Bible Commentaries

Genesis 11:7 — Gomorrah, and Jerusalem! Nor may our own generation claim any exemption from the universal law regarding the worship of the creature rather than the Creator, "For which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience" (Colossians 3:6).

Genesis 20:11-13 — initiated. Abraham did not here allege that to have been the root of his fear in this instance. (2)    He had not actually told a falsehood, since Sarah was indeed his half-sister. Still it was a lie, spoken with intent to deceive. (3)    It was a habit of long standing, doubtless practiced over and over again throughout many years, and the indication in this is that Abraham was merely pleading that, "I, or we, always do this when we are traveling in strange territory."

Genesis 22:20-24 — of his brother. Some of these names are the same or similar to others recorded elsewhere in Genesis, but this means nothing at all. Many names were used over and over in successive generations as the mere reading of such a genealogy as that in Luke 3 reveals. ISAAC, A TYPE OF CHRIST The birth of Isaac was supernatural, as was Christ's. Both were sons of "promise." Both were called "the only begotten son." Both carried the "wood" up Calvary. Both Isaac and Jesus consented to suffer death. Both consented

Genesis 23 overview — This chapter records the death of Sarah (Genesis 23:1-3); Abraham's purchase of a burial place (Genesis 23:4-16); and the burial of the beloved Sarah in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:17-20). The brash and arrogant assertions that, "This is from the priestly source,"J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the

Genesis 41 overview — the [~toledowth] of Jacob and may be entitled: THE ELEVATION OF JOSEPH The narrative naturally divides into nine paragraphs: (1)    Pharaoh's dream (Genesis 41:1-8). (2)    The butler remembers (Genesis 41:9-13). (3)    Joseph appears before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14-16). (4)    Pharaoh tells the dream to Joseph (Genesis 41:17-24). (5)    Joseph interprets the dream (Genesis 41:25-32). (6)    Joseph

Genesis 9:4 — reasons that might have lain back of this law are: (1)    to prevent cruelty to animals, such as eating of flesh from a living creature, (2)    to remind men of God's providence in allowing the eating of meat, (3)    to emphasize the sacredness of life, the blood having a special relationship to life. Jamieson thought that the only reason for this was that of curbing "the cannibal ferocity in eating the flesh of living animals, to which men

Exodus 22:20-24 — mankind. Rawlinson commented on Exodus 22:24 here that, "It was, in large measure, on account of the neglect of this precept, that the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and destruction of its inhabitants, was allowed to take place (Jeremiah 22:3-5)."George Rawlinson, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 1, Exodus II (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 191. In full harmony with the sanctions against perversion and witchcraft, both of which had theological implications and were

Exodus 9:22-26 — convincing the skeptics! Skeptical comments about "all of the cattle" having already been destroyed (Exodus 9:6) are based solely upon careless and inaccurate reading of Exodus 9:1-7, where "the cattle" were strictly limited to "those in the field" (Exodus 9:3). This type of criticism is typical of Biblical enemies. "And brake every tree" No tree of any age or size can escape very severe damage by the kind of hailstorm presented in these verses.

Psalms 33 overview — A NEW SONG OF PRAISE TO GOD "This is the last of the four Psalms in Book I that have no title, the others being, Psalms 1, Psalms 2, and Psalms 10."Alexander Maclaren, Vol. 1, p. 312. Of course, such an omission is the best excuse on earth for the denial of the Davidic authorship of the psalm and for declaring it to have, "A post-exilic date."The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IV, p. 173. To be sure, it must be admitted that a definite

Psalms 81 overview — A HYMN AND HOMILY AT HARVEST TIME The title we have chosen is that of McCaw. Addis was sure that this psalm is a composite,W. E. Addis, p. 387. with no connection whatever between Psalms 81:1-5 and the rest of the chapter. Other scholars also have raised the possibility that what we have here is two fragments of independent productions. However, its seems to us that Yates' opinion on this

Leviticus 16:15-19 — making it possible for Israel's access to the knowledge and fellowship of God to continue. Note particularly that Aaron went "alone" beyond the veil, with no human witnesses permitted to view his actions. Christ also "trod the winepress alone" (Isaiah 63:3). No earthly witness beheld the offering of Jesus' blood in heaven.

Isaiah 30 overview — before Sennacherib's invasion of Judah in 701 B.C. Barnes dated it at "the same time as the previous chapter,"Albert Barnes' Commentary, p. 447. which was dated by Dummelow "on the very eve of Sennacherib's invasion."J. R. Dummelow's Commentary, p. 435. Jamieson and other scholars move the date about a decade earlier, "probably in the summer of 714 B.C."Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary, p. 463. It is not at all necessary to know the exact date. That the era just prior to the Sennacherib

Hosea 4 overview — This chapter opens the last section of the prophecy in which the same themes recur again and again. The guilt of the nation is stressed (Hosea 4:1-3), with particular attention to the guilt of the priests (Hosea 4:4-8), the prophecy of punishment for all (Hosea 4:9-10), and an elaboration of the immoral practices in their religion (Hosea 4:11-19). The terminology of the chapter, especially in the

Amos 4 overview — continuation in this chapter of the general thought and movement of the last, consisting of denunciations and exhortations of Israel. First, there is a powerful blast against the idle, sinful and oppressive rich "in the mountain of Samaria" (Amos 4:1-3), then, a sarcastic and ironical "call to worship" at Bethel and Gilgal (Amos 4:4-5), and next, a dramatic reminder by the prophet of the seven disasters God had sent upon Israel with the benign purpose of leading them to repentance (Amos 4:6-12). Some

Numbers 16:47-50 — returned unto Moses unto the door of the tent of meeting: and the plague was stayed." The three centers of their rebellion, as mentioned at the beginning of our discussion of this chapter, were those pertaining to: (1) Korah; (2) Dathan and Abiram; and (3) the people in general. The three punishments visited upon the three centers were: (a) the swallowing up of Dathan and Abiram; (b) the burning of Korah and the two hundred and fifty by fire from Jehovah; and (c) the plague that destroyed over 14,000

Numbers 30:13-16 — not be changed at some later time. His power and authority are forbidden to be used capriciously. We are indebted to Carson for this summary of the situations treated in the legislation of this chapter: (i) a young woman in her father's house (Numbers 30:3-5); (ii) a married woman who vowed while she was still single (Numbers 30:6-8); (iii) a widow or divorced person (Numbers 30:9); and (iv) that of a wife in her husband's house (Numbers 30:10-15).T. Carson, New Layman's Bible Commentary, Numbers (Grand

Deuteronomy 13 overview — ordered to put to death the offender. (1)    First, there is the case of some alleged "prophet" soliciting the people to idolatry on the basis of some dream, portent, or wonder which he claimed as proof of his authority (Deuteronomy 13:1-5); (2)    there is the case of solicitation to idolatry by one's close kinsman (Deuteronomy 13:6-12), (3)    and then there is the case of a whole city that has fallen under the power of Satan (Deuteronomy

1 Corinthians 8 overview — sinful in another; (2) that no Christian conduct should be evaluated solely from the standpoint of knowledge, but in the light of the love of brethren, with regard to its possible influence upon others, and in the light of what others may think of it; (3) that no Christian has a right to practice anything, however innocent it may be to him, if in so doing he shall damage the faith of another; and (4) that whatever is done, even to the weakest member of the body of Christ, is also done to Christ himself,

Joshua 8:1-2 — p. 44. As for the reason why God commanded so many to be involved in the capture of Ai, Calvin thought it was to give all the people a chance to view the struggle as their own, and "to reassure the people"Alfred Plummer, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 3, Joshua (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 132. by giving them a close-up view of the coming victory. As Blair put it, "In order that the morale of all the people could be restored."Hugh J. Blair, The New Bible Commentary,

2 Samuel 6 overview — situation of Israel's religious condition at the time he came to the throne. Willis pointed out that parallel accounts of what we have in this chapter are also found in 1 Chronicles; David brought the ark to the household of Obed-Edom… 1 Chronicles 13:1-14 David brought the ark to Jerusalem… 1 Chronicles 15:1 to 1 Chronicles 16:3.John T. Willis, p. 310.