance. Calvin as quoted by E. G. Punchard, Ellicott's Commentary on the Holy Bible, Vol. VIII (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1959), p. 375. It was past

Judges 4:1-3 — he was another king bearing the same name, or if `Jabin' was a dynastic designation of all the kings of Hazor. Keil stated that, "The `Jabin' here bore the same name as the earlier Jabin."C. F. Keil in Keil-Delitzsch Commentaries, Old Testament, Vol. 2-A, p. 391. Davis affirmed that, "The name `Jabin' was probably not a personal name, but a dynastic title.John J. Davis, Conquest and Crisis, p. 109. Contrary to Soggin's incredible allegation that, "The title `King of Canaan' never existed, calling

1 Samuel 10 overview — ANOINTED KING; THEN CONFIRMED PUBLICLY There were three phases in God's appointment of Saul as king of Israel, each one of them absolutely necessary. (1)    There was the private, even secret, anointing of Saul (1 Samuel 10:1-8). (2)    Then there was a public presentation of Saul as king, confirmed by the casting of lots, which was opposed by some of the people. (3)    The Divinely-inspired victory of Saul over the Ammonites propelled him

1 Samuel 13:2-4 — half miles northwest of Mukhmas."John T. Willis, p. 134. Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines at Geba (1 Samuel 13:3). This poses a problem for some who point out that the garrison of the Philistines was actually at Gibeah (1 Samuel 10:2); but there is no problem at all. The Philistines had garrisons at both places and in all probability at a number of other places also. We noted earlier that the word rendered "garrison" is the same word also translated as prefect, commander, pillar

1 Samuel 19:1-7 — despotic wickedness of Saul reaches a climax here. All of his schemes to have David killed by the Philistines having failed, "He here proclaims him an outlaw, and charges all about him upon their allegiance to kill him."Matthew Henry's Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 384. We are not given any of the reasons which Saul might have alleged as the basis of this shameful edict against his own son-in-law; but, "He probably accused David of being a traitor and of planning to usurp the throne."The Pulpit Commentary,

1 Samuel 21 overview — occurrence. Bennett has a word of wisdom on this subject. "It is likely that originally stories of single incidents of David's adventures circulated separately by oral tradition or otherwise, not forming a connected narrative."Arthur S. Peake's Commentary, p. 283. None of the critical scholars whose works we have studied has been able to propose any better arrangement of the text than that which has come down to us; and some of the attempted rearrangements of the various episodes are not only unconvincing,