Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 2 overview — AUTHORITY The events of this chapter did not follow immediately after those of the previous chapter. David recovered from his serious illness and performed a number of important deeds prior to his death as witnessed by the parallel account in 1 Chronicles 23-29. And, although David's sinful numbering of Israel is included in the events reported there (which event occurred prior to the serious illness of David reported in 1 Kings 2:1), it is quite evident that a number of things reported in Chronicles were

2 Kings 1:1-2 — said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this sickness." "And Moab rebelled against Israel" David had defeated and subjugated the Moabites, putting to death at least two-thirds of their armed services (2 Samuel 8:2); and, of course, they became a part of the great empire of Solomon. From inscriptions upon the Moabite Stone, we learn that Moab rebelled upon the occasion of the division of Solomon's empire and regained their independence for a time, but

2 Kings 11 overview — legitimate ruler, she nevertheless exercised tyrannical authority for over six years. "Athaliah was a true daughter of Jezebel. She saw to it that all of her husband's (Jehoram's) brothers were murdered so that his authority might not be challenged (2 Chronicles 21:4). She made the worship of Baal the national religion of Judah; the High Priest Jehoiada was degraded; and all the cruelties, immoralities and irreligion of the house of Ahab were reenacted in the Southern Kingdom, which now fell to the

2 Kings 4:32-37 — fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out." This amazing wonder is one of a very limited number of such miracles recorded in the entire Bible. There are only three such miracles in the O.T.: (1) this one; (2) the raising of the son of the widow of Sarepta (1 Kings 17:17-23) by Elijah; and (3) the resurrection of the man who was being buried, and who, when the burial party was threatened by marauders, was hastily cast into the tomb of Elisha and was restored

Psalms 146 overview — PRAISE THE LORD FOR WHAT HE DOES We have already reviewed Psalms 113-118, which are called a "Hallel" in the Jewish tradition; and that collection also includes the last five psalms in the Psalter.H. C. Leupold, p. 982. Each of these last five psalms begins and ends with the words, "Praise ye the Lord" (KJV), "Praise ye Jehovah" (American Standard Version), "Praise the Lord" (RSV, the Good News Bible), or "Praise the Eternal" (Moffatt). All of these renditions are

Psalms 61 overview — PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING OF AN EXPELLED KING ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE THRONE.F. Delitzsch, Vol. V-B, p. 201.PRAYER FOR A KING.Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary, Old Testament, p. 517.THE EXILED KING PRAYS FOR RESTORATION.H. C. Leupold, p. 453.A PRAYER OF A DISTRAUGHT KING.The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 488.A HYMN OF CONFIDENCE.Henry H. Halley's Bible

Proverbs 15:8 — "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But the prayer of the upright is his delight." "God will not allow himself to be `bought off' by gifts and sacrifices of the unrepentant."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 563. As Kipling stated it, "Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, an humble and a contrite heart."Rudyard Kipling, Recessional, Stanza 2. Anything else is an abomination.

Proverbs 29:16 — "When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth; But the righteous shall look upon their fall." Other proverbs in the same vein of thought are: Proverbs 11:10-11; Proverbs 28:12; Proverbs 28:28; and Proverbs 29:2, above. See comments under those references. "Here the proverb carries the theme further than the other passages by its closing assurance."Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Vol. 15, p. 175.

Numbers 24:1-2 — discover this with certainty is the great privilege of the Church of God."C. F. Keil, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 185. "And he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes" (Numbers 24:2). This means that the tents of Israel were arranged "according to the orderly distribution of the camp, as set forth in Numbers 2,"Robert Jamieson, Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary on the Whole Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House,

Matthew 18:3 — Franklin, the great Restoration preacher, found in this text one of a triad on the subject of conversion. The expression "turn" or "turn again" is translated "be converted" in the KJV. The other two texts are Acts 3:19 and Acts 28:27. The three texts represent instruction directed to three different classes of persons, depending upon their spiritual development. These are: (1) believers who needed to repent (Matthew 18:3), (2) unbelievers (Acts 28:27), and (3) believers whose

Acts 17:7 — decrees of Caesar … In all probability, Claudius was the emperor referred to. Jack P. Lewis, Historical Backgrounds of Bible History (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1971), p. 144. Since that ruler was an avowed enemy of the Jews (Acts 18:2), these Jews were guilty of the same mistake as those who crucified Christ, saying, "We have no king but Caesar" (John 19:15). This verse is important as showing that Paul believed in the present kingdom of Christ over which Jesus was then

1 Corinthians 10 overview — In this chapter, and through verse 1 of the next, Paul completed his answer to the triple question regarding the permissibility of Christians: (1) sitting down at idol feasts, (2) purchasing meat in the common markets, and (3) being guests where facts about the origin of the meat were unknown. The very first word in this chapter demands that a close connection with the previous two chapters must be recognized; and it is deplorable

Ephesians 1 overview — Paul began here in the manner of all writers of his time with a salutation (Ephesians 1:1-2); and pausing a moment to consider the sublime and heavenly theme upon which he was about to write, penned the noble words of a grand doxology (Ephesians 1:3-14), and then a fervent and beautiful prayer for those who would receive his letter (Ephesians 1:15-23).

Joshua 24 overview — paragraphs, or even chapters in Joshua, which are no longer acceptable: "The book appears to be a medley of contradictory narratives, most of which are unhistorical.Samuel Holmes, Peake's Commentary on the Bible (London: T. C. and E. C. Jack, Ltd., 1924), p. 255. There were a number of editors of Joshua.Ibid. The last several verses were probably added by the final editor.William H. Morton, Beacon Bible Commentary, Joshua (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1970), p. 376. This is the address as "E" thought

1 Thessalonians 2:17 — But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire: This is one of the most precious passages in Paul's writings. It has a sentiment Paul often expressed as in, "Though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit" (Colossians 2:5).

James 1:25 — cit., p. 5. but that conception was also that of the apostle Paul who wrote, "Do we then make law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish law" (Romans 3:31), also, "And so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). The perfect law … It is impossible, logically, to refer this to the Law of Moses; because the writer of Hebrews declared that "If the first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second; for finding fault

James 5:3 — referred this to "the siege of Jerusalem." J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 1037. Likewise, Carson: The last days were already upon them. The Christian is always in the last days (Acts 2:17; 1 John 2:18). The reference is to the last days before the Second Advent, of which the destruction of Jerusalem was a type. T. Carson, A New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969), p. 580. In the destruction

Judges 16 overview — THE TRAGIC STORY ENDS WITH THE DEATH OF SAMSON We are annoyed by the RIDICULOUS assertions of some scholars, claiming that: "The Samson story terminated in Judges 15:19, and that in Judges 16 is a `later addition'";Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 451. or that, "The attitude of the Deuteronomic editor is reflected here in what he did not say."The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 2, 791. Neither comment can be accepted because, "Whoever heard of the story of any man, much less that of a hero like

Revelation 1:6 — Christians were to be, but of what they already were. Beckwith, like many others, applied these words to the future, saying that, "The reference is not to the saints as forming the kingdom which Christ now rules." Isbon T. Beckwith, op. cit., p. 429. The teaching of the entire New Testament, however, makes it absolutely certain that Christians are now in Christ's kingdom (Colossians 1:13), the precise terminology of this verse being found in Paul's words there. This passage reflects Exodus 19:6,

2 Samuel 3:22-25 — slaying of Asahel was justified as being in a battle and in self-defense and absolutely unavoidable, except upon the premise that Abner should have sacrificed his own life to avoid it. David himself gave this evaluation of the killing of Abner in 1 Kings 2:5. "Joab… murdered (Amasa and Abner), avenging in time of peace blood which had been shed in war and putting innocent blood upon the girdle of my loins." This contradicts what H. P. Smith stated, namely, that, "By tribal morality, David as kinsman