Bible Commentaries

Genesis 20:1 — during every period of the Bronze and Iron Ages, with indications of a prosperous period during the Middle Bronze Age, the age of the patriarchs."T. C. Mitchell, The New Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), p. 463. Speculations as to why Abraham decided to leave Mamre include the following: (1)    He was apprehensive for the safety of that part of the world which had just seen the destruction of the cities of the Plain. (2)    He

Genesis 34:13-17 — does not seem right to suppose that Jacob's sons: (1)    intended the destruction of Shechem from the first; (2)    that they foresaw the acceptance of their demand for all the men of the city to be circumcised; (3)    that they had calculated the day of greatest pain and soreness to the defenders; and (4)    that the whole design of their attack and victory was thought out in advance. On the other hand, the "guile" mentioned

Exodus 19:15 — anticipation of meeting Jehovah, and some have expressed surprise that an order like this was included. Sexual intercourse within the Scriptural authorization for it is not sinful, as Paul said, "Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled" (Hebrews 13:4). What then, does this have to do with consecration to God? First of all, the flesh is antithetical to the Spirit of God. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other" (Galatians

Exodus 29:5-6 — upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre." As Rawlinson noted, there are actually nine steps in the investiture of Aaron: (1)    Putting on the linen tunic. (2)    The girding with the under-girdle. (3)    Putting on the robe of the ephod. (4)    Putting on the ephod. (5)    Girding with the curious girdle of the ephod. (6)    Putting on the breastplate. (7)    Putting

Psalms 36 overview — MAN'S WICKEDNESS AND GOD'S LOVINGKINDNESS CONTRASTED There are three divisions in this psalm. "(1) Psalms 36:1-4 give the portrait of the wicked man; (2) Psalms 36:5-9 paint the Divine goodness; and (3) Psalms 36:10-12 have the prayer and an expression of confidence."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 8, p. 274. There are representatives of some three types of Hebrew

Psalms 87 overview — Lord shall go forth from Jerusalem," and that souls of every nation under heaven will be born into the New Jerusalem of God's Church. Born in Jerusalem? Indeed yes, by means of the New Birth. There are only two divisions in the psalm: (1) Psalms 87:1-3, and (2) Psalms 87:4-6, with a final exclamation in Psalms 87:7. The occasion for this psalm is unknown, but some have suggested that it might have been following the destruction of the Assyrian Army in the days of Hezekiah, following which, all the

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, concluding

Isaiah 62 overview — writer, namely, the 19th-century Adam Clarke, knew what it was (and is); and his total comment was less than four short lines; but he did tell us what the new name is, i.e., CHRISTIAN.Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (London: T. Mason and G. Lane, 1837), Vol. IV, p. 430. True to Isaiah's pattern of "here a little and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10; Isaiah 28:13), the prophet here returns to the revelation regarding that new name, mentioned also in Isaiah 56:5, where the passage affirms that: (1) the

Jeremiah 14 overview — THE GREAT DROUGHT The efforts of scholars to date this prophecy are somewhat amusing. Cook placed it "in the early years of the reign of Jehoiachim";Canon F. C. Cook, Jeremiah, p. 185. Robinson placed it vaguely in "the reign of Jehoiachim";WR, p. 483. still others have opted for the closing years of Jehoiachim's reign; and some have omitted dating it altogether! "Without chronological references it is difficult to date passages like this; even references to invasions and exile are not conclusive,

Lamentations 2 overview — WHAT THE LORD HAD DONE TO ZIONAnthony L. Ash, Jeremiah and Lamentations (Abilene, Texas: A.C.U. Press, 1987), p. 335. "This chapter is all taken up with God. In Lamentations 2:1-12, all the woes are bemoaned as being God's work, and His alone; and Lamentations 2:13-17 give a short resume of this; Lamentations 2:18 f urges the city to cry to God for help; and, in

Hosea 13 overview — indictment, followed by the announcement of the verdict and penalty. His purpose seems to be that of removing any doubt whatever that the doomed nation fully deserved the promised destruction. The monotony of this tragic scene is unexpectedly broken in Hosea 13:14 by a startling promise of reclamation and redemption, not for the purpose of casting any note of uncertainty with regard to the fate of the apostate nation, but for the purpose of revealing that God's ultimate purpose of redemption for mankind was

Joel 1 overview — Judah, a disaster so overwhelming that no escape was possible. The fact of it is dramatically stated (Joel 1:1-4); the prophet's admonition to the people is given in three terse commandments: (1) "Awake" (Joel 1:5-7), (2) "Lament" (Joel 1:8-12), and (3) "Gird yourselves with sackcloth" (Joel 1:13-14). Despite the fact of these appeals being directed to three different classes, namely, the drunkards, the agricultural community, and the priests, they should be understood as applicable generally to all

Joel 2 overview — This chapter begins with the announcement that "the day of Jehovah cometh," and the summons of all of the people to a solemn convocation in the presence of God (Joel 2:1-3). There is a strong eschatological overtone in Joel 2:1, a note which is echoed again and again in the chapter. "The eschatological warning already sounded in Joel 1:15 is several times repeated (Joel 2:1-2; Joel 2:10-11)."John H. Thompson, The Interpreter's

Numbers 15 overview — This chapter and the next four (through Numbers 19) provide a brief account of what happened in Israel during the next 38 years. How pitifully short is this grand summary of all that was worth writing of those long tragic years in which God simply waited for a faithless generation to die in order that another generation could seize and exploit the golden opportunity which

Luke 19 overview — the hope of all nations and the King of God's kingdom. Actually, the public declaration of his Messiahship began with the healing of the blind man, a sign which Jesus did as "the Son of David," as twice proclaimed by the beggar (Luke 19:18:37,38): (1) This first "announcement" (it was actually that) was founded on the fact that restoring sight to the blind was one of the prophetic signs of the Messianic age (Luke 19:4:18; Luke 7:21; Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 35:5). (2) Jesus' calling

Romans 11 overview — seed of Abraham, the people whom he foreknew, etc.; (2) the external Israel God had rejected and hardened, as extensively prophesied by their own prophets, and as just punishment for their rejection of God, climaxed by their stumbling on Christ; and (3) the true Israel are now the redeemed in Christ, but such a fact excludes no one; "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). These three important facts about Israel should be kept in view. For centuries

Joshua 13:8-14 — of Israel unto this day. Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance; the offerings of Jehovah, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spake unto him." See a complete discussion of the events here repeated from Deuteronomy 3:1-17, and from Numbers 32. "Aroer" (Joshua 13:9). This is one of at least three cities, possibly four, that bore this name!Alfred Plummer, op. cit., p. 215. The mention here (Joshua 13:14) of Levi's not receiving an inheritance also carries the notation

Joshua 14 overview — a matter that was required to be taken care of before the casting of lots take place, i.e., the granting of Caleb's claim to Hebron, based upon a prior promise given by Moses. Woudstra also pointed out a third function of this introductory chapter; (3) "The introduction of this pericope was an example of what could have been done and should have been done with the whole land allotted to the tribes."Marten H. Woudstra, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, Joshua (Grand Rapids: Wm.

Joshua 2 overview — of Canaan. Keil summarized these as follows: (1)    (1) Instructions were issued to the people to prepare. (2)    A renewal of the pledge of the trans-Jordanic group to aid the struggle was required by Joshua. (3)    Spies were sent out to reconnoiter the land. C. F. Keil, Commentary on the Old Testament, Joshua (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 30. The first two of these fundamental preparations were given in Joshua

Joshua 2:22-24 — melt away before us." "Amidst the grottoes of the limestone rocks, which in later times were the abode of many hermits, they could easily have sheltered themselves for three days."F. C. Cook, Barnes' Notes, Joshua (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House), p. 356. "The fords of the Jordan," mentioned back in Joshua 2:7, does not mean that adequate passage for a nation like Israel was located there. It is even doubtful that the spies were able to use them, due to the flood-stage of the river. Many commentators