Bible Commentaries

Genesis 46:8 — Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar and Shaul LEVIGershon, Kohath and MerariJUDAHEr, Onan, Shelah, Perez and ZerahISSACHARTola, Puvah, Iob (Job) and ShimronZEBULUNSered, Elon and Jahleel Note also that two sons of Pharez, Hezron and Hamul are given in Genesis 46:12. Therefore, we add Heron, Hamul, and Dinah (Genesis 46:15) for a total of 34 names. From these we subtract Er and Onan (who died in Canaan) for a total of 32 names, but the text says the number of Leah's family totaled 33 names (Genesis 46:15). The

Ezra 3:1-5 — a freewill-offering unto Jehovah." "And when the seventh month was come" "This was the month Tishri, corresponding to our September-October."H. Porter in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, p. 532. "This was the first day of the month (Ezra 3:6), The Feast of Trumpets (Numbers 29:1-6), a foreshadowing of Israel's final regathering. Assuming a two-year delay in the beginning of the journey from Babylon after Cyrus' decree, this would have been September 25, 536 B.C. The laying of the temple

Leviticus 18:1-5 — This preamble also closes the section (Leviticus 18:30), indicating the covenant nature of the instructions. It occurs frequently in Leviticus and also in Numbers and Deuteronomy. Almost exactly the same words occur in Exodus 20:2 and Deuteronomy 5:6. "After the doings of the land of Egypt… of the land of Canaan" The gross sexual wickedness of both Egypt and the land of Canaan were extensively documented, not only in the Bible, but also in non-Biblical literature. The usual retrospective

Jeremiah 18:21-23 — the word of God and for the testimony which they held; and upon the opening of the fifth seal, "They cried with a great voice, saying, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:10). We believe that the prayer of Jeremiah in this passage is one in spirit with that of the slain martyrs in heaven and that it does not deserve the censure which some Christian writers have seen fit to assign to it. Thompson pointed out that God

Jeremiah 25:15-16 — wrath" This was no literal cup, but a symbol of God's wrath against many nations, a number of which would be named in this very chapter. Significantly, even the apostate church was made to drink of the cup of the wine of God's wrath in Revelation 18:6. It is also of very great significance that at the very time when God's people were to drink of the wine of God's wrath, the nations of mankind who knew not the Lord were also summoned to drink of the same cup! So will it be at the end of the age. When

Zechariah 1:1 — consideration. Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet" In Jewish genealogies, they were' sometimes abbreviated by skipping some names, as evidenced by the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, and in the case of Jehu, the son of Nimshi (1 Kings 19:16), who is called Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi (2 Kings 9:2; 2 Kings 9:14). On account of this, there should be no question that "Zechariah, the son of Iddo" (Ezra 6:14) is also a true reference to the author of this book. Baldwin pointed

Matthew 27:52 — verified. No record is left of the awe and wonder that doubtless accompanied the events connected with so strange and supernatural a phenomenon. THE UNDISTURBED GRAVE CLOTHES Matthew made a very slight reference to the PLACE where the Lord lay (Matthew 28:6), but John gave a full account of this miracle, as follows: John 20:6-8, "Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beheld the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with

Luke 20:27-40 — … This use of the two expressions synonymously is a pledge of a resurrection for the sons of God. The doctrine of the resurrection is a fundamental of Christianity; and no faith is adequate which denies it (see my Commentary on Hebrews, Hebrews 6:2). Even Moses … taught the resurrection of the dead; and the ignorance of the Sadducees of this was the reason for their not believing. Jesus said, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29). Christ

Luke 22:3-6 — consented, and sought opportunity to deliver him unto them in the absence of the multitude. What probably triggered Judas' treachery was the rebuke administered to him by the Lord during the incident of the anointing in the house of Simon the leper (Matthew 26:6 ff). With Judas on their side, as they supposed, the chief priests then thought that they would procure ample evidence to warrant a public trial and judicial execution. As it turned out, Judas returned the money in bitterness and remorse, refusing

John 6:14 — difficulties. Send it away! Thus America solved the Indian problem, the slave problem, and the Mormon problem; and now the Mormons are sending missionaries to us! C. The next approach was to count the pennies and declare the project impossible (John 6:7). Where is the money coming from? was a cry that rang harshly enough on the ears of five thousand hungry men on the slopes of Butaiha, and time has not mellowed the cry. As Spurgeon said: Some men are always ready at counting the pennies they do not

John 7:39 — Nicodemus should take note of this. True, John did not spell it out in that interview, as he has here, for the reason that it was such an obvious reference to baptism that no explanation was thought to be necessary. This verse also sheds light on John 6:55. Glorified … refers to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, Jesus' fulfillment of all the prophecies in those and related events being truly a glorification of God whose words were thus fulfilled.

Acts 19:10 — And this continued for the space of two years; so that all that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Paul previously had wanted to preach in Asia but was forbidden (Acts 16:6); now it was different, and tremendous success attended his efforts. De Welt believed that "The seven churches of Asia referred to in Revelation 1:4, as well as the church as Colossae (Colossians 1:2), were doubtless established at this time."

Acts 20:29-30 — only an elder gone wrong!" Other New Testament passages bearing upon the apostasy are Matthew 7:15-23; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:1-7; Revelation 17:3-6; Revelation 18:1-5.

Romans 6:21 — What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. Here is another inducement for the disciples to proceed in the development of holy lives (a growing process; see under Romans 6:5). Think of sin objectively, what good is it anyway? What fruit comes of impiety and licentiousness, except death? The so-called "pleasures" of sin; what are they except the fever of passion-torn souls? The prior behavior of the Christians

1 Corinthians 3:2 — I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able. Milk … meat … Hebrews 5:11-14 and 1 Peter 2:2 employ this metaphor and explain it. The milk is the first principles (Hebrews 6:1-2); meat is more advanced learning. "It is the symbol of preaching in which it is possible to unfold the full richness and magnificence of the gospel." F. W. Grosheide, The New International Commentary (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing

Galatians 2:12-13 — dissimulation. From James … In Acts 15, it is learned that these Judaizers actually had no commission whatever from James (Acts 15:24), yet they were sinfully and deceitfully operating in his name. The identity of these Judaizers is provided in Acts 6:7; Acts 15:5, where it is made clear that they were priests of the sect of the Pharisees who had accepted the gospel, but were unwilling to give up the customs and ceremonies of Judaism. They were a powerful and very influential group, and Paul here

Galatians 6:12 — quite away from the Judaic controversy," William M. Ramsay, op. cit., p. 454. as alleged by Ramsay and many others. No, Paul is still on the same subject; and that Judaism vs. Christianity is still his primary concern surfaces again in Galatians 6:15. Only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ … This is Paul's charge that the Judaizers were insincere hypocrites who cared nothing at all for the Law of Moses (see next verse), but that they were merely striving to accommodate

Titus 2:4 — godly older women in the congregation. There are seven qualities to be instilled in the younger women, two mentioned in this verse, five in the next. They are: (1) husband-lovers, (2) children-lovers, (3) sober-minded, (4) chaste, (5) workers at home, (6) kind, and (7) in subjection to their own husbands. At first glance it seems hardly necessary to speak of training one to love spouse or children; but as Ward noted: Love does not always flow out of a person, even a wife and mother, as from a mountain

Revelation 11:13 — city fell; and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand persons: and the rest were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. And in that hour there was a great earthquake … "Here we have the same picture as in Revelation 6:12 f." Ibid. The whole verse deals with the disastrous events associated with the onset of the final judgment. And the tenth part of the city fell … Many have marveled that only a tenth of it fell. This remarkable statement makes it impossible

Revelation 7:1 — which the things he describes will happen." Michael Wilcock, I Saw Heaven Opened (Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1975), p. 78. The exact chronology of Revelation is the great unresolved problem with the whole prophecy. In Revelation 6:8, the ravaging horsemen had authority to destroy the fourth part of the earth; but in this chapter (Revelation 7:1; Revelation 7:3), the destructive forces are restrained from hurting the earth. "After this," therefore means merely that John