Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 1:28-31 — liberal commentators who identify him as, "A priest-king in the pre-Davidic Jebusite period of Jerusalem's history."Broadman Bible Commentary, p. 158. He was a descendant of Aaron, just like Abiathar, his ancestor having been Eleazar (1 Chronicles 24:3), whereas Abiathar was descended through Ithamar. The support which Abiathar gave Adonijah here resulted in his removal from the priesthood, just as God had prophesied regarding the descendants of Eli. SOLOMON BECAME CO-REGENT WITH DAVID What is revealed

1 Kings 10:26-29 — (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). In the italicized portion of this passage in Deuteronomy, Matheney found, "A dark hint that Solomon may have sold some Israelites into slavery in Egypt in order to obtain his horses and chariots."Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, p. 189. In the next chapter, we shall see the shameful end of Solomon's so-called glorious reign.

2 Kings 13:22-25 — his father by war. Three times did Joash smite him, and recovered the cities of Israel." The last sentence here records the exact fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy of a triple victory of Joash over Syria. We also have here a recapitulation. 2 Kings 13:22 refers back to 2 Kings 13:3, and 2 Kings 13:23 refers back to 2 Kings 13:4-5. "As yet" (`until now' in margin) These are among the most significant words in the passage. "The author here had in mind that the Northern Israel would ultimately be cast

2 Kings 23:24-25 — Moses, neither after him arose there any like him." "The wizards… did Josiah put away" Snaith and other critics have ERRONEOUSLY supposed that the reforms in these verses, "fulfilled the Deuteronomic ideal,"The Interpreter's Bible, op. cit., p. 326. overlooking the fact that the command to put wizards to death is not in Deuteronomy but in Leviticus 20:27, additional proof that it was not the Book of Deuteronomy alone, nor a portion of it, that was found in the temple by Hilkiah, it was the entire

2 Chronicles 9:29-31 — Chronicles is the havoc that it plays with a number of their favorite fairy tales, such as (1) the gradual evolution of Israel's conception of the person and nature of God, (2) the discovery of that alleged Deuteronomic document in the reign of Josiah, and (3) the late dating of the Mosaic Pentateuch. The death of Solomon and the accession of his harem-bred son Rehoboam marked the end of the united kingdom and the beginning of a long chain of tragic events that would result in the destruction of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 7:5 — identity of the following list with that in the Book of Ezra. "This list is approximately the same as that of the exiles who returned under Zerubbabel; and it must have been found by Nehemiah in the archives in Jerusalem."Arthur S. Peake's Commentary, p. 333. "Except for Nehemiah 7:70-72, this register is identical with that in Ezra 2:1-70."Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary, p. 441. Nothing is of less interest to current readers than these genealogical registers in the O.T.; but the importance of them

Esther 8:1-2 — with a residence and dignity that were appropriate to his new office as Prime Minister. Summarizing the consequences in evidence here: (1) Haman's vast properties were conferred upon Esther; (2) Mordecai was given the management and control of them; (3) Ahasuerus bestowed the office of Prime Minister upon Mordecai when he gave him the ring that had been worn by Haman. (4) The ring gave Mordecai the power to seal documents and to convey with them the authority of law. "It was perfectly natural for

Esther 9:26-28 — casting lots to decide the day when the Jews would be destroyed. "The Jews took the Persian word Pur, and gave it a Hebrew plural Purim, either because the Persian method of casting involved several lots, or because Haman cast Pur several times (Esther 3:7)."Ibid.

Job 1:2-5 — verse is extensive. (1) It places the scene in the patriarchal age before the giving of the Law, during which the patriarch was the priest for his family. (2) Job recognized that the seat of human sin is in the heart, as Jesus said (Matthew 15:19). (3) It shows that Job recognized that, "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins" (Hebrews 9:22), and (4) that, "Job was mindful of God upon good days as well as evil, and that he faithfully discharged his duty as God's priest within

Job 14:18-22 — Man's brief life is subjected to the very same erosive and destructive elements in our world that can wear down the mountains, and even wash away the stones; so "Little by little, man's hope is destroyed, drop by drop."The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 3, p. 1015. But it should not be overlooked that Job in this paragraph is pointing men away from the prospects as they are in this life and in the direction of the eternal things of God. The man who establishes his hope in this world only is a fool. It

Job 19:23-24 — translated Job 19:26, making it read, "While still in this body, I shall see God." This is an example of that which was mentioned by Rowley that, "Some editors emend out of the passage any concept of the resurrection,"New Century Bible Commentary, p. 137. that being exactly what the editors of the Good News Bible did here. If that was all that Job meant, there would have been no need whatever for this marvelous prelude. God honored Job's wishes here for the eternal preservation of his priceless words.

Psalms 105:7-10 — mentioned, Genesis (Genesis 15; Genesis 21; Genesis 27) provides the details. "The covenant" "God was in covenant with Israel from the time of the forefathers, and that covenant was essentially a promise."International Critical Commentary, Vol. II, p. 344. "And confirmed the same as a statute" "That covenant was not only a promise, but a law."Ibid. "To Israel for an everlasting covenant" There is no limitation upon the duration of God's covenant with Israel. It is still in effect. Although the fleshly,

Psalms 119:65-72 — afflicted; That I may learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver." "Teach me good judgments… teach me thy statutes" This is a constantly recurring theme throughout the composition. Psalms 119:12 b,26b,33,34,38 and Psalms 119:64 b have already stated this either verbatim or in different terminology. The wonderful new thing in this strophe is the blessing of affliction. "Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I observe thy word… It is good

Psalms 127:1 — labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain." It was this writer's privilege to attend the inauguration of Dwight David Eisenhower as president of the United States of America. My wife and I had seats No. 113 and No. 114 for the swearing-in ceremonies in front of the capitol, and it was upon this verse that President Eisenhower laid his hand for his taking the oath of office. Along with the first clause of the following verse, there is a triple affirmation

Psalms 21:3-4 — "For thou meetest him with the blessings of goodness: Thou settest a crown of fine gold on his head. He asked life of thee, thou gavest it him, Even length of days forever and ever." "A crown of fine gold" (Psalms 21:3). This indeed applies to David; but such a crown merely symbolized the golden crown of Revelation 14:14 and the many crowns of Revelation 19:12. "Even length of days forever and ever" (Psalms 21:4). As Barnes noted, David had merely asked for life,

Psalms 30:1-3 — O Jehovah, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." There are five things for which David here thanks God: (1) God has raised him up, (2) has not allowed his foes to rejoice over him, (3) healed him, (4) brought up his soul from Sheol, (5) and kept him alive. "Thou hast raised me up" (Psalms 30:1). The marginal reading here is "drawn me up"; and, "This is the word for pulling up a bucket from a well."Derek Kidner, Vol. 1, p. 128. This

Psalms 52:8-9 — word "lovingkindness" is almost a Davidic signature in the psalms attributed to him. As McCaw wrote, "The three marks of David's reaction are: (1) his gratitude that God had intervened for him, (2) a testimony to the loveliness of God's character, and (3) a projected fellowship with God's people."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 484.

Psalms 99:4-5 — cit., p. 100. being, of course, a reference to the earthly kings of Israel. We cannot accept this, because practically none of those kings either loved justice or established equity. "`The King,' here is the Lord."The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 344. "Surely only one King is spoken of here, namely, God Himself."Alexander Maclaren, Vol. III, p. 73. "Equity… justice… righteousness" These holy principles were announced in Psalms 98:9 as features of God's final judgment; and there is

Judges 5:8-9 — themselves willingly among the people: Bless ye Jehovah" "They chose new gods" Some scholars have labeled this verse difficult, but, as Yates said, "The most obvious meaning is that Israel turned to idolatry."Wycliffe Bible Commentary, op. cit., p. 243. Davis agreed with this, writing that, "This was a time of open idolatry, for Israel chose new gods."John J. Davis, Conquest and Crisis, p. 112. There was, of course, a very disastrous consequence of the idolatry to which Israel at that time had given

Judges 6:36-40 — living on one of the streamless and springless desert islands have obtained sufficient water for their livelihood by spreading out fleece in the evening and wringing dew from them in the morning (S. Tolkowsky, Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society., 3, 1923, pp. 197-199). The true miracle is the REVERSE of the process, and that is what young Gideon required.The Anchor Bible Commentary, Judges. p. 141.