Bible Commentaries

Genesis 22:7-8 — may be possible to imagine. "Father … Here am I, my son" More tragic words were never spoken. How Abraham's heart must have been stricken with anguish here. Note the repetition of "they went both of them together" in Genesis 22:6 and Genesis 22:7. The sacred narrative here has been the unfailing marvel of all subsequent ages. Not a word is wasted. The breathless intensity of it rises higher with every step taken by father and son up the mountain to the place! The awesome climax, like a threatening

Exodus 38 overview — This chapter continues in the same pattern as the last, relating the construction of the Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus 38:1-7), following the directions laid down in Exodus 27:1-8; the construction of the Laver (Exodus 38:8) in the pattern given in Exodus 30:17-21; and the building of the Court (Exodus 38:9-20) in conformity with the instructions given in Exodus 27:9-19. Exodus

Exodus 4:11-12 — the gifts which God has given, nor refuse to use those gifts which men may deem less perfect. Even the most gifted can find no grounds for pride and egotism, because, as Paul stated it, "What hast thou that thou hast not received?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). The answer to that question, of course, is — nothing! "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth" This was God's refusal to honor Moses' objection. The divine order still stood — "GO!" "And teach thee what thou shalt speak" This is

1 Kings 2:39-46 — the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon." "And the throne of David shall be established before Jehovah forever" It is quite likely that the inspired writer of Kings, and especially Solomon himself, appropriated this promise from 2 Samuel 7 as personally applicable to the earthly dynasty of David without realizing the CONDITIONAL NATURE of that promise as it applied to David's temporal dynasty. "And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon" "Indeed it was! But the reader feels

1 Kings 4:1-6 — over the household was in charge of Solomon's harem; and Adoniram over the men subject to taskwork was in charge of the great gangs of forced labor. The Hebrew here leaves no doubt that "forced labor is meant."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 327. These are threatening and ominous words, a sinister note indeed. "One of the great weaknesses of Solomon's administration was his insistence upon wringing the last possible amount of money and other help from his subjects. This policy brought about

2 Chronicles 5:2-10 — there it is unto this day. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables that Moses put there at Horeb, when Jehovah made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt." "All of 2 Chronicles 5, 2 Chronicles 6 and 2 Chronicles 7 is virtually identical with 1 Kings 8:1 to 1 Kings 9:9, the few additions giving mainly liturgical information."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 385. Our Commentary on 1 Kings has our discussion of what is contained in this section. "The city of

Leviticus 2:1-3 — simple: (1)    The worshipper brought a container filled with fine flour, the minimum amount being three and one-half quarts.Oswald T. Allis, New Bible Commentary, Revised, Leviticus (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970), p. 144. "There is only one word in the Hebrew text here rendered `fine flour'; and thus the rendition should be simply `flour'."Robert P. Gordon, New Layman's Bible Commentary, Leviticus (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1979), p. 217. (2)    The

Leviticus 8:14-17 — commanded Moses." "He brought the bullock" Moses officiated at this consecration. On all subsequent occasions, it was the High Priest who did so; but as yet there was no High Priest. The procedure here followed the instructions given in Leviticus 4:6-7 in most particulars, but not in all of them, due to the special circumstances. "The blood is smeared on the altar of burnt-offerings rather than on the veil and altar of incense."Gordon J. Wenham, The Book of Leviticus (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans

Ezekiel 32 overview — FINAL CHAPTER AGAINST EGYPT WITH ORACLES (6) Ezekiel 32:1-16 AND (7) Ezekiel 32:17-32 This chapter has the final two of seven oracles against Egypt in Ezekiel 29-32. The first of these, Ezekiel 32:1-16 is a prophecy of the, "Monster of Egypt, caught, slain and devoured."Anton T. Pearson in Wycliffe Bible Commentary

Amos 9 overview — severed, terminally and completely from any identification whatever with a Jewish state, whether ancient Judah, or Israel, or any subsequent state (or kingdom) that might appear later in history, professing to be any kind of successor to it (Amos 9:7-10). Finally, the chapter presents a prophecy of the Messiah, Jesus Christ the Lord, and the "rebuilding of the fallen tabernacle of David," which is as beautiful and circumstantial a prophecy of the church of Christ as may be found anywhere in the

Numbers 14:11-19 — his petition, he prevailed! The self-effacing goodness of Moses shines in this passage. God could indeed have made of Moses a people greater and mightier than Israel, but Moses sought the honor of God rather than his own personal glory. Numbers 14:13-17 here are ungrammatical as they appear in the Hebrew text, as explained by Cook: "The syntax of these verses is singularly broken. As did Paul when deeply moved, so Moses presses his arguments one on the other without pausing to ascertain the grammatical

Numbers 3:11-13 — composing `the church of the first-born… written (registered) in heaven' (Hebrews 12:23), having no earthly inheritance, but a heavenly place and service."Merrill F. Unger, Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1981), p. 187. This paragraph is not a clumsy attempt to soften the degrading requirements early in the chapter that seem to enslave the Levites, but a true revelation of what is really meant by being given "unto the Lord." All who are given unto God are given to

Deuteronomy 25:13-16 — practices of the Canaanites that Israel would be continued in the promised land for a much longer time. It was precisely because they failed to heed such warnings that God finally removed them, when they were carried away by the Assyrians. Hosea 12:7 has, "He (Ephraim) is a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand." Ward tells us that, "The word here rendered `trafficker' is actually `Canaanite.'"James M. Ward, A Theological Commentary on Hosea (New York: Harper and Row, 1966), p. 207.

Luke 12 overview — Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1951), p. 350. There are in this remarkable sermon a series of nine warnings, as follows: Warning against the leaven of the Pharisees (Luke 12:1-7). Warning against the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:8-12). Warning against covetousness (Luke 12:13-21). Warning against anxieties (Luke 12:22-34). Warning against failure to "watch" (Luke 12:35-40). Warning against unfaithfulness

2 Corinthians 10 overview — whatever that any such thing ever happened. Even Filson admitted that it is only upon internal evidence that the "severe letter" hypothesis can be advocated. Floyd V. Filson, The Interpreter's Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1950), pp. 270-271. The so-called internal evidence evaporates under scholarly analysis; and, as Philip E. Hughes declared: Paul's sternest remarks refer not to the Corinthians in general, but to the false teachers (designated "some" in 2 Corinthians 10:2).

Joshua 23:12-13 — contingent on Israel's faithfulness to the covenant. Apostasy would mean the turning of all the good they had ever known into terrible evil."Hugh L Blair, The New Bible Commentary, Revised, Joshua (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972). p. 250. These terrible words are an exact blueprint of what really happened to Israel. They intermarried with the pagan populations they left remaining in the land. Next, they accepted the worship of those pagan gods; even a king named his son after

Joshua 5:6-9 — is enigmatical. It would seem that the reproach was the non-covenant status of Israel as a mixed multitude, not yet adequately formed into a religious community."William H. Morton, Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, Joshua (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1970), p. 319. There would also appear to be a possible reference here to the paganism the Jews had encountered in Egypt, and in some degree adopted (See Stephen's speech in Acts 7). There is a stigma that exists for all people of any age who are NOT in

Judges 8:1-3 — part."Albert Barnes, Notes on Bible Books, Judges, p. 436. Also, "What was involved was more than glory, a share in the booty was at stake; and that meant a great deal to a people living in a mountainous country."The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 2, p. 747. "Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer" "Here is an excellent illustration of the proverb that, `A soft answer turneth away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).'"The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Vol. 7, p. 115.

Revelation 20:2 — of Christ. And bound him for a thousand years … "This means during the entire gospel age." Ibid. The effective binding of Satan took place in the events of the Incarnation. Satan had already been thrown out of heaven (Revelation 12:7-9); therefore, it is some more restricted phase of Satan's binding that is revealed here. The "binding" here is exactly that referred to in Matthew 12:29, where Jesus said, concerning his salvation of people, "How can one enter into the

Revelation 6:10 — entitled to be heard. Furthermore, their invocation is in full harmony with what the Son of God himself said: Will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you he will vindicate them speedily (Luke 18:7). "The vindication of the righteous is a recurring note throughout the Scriptures." William Barclay, op. cit., p. 13. Did not God say to Cain, "Thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground" (Genesis 4:10). Wrongs in the final