Bible Commentaries

Genesis 36:1-8 — Edom." "These are the generations of Esau" This is the ninth of the ten great toledoths that introduce the respective sections of Genesis.Wilhelm Moller, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. II (Chicago: Howard-Severance Company, 1915), p. 1202. Note that, as in every other use of this word, it is a reference to what FOLLOWS, not to what PRECEDES. We shall not dwell upon the difference in the names of Esau's wives from the names given in Genesis 26:34, and in Genesis 28:9. It is not certainly

Psalms 83 overview — included the judgment and destruction of God's enemies within Israel herself, only the righteous remnant being spared. This psalm naturally divides into two parts: (1) a description of the threatening situation confronting Israel (Psalms 83:1-8); and (2) a devout prayer to God for him to destroy his enemies, which were also the enemies of Israel (Psalms 83:9-18). The world's scholarship is unable to determine, with any certainty, any particular time in the whole history of Israel that fits the picture

Leviticus 1:14-17 — for the poor, not just any kind of bird would do. Pigeons and doves were allowed; birds of prey or eaters of carrion were disallowed. Note the appropriateness of the dove, for example: (1)    it suggests sorrowing and innocence; (2)    it is monogamous, mating only once; (3)    in all ages, it has been the symbol of peace; (4)    it is a messenger, as when the dove brought back the green leaf to Noah; (5)    the

Leviticus 10:1-7 — this sin in the form it appears here, but we must agree with Kellogg that, "As regards the inner nature and essence of this sin, no sin in all the ages has been more common."S. H. Kellogg, The Book of Leviticus (Cincinnati: Jennings and Graham), p. 239. What about the countless innovations and variations of Christian worship today? How many things there are which so-called Christian churches are doing "as worship of God," which are absolutely nothing else than the teachings and doctrines and practices

Leviticus 21:1-9 — be holy unto thee; for I Jehovah, who sanctify you, am holy. And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire." Note that the change to the second person in Leviticus 21:8 is due to the direction of the instruction to the people to honor their priests, for he offered the bread of "thy God," that is, the God of all Israel. Similar requirements account for other variations here also. Many have expressed wonder that the

Isaiah 9:1-7 — invasions; and Isaiah's prophecy here shows that the treatment of the lands of these tribes was worse than that of some of the others, and that they would also be the first to enjoy the benefits of Christ's kingdom. Look at this passage from Matthew 4:12-16 - When Jesus heard that John was delivered up he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah

Hosea 14 overview — kingdom of Jesus Christ, that being the only way that even the righteous remnant could share in the marvelous promises of this chapter. This chapter is Messianic. It is the New Covenant that shines in every line of it. The forgiveness of sins (Hosea 14:2), indicated by "take away all iniquity" is an exclusive feature of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-35). "The offering of our lips" (Hosea 14:2) which was prophesied to replace animal sacrifice, was another feature of the New Covenant. The extravagant

Numbers 11:4-9 — it." "And the mixed multitude that was among them" (Numbers 11:4). Plaut gave the meaning of this as "the riffraff."Ibid. Owens called them, the rabble, adding that "the word occurs nowhere else in the O.T."John Joseph Owens, Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, Numbers (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1970), p. 115. They were part of the great mob of people that followed Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:38). In the account here, it is very evident that this vast throng of stragglers and hangers-on were a major source

Numbers 35:22-28 — not be guilty of blood, because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return into the land of his possession." "Unpremeditated murder (Numbers 35:22-23) is here indicated by such terms as, `suddenly without enmity,' `without lying in wait,' `without seeing him,' `not his enemy,' and `did not seek his harm'."John Joseph Owens, Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, Numbers (Nashville: Broadman Press,

Zechariah 13:6 — that of a former pagan priest who is questioned by those seeking to expose him by calling attention to the "wounds" between his arms, usually understood to be the markings of self-inflicted cuts incurred in the service of pagan deities (See 1 Kings 18:28). The former pagan priest denies even that evidence by answering that he had received such wounds "in the house of my friends," an answer, which by any understanding of it must be counted evasive. "This answer also is nothing more than an evasion."C.

Deuteronomy 10:1-5 — commanded me." "The paramount event in these words is that Moses' intercession prevailed. God gave commandment to hew out other tables and wrote upon them the ten commandments."D. R. Scott, Abingdon Bible Commentary, Deuteronomy (New York: Abingdon Press, 1929), p. 328. Since the tabernacle and all of its elaborate furniture had not at this time been erected, some scholars have trouble with the mention here of that ark, into which Moses was to place the tables. Several plausible explanations of this are

Deuteronomy 34 overview — of as little account as a speck of dust on the George Washington Monument. There are no intellectual grounds upon which an inquiring mind should refuse to hear the word of MOSES. That some will not believe is due not to: (1) their intelligence, nor (2) their learning, but as the Son of God said so long ago, "Men have loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil." (John 3:19). Therefore, people who will not believe the Pentateuch are without excuse! When the critical tide against

John 2:10 — AFTERWARD, THAT WHICH IS WORSE 1.    In the history of Adam's race, first there was Paradise and the garden of Eden; then came the temptation and fall, the curse, the expulsion, and the flaming sword that pointed in every direction. 2.    In the progression of physical life on earth, first there are the joys of childhood, the excitement and pleasure of youth; and afterwards there are the labor and strife, weakness, senility, and death. This physical progression

Romans 3:24 — spiritual body is the concept of its being extra-literal. What kind of body is it? That it is a community of believers on earth is implicit in the fact that the Corinthians had "by one Spirit" all been baptized "into it" (1 Corinthians 12:13). That, in the last analysis, it includes more than the church is plainly set forth in Ephesians where "every family" in heaven and upon earth are a part of it. All the saved of all ages are in it, because only in Christ has salvation ever

Romans 6:2 — to sin has ceased. Neither does it refer to repentance, nor to any other subjective or inward change wrought by the gospel in Christians themselves. Three times in this chapter it is stated that Christians are dead, or have died, unto sin (Romans 6:2; Romans 6:7; Romans 6:11). A careful reading of Romans 6:11 shows what is meant: Even so ye also reckon yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God, in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). Christ died to pay the penalty of sin; and the person who is truly

Joshua 8:3-9 — plausible job was done by Clarke, who found that, "The Hebrew word [~'eleph] means `chief' or `mighty man of valor,' and which is here rendered thousands."John Rea, Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Commentary on the Bible, Joshua (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), p. 215. If this should be allowed, then it would reduce the size of the ambush from 30,000 men to 30 men, who if they were the equivalent of squad commanders, would also be accompanied by one hundred or so others. The text itself favors this kind

Hebrews 11:10 — For he looked for the city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. In Genesis 22:7, God promised Abraham that his seed should possess the gates of their enemies, meaning that their cities should be taken over by Israel; but this was only a metaphor of a still more important city that shall be possessed by the redeemed, the spiritual

Hebrews 12:5-6 — reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him; For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourges every son whom he receiveth. This quotation is from Proverbs 3:11-12, and it is here applied forcefully to all citizens of the new institution. The exhortation, in this reference, takes a new turn. He had just been speaking of the fact that they had not been required to sea1 their faith with their blood; but now he stresses

Hebrews 5:5-6 — "despised and rejected of men," "a root out of dry ground," and "acquainted with grief," etc. It was precisely this apparent contradiction that the Pharisees could not and never did understand. Jesus confronted them with it (Matthew 22:41-46) and pressed them for an answer as to how Christ could be both David's Lord and David's son at the same time; but the intelligentsia of Israel never resolved the problem. In order to harmonize the prophecies, they referred them to two different

Judges 6:28-32 — that, "Gideon's Baal-name, of course, was given to him at birth,"The Anchor Bible Commentary, Judges, p. 134. a view which was apparently also held by Bruce who explained Jerubbaal as merely, "The new significance"The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 263. of an old name, that is, a name given to Gideon at birth. If that is the truth, how did it happen that the only name ever heard of for this Biblical character is Gideon (until the events of this chapter which resulted in the new name)? "On that day