Bible Commentaries

Genesis 23:19-20 — spoils tendered to him by the king of Sodom. Abraham did not wish to appear OBLIGATED to pagans. Did Abraham believe in the resurrection of the dead? Certainly, only his absolute confidence in the resurrection enabled him to offer Isaac (Hebrews 11:17-19). "Therefore, we may conclude, that in depositing the body of his beloved wife in the grave, Abraham trusted her soul to God, and looked for a joyful resurrection."Ibid., p. 159. ALLEGED CONTRADICTION One of the so-called "contradictions" in the

Genesis 3:15 — Crucifixion. And one should not be surprised by the fact of so terrible a death being compared to a mere heel-bruise, because, the comparison is valid when contrasted with the casting of Satan into the lake of fire. SUMMARY OF THE PROTOEVANGELIUM Thus, this 27-word promise of healing for the sins of Adam's race conveyed limited information, but the significance of it is unlimited. In the light of subsequent events, it comprises as comprehensive and definite a statement of God's Plan of Redemption as could

Genesis 34:8-12 — was the conduct of Jacob's sons, but underneath their treachery and murder there surely lay the sense of violated decency and honor. They would not trade for money or property! Note also that they referred to their father Jacob as Israel in Genesis 34:7. Who taught them these significant perceptions? "Who else could it have been but Jacob?"Clyde T. Francisco, Beacon Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1973), p. 233. The great thrust of this chapter is to show how God used the faults and even

Exodus 29 overview — chapter might be titled The Consecration of the Priests. It should be noted that what we have here is God's instructions for their consecration, a commission to be discharged by Moses, and not the actual consecration, which is recorded in Leviticus 1-7. At this point of time in Exodus, the tabernacle had not yet been completed. There has been no mention, as yet, of a laver, and, for that matter, not all of the instructions given by God to Moses have been enumerated, some of which will not appear until

Exodus 6:10 — `Uncircumcised ears' are ears that cannot listen (Jeremiah 6:10), and `an uncircumcised heart' is a heart that cannot understand (Jeremiah 9:26)."George Rawlinson, op. cit., p. 150. God did not answer Moses regarding the uncircumcised lips until Exodus 7:1. Neither the children of Israel nor Pharaoh were excusable in the sight of God for their failure to hearken unto Moses. Sure, Moses' performance was by no means perfect, and the impediment that he brought up here for the second time was probably real

Psalms 111 overview — generally labeled post-exilic, as the knee-jerk response of some critics; but a far better estimate of this is by McCaw, who wrote that, "The references to the assembled congregation (Psalms 111:1), the works of the Lord (Psalms 111:2-4; Psalms 111:6-7) and the covenant (Psalms 111:5; Psalms 111:9) suggest that the psalm was designed for use at Passover or Tabernacles in the pre-exilic community."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 522. Supporting a pre-exilic date is the admission by McCullough

Psalms 25 overview — FORGIVENESS We have entitled this psalm "A Prayer for Forgiveness," because of the triple plea to that effect in the psalm. Halley called it, "The Prayer of a Sin-oppressed Soul,"Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House), p. 237. which is also a very appropriate title. Some writers have supposed that the author of this psalm was not, in any sense, writing it as a personal prayer for himself, but as a prayer suggested for others who might need to pray such a prayer. As Taylor

Psalms 52 overview — words of the superscription as historically true. The organization proposed by Rawlinson will be followed here. I.    Doeg's wickedness (Psalms 52:1-4). II.    Prophecy of God's Destruction of Him (Psalms 52:5-7). III.    Three Marks of David's Gratitude (Psalms 52:8-9).

Psalms 67 overview — the conversion of Gentiles. We are absolutely astounded that so many of the scholars we have consulted seem totally unaware of this. Just note what is here stated: God will cause his way to be known upon earth, his salvation among all nations (Psalms 67:2).Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee (Psalms 67:3). (peoples = Gentiles) (also Psalms 67:5).Oh let the nations (Gentiles) be glad and sing for joy (Psalms 67:4).Thou wilt judge the peoples (Gentiles) with equity (Psalms

Ezekiel 16 overview — anything else except some passages in Dante, but cautioned us to remember that, "The scenes brought forth by the prophet here were a very familiar thing to the men of the generation addressed by Ezekiel."E. H. Plumptre in the Pulpit Commentary, p. 271. The picture of Israel is so revolting in this chapter that the distinguished Jewish Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, "Forbade the chapter either to be read or translated in public!"Charles Lee Feinberg in Ezekiel (Moody Press), p. 85. Plumptre noted that

Ezekiel 26 overview — PROPHECY AGAINST TYRE It is of interest that, "In the Hebrew Bible, there is a marginal note at the beginning of this chapter, which reads, `half of the book.'"Anton T. Pearson in Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), p. 742. Regarding the date of this chapter, Keil identified it as "the year in which Jerusalem fell."Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil-Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 310. Alexander gave that date as 587-586

Daniel 12 overview — more nor less than the entire dispensation of the Gospel, embracing all of the time between the First Advent and the Second Advent of Christ. (See extensive studies on this in the Book of Revelation. Also, we have given a summary of it under Daniel 7:25, above.) The really destructive heresy regarding this chapter is the error of seeing nothing in it except the conclusion of the persecutions under Antiochus Epiphanes. Keil pointed out that the critical application of the first few verses of Daniel

Zephaniah 2 overview — exhorts the righteous to seek the Lord and strive after righteousness an humility, that they may be hidden in the day of the Lord"C. F. Keil, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 10, Zephaniah (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 137. (Zephaniah 2:1-3). "These verses have the utility of distinguishing the remnant from the nation, which is not desired."H. A. Ironside, Notes on the Minor Prophets (Neptune, New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1909), p. 310. The stern tone of these verses

Zephaniah 3 overview — This chapter contains the glorious climax of Zephaniah's great prophecy in the last paragraph (Zephaniah 3:9-20). The first paragraph details the reason for the judgment of Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:1-7), with Zephaniah 3:8 forming a bridge between two sections and relating both to the eternal judgment at the last day, the judgment of Jerusalem being a token of it, and the Messianic Age (Zephaniah 3:9-20) being climaxed by it. No serious commentator

Zechariah 12 overview — emphasized this. "Jehovah reveals the holy and indestructible character of the new spiritual body. Israel (here) is the new people of God under the rule of the Messiah.Homer Hailey, Commentary on Minor Prophets (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1972), p. 186. Although literal Israel had been rejected, a new people of God arises, the Messianic theocracy, which is also called Israel, whose fortunes the prophet herein delineates."W. J. Deane, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 14, Zechariah (Grand Rapids,

Joshua 12 overview — Joshua, and (2) to stress the unity of all Israel."Marten H. Woudstra, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, Joshua (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1981), p. 200. In the second division of this chapter (Joshua 12:7-24); (1) "The kings in Southern Canaan are listed first (Joshua 12:9-16); and (2) the kings in Northern Canaan are listed last."John Rea, Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Joshua (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), p. 221. Longacre attributed this chapter, indeed

Revelation 1:10 — of the Lord" in the New Testament. Here, "Lord's day" is a similar construction to "Lord's supper" (1 Corinthians 11:20). "It means `belonging to the Lord', or `consecrated to the Lord'." Ralph Earle, op. cit., p. 479. The Greek construction rules out the interpretation that would make this mean the judgment. Ibid. According to Deissmann, from A.D. 30 and continuing until 98-117, one day of every month was called "Augustus Day" ([@hemera] [@Sebaste]);

Revelation 1:4 — Moffatt said, "(This is) a deliberate violation of grammar to preserve the immutability and absoluteness of the divine name." James Moffatt, Expositor's Greek New Testament, Vol. V (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 337. There are many examples of such awkward grammar in this prophecy; but "(They) are not due to ignorance of Greek construction, as shown by the predominantly correct uses in the book." Isbon T. Beckwith, op. cit., p. 424. This title

Revelation 15:7 — Cole who called for his pipe and his bowl; (2) a broad shallow vessel used for libations as in Revelation 5:8; and (3) it signified a funerary urn for the ashes of the dead." Ibid. "This word is found only in Revelation 5:8; Revelation 15:7; Revelation 16:1-17; Revelation 17:1; Revelation 21:9." Ralph Earle, op. cit., p. 586. Full of the wrath of God … The bowls were not literal receptacles of any kind, as nothing literal could be a suitable container of the wrath of God. They

Revelation 3:18 — were the strongest. The allusion to Laodicean wealth, their garment industry, and their "Phrygian eye-salve" is evident. Buy of me gold refined by fire … This is a metaphor of true fidelity in Christ Jesus, as suggested by 1 Peter 1:7; but the expression, "Buy of me" is particularly interesting. "the of me is emphatic," Ibid., p. 127. indicating that the true wealth is procurable only from the Son of God. Neither the banks of Laodicea nor the gold mines of Pangaeus