Bible Commentaries

Genesis 48:12-14 — agree with Morris who conjectured from this event that "the dream of Joseph which saw his parents along with his brothers bowing before him" might not really have been inspired.Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976), p. 647. On the matter of Jacob's crossing his hands in order to put his right hand on the head of the grandson on Jacob's left, and in the opposite manner for the other, the old patriarch knew what he was doing; and thus he consciously went contrary

Exodus 15:3 — "Jehovah is a man of war: Jehovah is his name." This verse concludes the first stanza of the hymn which may be divided thus: (1) God's Identity (Exodus 15:1-3); (2) God's Mighty Act in the Red Sea (Exodus 15:4-16 a); and (3) A Prophecy of what God will do Later (Exodus 15:16 b-18). For Israel, this great song was somewhat like that which the "Star Spangled Banner" is to Americans. The sabbath upon which the Jews read it was called the Sabbath of the Song. and

Psalms 101:5-8 — preached."H. C. Leupold, p. 701. "Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor" "This may refer to a person hailed into court because he had falsely accused his neighbor."C. M. Miller, co-author with Anthony L. Ash, p. 338. "A high look and a proud heart" In Proverbs 6:18 ff, Solomon is reputed to have listed the seven things God hates; and it is "the proud look" that leads the whole shameful list. From this, it is not too much to say that, at least some of the famed wisdom of Solomon was derived from his father David. "Mine

Psalms 106 overview — THE REBELLIOUSNESS OF ISRAEL AND GOD'S MERCIES This, the last psalm of Book IV, is the third of the psalms which McCaw classified as "historical."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 516. It is also the first of the ten psalms which Rawlinson classified as, "The Hallelujah Psalms."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 8-B, p. 423. The others are: Psalms 111; Psalms 112; Psalms 113; Psalms 115; Psalms 116; Psalms 117; Psalms 118; Psalms 119; and

Psalms 25:1-7 — to relate sin and suffering as cause and effect, whether true or not. This is the background that prompts the psalmist to pray for the forgiveness of the sins of his youth. "Remember thy mercies… lovingkindness… thy goodness" (Psalms 25:6-7). It is significant that David here based his plea that God "Remember not" the sins of his youth, not upon the basis of any merit of his own, but solely upon the goodness, kindness and mercy of God. "Remember... remember not" (Psalms 25:6-7). Only

Psalms 34:1-6 — of Moses whose face shone when he came down from the mountain, and like Stephen when he addressed the mob that murdered him in Jerusalem, of whom Luke tells us that, "All that sat in the council saw his face as it had been the face of an angel" (Acts 6:15). "This poor man cried" (Psalms 34:6). The poor man here is none other than David himself. Yes, he was indeed poor, hated and driven from the court of King Saul, hunted like a wild beast, deserted by friends and neighbors, everyone afraid to be seen

Psalms 73 overview — Dummelow's Commentary, p. 358. Dr. DeHoff summarized this entire book as follows: Psalms 73 handles the problem of the wicked's prosperity; Psalms 74 discusses the national disaster in Jerusalem's destruction; Psalms 75 speaks of the final judgment; Psalms 76 gives thanks for a great victory; Psalms 77-78 are historical extolling God's marvelous works; Psalms 79-80 give us a glance of a great disaster; Psalms 81-82 deplore the sinfulness of God's people; Psalms 83 is a prayer for protection; Psalms 84 stresses

Psalms 99:6-9 — in the consecration of Aaron, the setting up of the tabernacle, and also because of his intercessory prayers for Israel. Aaron was the first High Priest. Samuel, who was not a priest, is here mentioned as one, "who called upon God's name" (Psalms 99:6). An instance of Samuel's prayers for Israel is found in 1 Samuel 12:19-22. "They kept his testimonies… and the statute" This was a strong reminder to Israel that the great blessings that came to Israel under such leadership was due to the "obedience"

Leviticus 26:3-13 — security, (3)    fruitfulness and increase, and (4)    the presence of the Lord among the people.Merrill F. Unger, Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament, Leviticus, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1981), p. 178. At the head of the list, however, (Leviticus 26:3) stood the great condition, IF. If Israel would obey; if Israel would really keep God's commandments and walk in his ways - then, only then, would God so richly bless them. "Threshing shall reach unto the vintage… etc." (Leviticus 26:5) "One

Ecclesiastes 5:13-17 — can we carry anything out; but having food and covering we shall be therewith content. But they that are minded to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition" (1 Timothy 6:7-9). We may also read in Paul's words an application that he did not state, namely, that "This is exactly what happened to Solomon." Several of the great tragedies connected with wealth are mentioned here. (1)    "They perish by

Isaiah 42:5-9 — things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them." This paragraph, like all the rest of these final chapters of Isaiah is loaded with the earmarks of Isaianic authorship, Note the repetition in Isaiah 42:5-6; Isaiah 42:8, calling attention to the fact that it is Jehovah God who is promising these wonderful things; and, "This is one of Isaiah's favorite means of emphasizing the certainty of the fulfillment of the things prophesied."Homer Hailey, p. 353. Concerning

Isaiah 66:18-21 — Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah. And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith Jehovah." Following the terrible picture of the judgment in Isaiah 66:15-17, this paragraph returns to the glory of the New Dispensation, the rescue of the righteous remnant of Israel who, after accepting Christ, appear here as missionaries of the Gospel to the "ends of the earth," as did Paul and others. The names of

Jeremiah 26 overview — following that event. Some dispute this; and there are several opinions held by various scholars regarding the date, which seems certainly to have been at some point in the reign of Jehoiachim. "Most of the present-day expositors date the chapter in 609-608 B.C."Charles Lee Feinberg in Ezekiel (Chicago: Moody Press), p. 538. Another disputed interpretation relates this chapter to chapter 7, in which is recorded the prophecy of God's forthcoming destruction of Jerusalem; of course, the same prophecy,

Daniel 12:2 — of important revelations connected with this verse. The resurrection of both wicked and righteous persons shall occur simultaneously. Here is the only reference in the Old Testament to "everlasting life."Gerald Kennedy, The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 6, Daniel (New York: Abingdon Press, 1954), p. 542. Note also that "everlasting contempt" for the wicked appears in the same verse. Although a number of other Old Testament passages speak somewhat ambiguously of the resurrection, these being: Ezekiel

Hosea 2 overview — burden of the passage having its application to God's rejection of Israel. The reasons for this repudiation on the part of God are given throughout the chapter, but especially in Hosea 2:2-7. Hosea 2:8-13 continue the theme already introduced in Hosea 2:6, namely, that of God's persistent efforts to bring back his lost bride (Israel). In Hosea 2:14-23, God's further action to bring about a reconciliation is given (Hosea 2:14); but the whole passage phases into a prophecy of a new marriage; and, although

Hosea 6:6 — sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings." It is truly amazing how many scholars interpret this verse to mean that, "God repudiates the externalism in religion";Charles F. Pfeiffer, Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), p. 808. or that it is a, "declaration rejecting sacrifice."James Luther Mays, op. cit., p. 98. Such views would mean, of course, that God was rejecting what he himself had commanded in the law of Moses, and even much earlier, going back to the sacrifices

Deuteronomy 28:27-37 — Deuteronomy 28:30-34, "were the consequence of defeat in war and oppression by foreign powers."J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 135. An example of the historical fulfillment of this is found in Judges 6:3-6. THIRD DENUNCIATION Summary: "This series affects every kind of labor and enterprise until it has accomplished the total ruin of the nation, and its subjection to its enemies."F. C. Cook, op. cit., p. 324.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 — over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us hear it, that we may do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it." The apostle Paul utilized these words in the famed quotation of Romans 10:6-8, where it reads: "But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus: Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down): or Who shall descend into the abyss (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what saith

Joshua 3 overview — it; (3)    the beginning of the crossing, its continuation, and its conclusion; (4)    the erection of two memorials - one in the middle of Jordan, the other at Gilgal; (5)    the cessation of the manna; and (6)    the timing of the event with reference to the 10th of Abib and the approach of the First Passover in Canaan. As recorded here, the narrative is very complex. As Blair pointed out, this complexity is the very thing overlooked

Judges 14:5-9 — against him" "These words designate a lion between the age of a cub and a full-grown lion."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 3-C, p. 149. "He rent him as he would have rent a kid" Josephus wrote that "Samson strangled the lion,"Josephus, Antiquities, p. 164. but the statements are not contradictory, for he probably did both." The explanation of such a super-human feat was simply that "the Spirit of God came mightily upon him." "And he had nothing in his hand" This fact lends greater significance to the