Bible Commentaries

Genesis 14:15-16 — while admitting the historicity of the narrative here, nevertheless set it aside as an exaggeration, claiming also that it was a miracle and therefore unacceptable!John Skinner, International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1910), p. 255. First, there is no need whatever to make a miracle out of this narrative, although we freely admit the providential guidance of the Lord in Abram's triumph. This was a token of what would continue to happen throughout the history of Israel. Whether

Genesis 40:5-8 — ye so sad today? And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is none than can interpret it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you." The mention of "the butler and the baker (Genesis 40:5)" was understood by Skinner to be a "contradiction" with the meaning that the king of Egypt "had only one servant of each class!"John Skinner, International Critical Commentary, Genesis (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1910), p. 460. We cite it here merely

Exodus 2:3-4 — that Jochebed "made" this ark, but that she "took it." "This was a chest made of the stalks of the papyrus reed which grows profusely along the banks of the Nile."J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 50. Papyrus was widely used in the manufacture of such things as baskets, boats, mats, ropes, sails, and even paper. We may be sure that Jochebed picked out a good one in preparing to place little Moses in it. "The slime, used as a watertight coating

1 Kings 22:8-12 — so they changed some of their message. This time they actually invoked the name of Jehovah upon their crooked prophecy, but it was still the old Delphian oracle type of deceit and falsehood. Note he italicized "it". (See reason (3) under 1 Kings 22:5, above.) We may be certain that Ahab called Micaiah reluctantly, and that while Micaiah was being summoned the false prophets redoubled their efforts in the hope of convincing Jehoshaphat. The occasion was a spectacular display of the kings on their

2 Kings 4:32-37 — of the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:18 ff); (2) the raising of the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:12-18); and (3) the raising of Lazarus (John 11), all by the Lord Jesus Christ; also (4) the raising of Dorcas by the apostle Peter (Acts 9:36-41); (5) the raising of Eutychus by the apostle Paul (Acts 20:10-12); (6) the resurrection of the saints who came out of their graves after the resurrection of Christ (Matthew 27:53); and (7) the Marvel of All Ages - the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! (Recorded

2 Chronicles 5:11-14 — filled the house of God." "The significance of the temple is made specific in the ceremonies that accompanied its dedication. They designated the Temple to be the lineal successor to Israel's previous sanctuaries."Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary, p. 395. The ark of the covenant and the tent of meeting were brought into the temple, and God recognized the temple as the place where his name was recorded and where a manifestation of his earthly presence would dwell. In view of all the sins and rebellions

Job 24:2-12 — ass, exact an unjust pledge from widows (Job 24:4) and force their poor laborers who work for them to scavenge for food in the mountains, where they have no residences, and are not sufficiently clothed, and where they are often cold and hungry (Job 24:5-7). "The soul of the wounded crieth out, yet God regardeth not the folly" They violate the spirit of the Law of God (Deuteronomy 25:4) by denying those who tread their winepresses even a taste of the juice, and by forbidding them to eat of the grain

Job 4:12-21 — one of the fallen angels, is the unseen agent in the Book of Job who brought all the suffering upon that patriarch. "Who are crushed before the moth" "A better translation of this is, "Crushed as easily as a moth."The New Layman's Bible Commentary, p. 564. This is not the end of Eliphaz' speech; he really gets down to business in the rest of it (Job 5).

Job 41:26-34 — reflecting the sunlight. We also have here a reference to, "Leviathan's motion in the water, which he churns up to a foam."New Century Bible Commentary, p. 264. "It is generally allowed that by `the sea' here is meant `the Nile,' as in Isaiah 19:2; Isaiah 18:5, and Nahum 3:8."The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 657. "He is king over all the sons of pride" "The sons of pride here are the proud beasts of prey."Arthur S. Peake, A Commentary on the Bible (London: T. C. and E. C. Jack, Ltd., 1924), p. 365. If

Psalms 31:14-18 — mightily unto God; lift up thy penitent voice unto Him, pour out thy soul to the Father in prayer," as "The man after God's own heart" did here. "Make thy face to shine upon thy servant" (Psalms 31:16). This statement is evidently inspired by Numbers 6:25, commonly referred to as Aaron's blessing. The full text of this passage in Numbers, one of the most precious in all the Bible, has been set to music and sung by Christians all over the world continually. See our two page discussion of this blessing

Isaiah 18 overview — the use of the word "burden" in this title, because this prophecy is not a prophecy against Ethiopia, but about Ethiopia. This is called by ancient and present-day commentators alike "The most difficult chapter encountered thus far,"Homer Hailey, p. 156 and "One of the most obscure prophecies in Isaiah."Robert Lowth's Commentary, p. 234. This little chapter falls into two divisions, or stanzas of three verses each, followed by an epilogue of a single verse.T. K. Cheyne's Commentary, p. 110. As we

Numbers 24:1-2 — followers to destruction, from inability to discern the will of God. To 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

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 — whole procedure of the re-ratification of the covenant to its dramatic and formal terminal. "In conclusion, Moses sums up the contents of the whole of his preaching on the law in the words, "Life and good, and death and evil."C. F. Keil, op. cit., p. 454. Of the very highest importance was the command "to love" Jehovah in Deuteronomy 30:20. Scott referred to this little paragraph as "the peroration"D. R. Scott, op. cit., p. 340. to all of Moses' preceding lectures. "He is thy life, and the length of

John 17 overview — This whole chapter records the prayer that Jesus offered on the betrayal night in contemplation of the cross. There is the prayer for himself (John 17:1-5), for the apostles (John 17:6-19), and for those of all generations who would believe on him through the apostles' word (John 17:20-26). Hester said: John 17 is the real Lord's prayer. In this deeply moving experience he prays: first for himself, for

1 Corinthians 10 overview — "for"; and such a perversion of the sacred text was, as Farrar said, "due to the failure to understand the whole train of thought." F. W. Farrar, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), Vol. 19, p. 322. Also, it may be suspected that the omission of this authentic connective could be related to the critical bias which would make this chapter "the relic of a previous epistle." ISBE p. 713. It is now recognized, however,

1 Corinthians 7 overview — marriages and all other obligations existing prior to conversion. It will be recalled that this very error was the principal motivation for vast numbers of knights and princes who participated in the Crusades at a much later time (1 Corinthians 7:17-24). (5)    Should Christian fathers (or guardians) give their daughters in marriage? Answer: The fathers and guardians were given authority to solve their individual problems, there being no sin involved, however the decision went; but

Judges 19:10-15 — Jerusalem) In the Conquest, Joshua had indeed captured this city (Joshua 10:23; Joshua 12:10); "But the Israelites had withdrawn and left the city entirely to the Jebusites who continued to hold it until David captured it and made it his capital (2 Samuel 5:6)."The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 193. Jerusalem was only a couple of hours traveling time from Bethlehem. "Gibeah" This place, only about two and one half hours beyond Jerusalem, was also known as "Gibeah of Saul," "The same being Saul's birthplace."Ibid.

Judges 5:12-14 — marshall's staff" "Lead away the captives" Dalglish pointed out how: "A similar phrase, `lead captivity captive,' was later applied to (1) the triumphal procession of God (Psalms 68:17 f); (2) and to the conquering Christ (Ephesians 4:8-10; Colossians 2:15, and 2 Corinthians 2:14-16)."Beacon Bible Commentary, op. cit., p. 410. "A remnant of the nobles and the people" Not all of Israel responded to the call of Deborah. The word "remnant" here reminds us of Isaiah's use of the same term to describe the

2 Samuel 16:5-8 — your ruin is upon you; for you are a man of blood." "When King David came to Bahurim" "This tiny highway village some distance east of Mount Olivet is the place where Phalti turned back from following Michal as she was returned to David (2 Samuel 3:15-16), where Shimei's cursing of David occurred, and where the sons of the priests (Jonathan and Ahimaaz) were hidden in a well (2 Samuel 17:18) during their mission of carrying information to David."Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 194. "There

2 Samuel 3:22-25 — 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