Bible Commentaries

Genesis 9 overview — great hero of the Flood is here presented as a weak and sinful man, the reason for this, in all likelihood being that of removing any thought that even one like Noah, who assuredly was "righteous in his generation," and a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), would be able to provide the Saviour that man needed. Only the Holy One, Jesus our Lord, would be able to do that. SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER The Adamic blessing, extended and elaborated, is conveyed to Noah, thus investing him with the status

Exodus 24 overview — ESTABLISHING THE COVENANT "This chapter with its account of the ratification of the covenant could well be called the climax of the Book of Exodus. N.T. passages (Hebrews 9:10; Hebrews 9:18-21) use this scene as the prototype of the ratification of the New Covenant."F. B. Huey, Jr., A Study Guide Commentary on Exodus (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1977), p. 102. This is true, and the most important deductions derive from it. (1)    The

Exodus 6:4 — established (Exodus 6:4).I have heard (Exodus 6:5).I have remembered (Exodus 6:5).I AM JEHOVAH (Exodus 6:6).I will bring (Exodus 6:6).I will rid (Exodus 6:6).I will redeem! (Exodus 6:6). "And with great judgments" These had previously been hinted at (Exodus 3:20; Exodus 4:22), but had not previously been called judgments? The meaning of this is that the mighty plagues visited upon Egypt were not merely "wonders." They were judgments also, sent upon the nation by God Himself for the punishment of their sinful

1 Kings 1:28-31 — some liberal commentators who identify him as, "A priest-king in the pre-Davidic Jebusite period of Jerusalem's history."Broadman Bible Commentary, p. 158. He was a descendant of Aaron, just like Abiathar, his ancestor having been Eleazar (1 Chronicles 24:3), whereas Abiathar was descended through Ithamar. The support which Abiathar gave Adonijah here resulted in his removal from the priesthood, just as God had prophesied regarding the descendants of Eli. SOLOMON BECAME CO-REGENT WITH DAVID What is

1 Kings 2:13-18 — speak for thee unto the king." There are two ways of explaining Adonijah's request: (1) He was extremely naive and ignorant of the political implications of his request, perhaps being blinded by a passionate infatuation with the beautiful Abishag, or (2) he, in league with Abiathar and Joab, was involved in a conspiracy to take the throne away from Solomon. Montgomery accepted the first of these explanations, calling the affair "an innocent love affair."International Critical Commentary, op. cit.,

2 Kings 23:24-25 — Moses, neither after him arose there any like him." "The wizards… did Josiah put away" Snaith and other critics have ERRONEOUSLY supposed that the reforms in these verses, "fulfilled the Deuteronomic ideal,"The Interpreter's Bible, op. cit., p. 326. overlooking the fact that the command to put wizards to death is not in Deuteronomy but in Leviticus 20:27, additional proof that it was not the Book of Deuteronomy alone, nor a portion of it, that was found in the temple by Hilkiah, it was the entire

Psalms 132 overview — 375. The only reason for this evaluation, however, was, as Dummelow stated it, that, "According to accepted literary criticism, it must be a post-exilic Psalm."Ibid. To us, there is no difficulty at all. It is the radical literary criticism of the mid-20th century which is wrong. It is simply impossible to fit this psalm into a post-exilic occasion. As Delitzsch observed, "This Psalm belongs to a time in which the Davidic throne was still standing, and when the sacred ark of the covenant was not as

Isaiah 23 overview — TYRE Although this chapter is labeled "The burden of Tyre" in the first verse; yet it actually contains the burden of Tyre, the burden of Sidon, and the burden of the whole of Phoenicia. There are four divisions in the chapter: (1) a prophecy of doom (Isaiah 23:1-5), (2) God is the executioner of wicked nations (Isaiah 23:6-9), (3) the extent of Tyre's destruction (Isaiah 23:10-14), and (4) the prophecy of Tyre's renewal (Isaiah 23:15-18). This chapter concludes the second major division of the prophecy,

Isaiah 28 overview — DIVISION IV (Isaiah 28-35) These four chapters constitute almost one continuous prophecy regarding (1) the destruction of Ephraim; (2) the impiety and folly of Judah; (3) the danger of alliances with Egypt; and (4) the straits to which they would be reduced by the Assyrians.Jamieson,

Isaiah 62 overview — The big thing in this chapter is the New Name God promised to give his people in Isaiah 62:2; and much to the surprise of this writer, none of the writers we have consulted on this subject has anything convincing to say about it. Only one writer, namely, the 19th-century Adam Clarke, knew what it was (and is); and his total comment was less

Deuteronomy 2:1-3 — Orlinsky stated that "compassed" here is erroneous, and that the accurate rendition is "skirted the hill-country of Seir."Harry M. Orlinsky, Notes on the New Translation of the Torah (Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), p. 246. An undetermined part of the "many days" mentioned here was spent at Kadesh, and Blair was of the opinion that this was because of "a copious supply of water at that location."Edward P. Blair, The Laymen's Bible Commentary (Richmond: John Knox Press,

Galatians 3:11-12 — Law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them. No man is justified by the Law … The reason this is true is cited in Galatians 3:10. There was another important indication of the same truth, which Paul then quoted from Habakkuk 2:4, i.e., "The righteous shall live by faith"; thus the prophets had borne testimony to the fact that the purpose of God, even in the Old Testament, was looking for an "obedient faith" in his children, and not merely for the legalistic

Joshua 2 overview — This chapter details the sending of the spies to reconnoiter the city of Jericho. Holmes' opinion that this chapter is "from a different source"Samuel Holmes, Peake's Commentary on the Bible, Joshua (London: T. C. and E. C. Jack, 1924), p. 250. and that it does not really belong in this book at all is based upon the failure to observe its vital connection with the whole narrative. In Joshua 1 and Joshua 2 are given the preparations Joshua made for the invasion of Canaan. Keil summarized

Joshua 7:1 — the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the children of Israel." Matthew Henry, and others, have pointed out that, "This chapter begins with a "BUT."Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol. 2, Joshua (New York: Fleming H. Revell Company), p. 35. That word, with all that is entailed, echoes like a sour note in a symphony throughout the entire O.T. This also is echoed in the writings of the New Testament. The name "Herod" in Matthew 2:1, is

Colossians 1:27 — this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory. We heartily agree with Ashby that "There is no need to suppose that Paul borrows this term from the Greek-mystery religions, but rather from the Old Testament (Daniel 2:18)." Ernest G. Ashby, op. cit., p. 486. Also Christ used it himself (see Matthew 13:11). Christ in you … This is the essence of the "mystery" as Paul expounded it here; but a comparison with other Pauline writings on the subject

1 Thessalonians 2:12 — to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory. Thus, the kind of "testifying" mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 2:11 consisted of apostolic preaching of God's commandments that people should lead respectable, blameless, moral and upright lives in the church! Calleth you into his own kingdom and glory … The kingdom of God presently exists in the community

2 Thessalonians 2:3 — mystery of lawlessness was working then, so it is now; but no man can know how long it will be before the Lord comes. The man of sin … See excursus on this at the end of the notes on this chapter. He is the same as the "lawless one" in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, with this distinction, that "the man of sin" refers to a progressive development of an anti-Christian influence, whereas "the lawless one" is thought by many to refer to some terminal and final embodiment of evil.

Hebrews 7:15 — Melchizedek there ariseth another priest. Milligan summarizes the various views of scholars as to just what is "more abundantly evident," as follows: (1) The distinction between the Levitical priesthood and that of the New Testament (Chrysostom); (2) the fact that our Lord sprang out of Judah (Ebrard); (3) that the Law of Moses is abrogated (Alford); (4) that perfection was not attainable through the Levitical priesthood (Delitzsch); and (5) that a change of the priesthood involves of necessity

2 Samuel 17:27-29 — the judgment of history."The Interpreter's Bible, op. cit., p. 1137. "Shobi… of the Ammonites" "Shobi's father may have been the king of the Ammonites; and David may have appointed him as a vassal king or governor of Ammon after he took Rabbah (2 Samuel 12:29)."Albert Barnes, op. cit., p. 109. In any event, "He was one of the men of Rabbah to whom David had shown kindness after his capture of that city."C. F. Keil, Keil and Delitzsch's Old Testament Commentaries, op. cit., p. 434. "Amiel of

2 Samuel 21 overview — "There are many places in this chapter which have suffered much from the ignorance or carelessness of transcribers; and, indeed, I suspect that the whole has suffered so materially as to distort, if not misrepresent the principal facts."Adam Clarke, Vol. 2, p. 369. Many other scholars have also mentioned the "corruption" of certain passages in this chapter; and, in all candor, how else could we possibly explain passages that stand in direct contradiction of God's Word as revealed in other passages? True