Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 2 overview — THE TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH AND HIS SUCCESSION BY ELISHA This chapter and through 2 Kings 10 compose what is often referred to as the Elisha Cycle. It does not occur in its proper chronological sequence, as most scholars affirm, based upon the fact that 2 Chronicles 21:12 mentions "a writing" of Elijah which came to Jehoram the king

2 Chronicles 1:1-6 — I. THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM SOLOMONTO THE DIVISION (2 Chronicles 1-10)2 Chronicles 1:1-6 SOLOMON AT GIBEON;GOD APPEARS IN A DREAM "And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Jehovah his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. And Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains

Psalms 127 overview — which casts any doubt on Solomon's authorship. Besides this, very reliable scholars have pointed out a number of reasons why the Solomonic authorship should be accepted. Delitzsch listed three of these. (1) In the Hebrew text, there is found in Psalms 127:2 here an allusion to the name Jedidiah, which Solomon received from Nathan (2 Samuel 12:25).F. Delitzsch, Vol. V-C, p. 291. That reference is in the English words "his beloved"; and Kidner referred to this as perhaps Solomon's "concealed signature."Derek

Psalms 140:1-3 — is under their lips. (Selah)" "From the evil man" Although this has been interpreted both as "the leader,' of enemies and as "a collective" indicating many enemies, "More probably the singular form has a collective force."Leslie C. Allen, Vol. II, p. 264. Miller agreed with this. "`Evil men' and `violent men' (RSV) are singular forms in the Hebrew, but the plural verbs in Psalms 140:2-3 indicate that these singular forms are used in a collective sense."C. M. Miller, co-author with Anthony L. Ash,

Psalms 33 overview — A NEW SONG OF PRAISE TO GOD "This is the last of the four Psalms in Book I that have no title, the others being, Psalms 1, Psalms 2, and Psalms 10."Alexander Maclaren, Vol. 1, p. 312. Of course, such an omission is the best excuse on earth for the denial of the Davidic authorship of the psalm and for declaring it to have, "A post-exilic date."The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IV, p.

Isaiah 36:1-3 — army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field. Then came forth unto him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder." The narrative in 2 Kings points out that Hezekiah had requested this envoy by a message sent to Sennacherib during the siege at Lachish, "I have offended; that which thou puttest on me I will bear" (2 Kings 18:14). Sennacherib demanded and received from Hezekiah 300 talents

Isaiah 38:1 — live." "In those days" does not fix the date of Hezekiah's illness; and, consequently, there are diverse opinions as to when this event occurred. Kelley pointed out that it "is very difficult"Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971), p. 294. to fix the date, but thought it might be around 705 B.C. Hailey gave the date as "701 B.C."Homer Hailey, p. 217. Rawlinson noted that, "The illness of Hezekiah is fixed by Isaiah 38:5 here and 2 Kings 20:6 to the fourteenth year of his reign, or

Isaiah 55:9-11 — God's Word will always accomplish the thing whereto God sent it. This is exactly the thing Paul referred to when he said, "The gospel is a savor (an odor) of life unto life in them that are saved and an odor of death unto death in them that perish" (2 Corinthians 2:15-17). Paul's wonderful metaphor here is derived from the custom of the Roman Triumphal Processions in which tremendous quantities of incense were burned along the parade route. Those destined to die in the arena, following the triumph,

Amos 1:1 — it is not necessary to attribute these words to "some later editor." Amos was his own editor; and as Coleman observed, "The nature of the text indicates an early recording of the prophet's message."Robert O. Coleman, Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, p. 62. The name of Amos is not to be confused with Amoz the father of Isaiah (2 Kings 19:2; 2 Kings 19:20). Many of the Biblical books begin with, "Thus saith the Lord," the very expression which Amos used frequently in this prophecy; and this first clause

Matthew 1:20 — unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. An angel of the Lord This is perhaps the same angel whose name is given in Luke 1:19; Luke 1:26; if so, he is Gabriel. The existence of angels affords no difficulty for Christians. The Scriptures abound with the deeds of angels. Angels announced the birth of Christ, ministered to Jesus in the wilderness of temptations, strengthened him in the

Matthew 3:16 — the act and leaves the water behind after the act! Who had the authority to change the action called baptism? It cannot be allowed that any man ever had such authority. The Holy Scriptures affirm that men are "buried" by baptism (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-5). Spirit of God descending as a dove … This referred to the sign by which John was inspired to recognize the Messiah (John 1:32-34). Thus, it is clear the Holy Spirit adopted the shape of a dove on that occasion, otherwise John

Luke 9:19 — Christ. Here is a summary of their charges: They said Jesus was a glutton (Matthew 11:18-19). They said he was a winebibber (Matthew 11:18-19). They said he cast out demons by the prince of demons (Matthew 9:34). They called him Beelzebul (Matthew 10:25). They called him a sinner (John 9:24). They said he had a demon (John 7:20). They said he violated the sabbath (Matthew 12:2). They said he was a Samaritan (John 8:48). They referred to him as a deceiver (Matthew 27:63). They accused him of friendship

Acts 23:1 — And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. (Acts 23:1-2) A.    PAUL'S SECOND DEFENSE: HIS PLEA BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN The council … This was the historic court of the Hebrews called the Sanhedrin, including perhaps some of the very men who had condemned Jesus to death. "They

Romans 7:22 — For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. This is said to be the verse, beyond all others, which shows that Paul was speaking of Christians in this passage; but a glance at Romans 2:17-20 reveals that the legal Jew is still the exclusive subject. The language: here is nearly identical with that, where it is said that the man "rested upon the law, gloried in God, knew his will, approved the things that are excellent, being

1 Corinthians 4:5 — converts." J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 898. Since the time of the Second Advent was unknown by all of the apostolic preachers, and not even known by the Lord himself as a man (Matthew 24:36), it was altogether proper that the certainty of that event (whenever it was to come) was a legitimate basis of appeal and motivation for Christians of EVERY generation, including the first. It is a positive certainty that both Christ and his apostles

Hebrews 7:13-14 — will show. The Greek has "hath partaken of" and shows that it was of Christ's initiative and volition that he was born of the tribe of Judah, a thing that could not possibly be said of a mere human being. The same thought occurs in Hebrews 2:4. As to WHY Jesus elected to be born of the tribe of Judah, it is perfectly evident that he did so because of the prophecies, notably Genesis 49:8-12. Hath sprung out of is usually seen as an allusion to the springing up of plants, the same figure

James 1:18 — brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. "It seems at first sight natural to see in this verse a reference to the new birth in baptism, or to the regenerating power of the gospel (1 Peter 1:23)"; J. R. Dummelow, op. cit., p. 1034. and in spite of the fact that Dummelow went on to reject the obvious meaning upon the pretext that "such ideas are foreign to the simplicity of St. James' theological thought!" Ibid. it is far better

2 Peter 3:8 — man to eternity, whereas scoffers remain children of time." Barnett, as quoted by Michael Green, op. cit., p. 134. Wheaton pointed out that Peter here opposed the mockers with two arguments: (1) "Time is of no consequence to God," and (2) "Through his love for men, God is keeping open the door of repentance for men as long as possible." David H. Wheaton, op. cit., p. 1257. The first of these arguments is in this verse, and the second is in the next. Both Robinson and Green

1 Samuel 3:10-14 — sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever." This is the full equivalent of the prophecy recorded in 1 Samuel 2:27 ff. As D. F. Payne stated it, "1 Samuel 3:10-14 rehearses, but in different words, the prophecy received by Eli in 1 Samuel 2:27-36."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 288. This passage reveals an appearance of the Lord to Samuel in an objective

2 Samuel 15:19-23 — Jerusalem who wished to accompany him. "David compelled none. Those whose hearts were with Absalom, to Absalom let them go, and so shall their doom be. They will soon have enough of him. Christ enlists none but volunteers."Matthew Henry's Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 523. Apparently, David was surprised by the arrival of Ittai and his company who had come to Jerusalem only recently. That group should not be confused with the Gittites mentioned a moment earlier. Those first mentioned were the faithful six hundred