Bible Commentaries

Genesis 2:10-14 — in this. The critical allegation that this part of Genesis was written by one who lived in an arid, desert region is denied by these abundant rivers in Eden. The reference to the fact that God had not yet caused it to rain upon the earth (Genesis 2:5), spoke of conditions in the creation on the third day of creation. "The Euphrates" This is the river, more than any other, which is almost synonymous with the garden of Eden, that being the use of it that appears in Revelation 16:12. Any exact location

Genesis 3:15 — bruise his heel." Many scholars cannot recognize this as the great Protoevangelium of the O.T., which of course, it surely is. Their blindness is due to their failure to recognize that the key to understanding the O.T. is Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:15-16). The terminology of this verse is such that it cannot apply to anything in heaven or upon earth except the long spiritual conflict between Christ and Satan. "Between thee and the woman" Woman here stands for the whole of Adam's race, a point emphasized

Genesis 4:7 — that God was warning him to rule over the "sin" and thus refrain from committing it, has nothing whatever to commend it. The word for "sin" in this passage means "sin offering, a common meaning of the word in Scripture, as in Hosea 4:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; and Hebrews 9:28."Robert Jamieson, Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown's Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1961), p. 21. This understanding of the passage is ancient. Clement of Rome, quoting the Septuagint (LXX) (which of course is

Psalms 111 overview — they complement each other, Psalms 111 setting forth the greatness, mercy, and righteousness of God; and Psalms 112 is concerned with reflections upon the happiness, beneficence, and righteousness of God's servants."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 8-C, p. 35. The date of the psalm is generally labeled post-exilic, as the knee-jerk response of some critics; but a far better estimate of this is by McCaw, who wrote that, "The references to the assembled congregation (Psalms 111:1), the works of the Lord (Psalms

Psalms 25 overview — such a prayer. As Taylor expressed it, "The writer is not composing an address to God on his own behalf but constructing, rather, a form of prayer for the use of anyone who in a time of distress seeks divine help."The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IV, p. 135. We reject such a notion altogether. McCaw entitled this psalm, "A Personal Prayer,"The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 467. and we believe that is exactly what it is. As for who is the author here, the ancient inscriptions ascribe it to David, the

Psalms 48 overview — quarreled among themselves, began a retreat, and then came to blows against each other, destroying themselves."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 8, p. 372. The mention of a plurality of `kings' in Psalms 48:4, and their turning back in `dismay' (Psalms 48:5) were factors cited by Rawlinson in support of his view. However, Sennacherib's army was made up of multiple vassal kings (Isaiah 10:8); and the `dismay' of Sennacherib could have referred to his consternation following the destruction of his army!

Psalms 49 overview — inordinately desire them or sinfully seek to possess them. Yes, there are some wonderful instructions here regarding the folly of trusting in earthly riches; but there is one verse that outweighs all the others in the psalm put together. It is Psalms 49:15. "But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; for He will receive me" (Psalms 49:15). We have made this the title of the psalm. Everything else in it fades into the background, because the glory of this verse shines like the sun at perihelion. We

Psalms 52 overview — some current critical opinion, there is absolutely nothing in this psalm that does not fit the scandalous conduct of Doeg the Edomite as the occasion that prompted the writing of it. Oh yes, Addis wrote that, "(1) The reference to the Temple (Psalms 52:8), and (2) the silence regarding Doeg's massacre of the priests show that the superscription gives an impossible explanation of the Psalm."W. E. Addis, p. 382. Neither of these objections has any value. (1)    Psalms 52:8, which

Psalms 58 overview — a certain extent guaranteed by Psalms 64 and Psalms 111. The same David who wrote one of them wrote all three."F. Delitzsch, Vol. V-B, p. 179. 180. The paragraphing suggested by Kidner is adequate. I.    Tyrants Addressed (Psalms 58:1-2). II.    Tyrants Described (Psalms 58:3-5). III.    Tyrants Prayed Against (Psalms 58:6-9). IV.    Tyrants Rejoiced Over (Psalms 58:10-11). TYRANTS ADDRESSED

Psalms 60 overview — Eduth.Michtam of David, to Teach, When He Strove with Aram-Naharaim, and Joab Returned, and Smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt Twelve Thousand. Shushan Eduth. This is usually translated, "The Lily of the Testimony,"J. R. Dummelow's Commentary, p. 352. which was the name of the tune or melody to which the singers fitted the words of this psalm. Psalms 45; Psalms 69; and Psalms 80 were also set to this tune. Michtam of David. "Michtam" is thought to mean that this was a "Golden Psalm"; but some have

Psalms 97 overview — described: (1) as the Supreme One before whom creation itself is ever on the verge of dissolution; and (2) then as the Faithful One whose goodness and holiness are always being disclosed to all peoples through Zion."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 511. The dissolution of the earth mentioned here (Psalms 97:5), "Is possibly a reference to both the First and Second Advents of Jesus Christ,"Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House), p. 245. a figurative reference

Leviticus 19 overview — connection with other portions of the Pentateuch, however, the chapter remains in a practical sense "a repetition of sundry laws,"Robert Jamieson, Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary on the Whole Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1957), p. 87. most of which have received full comment in this series in Exodus and previous chapters of Leviticus. Many thoughtless commentators have mentioned the disconnected and haphazard arrangement of the various admonitions in it, making of it a

Leviticus 24 overview — considered it "an interpolation," but Keil pointed out that when "rightly understood," Leviticus 24 loses "all appearance of an interpolation."C. F. Keil, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 451. It is the people themselves in this chapter who were to be involved continually in the worship of God. They were to bring the fine oil for the candlestick and the fine flour for the showbread every week. Not merely upon the great national feast just

Ezekiel 15 overview — Howie, for example, stated that, "The vine tree was fit only for the production of fruit";Carl G. Howie in the Layman's Bible Commentary, p. 41. but he overlooked the fact that this particular vine was classed with the "trees of the forest" (Ezekiel 15:2), and not with the noble vines which were always in the vineyard. The vine under consideration here is therefore the vine that represents apostate Israel. This vine is variously described in the versions and translations, as bastard, degenerate, wild,

Ezekiel 16 overview — Pulpit Commentary, p. 271. The picture of Israel is so revolting in this chapter that the distinguished Jewish Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, "Forbade the chapter either to be read or translated in public!"Charles Lee Feinberg in Ezekiel (Moody Press), p. 85. Plumptre noted that Israel is here revealed as, "The Messalina of the nations."E. H. Plumptre in the Pulpit Commentary, p. 280. Messalina was the profligate third wife of the Emperor Claudius, executed in 48 A.D.Britannica World Dictionary, p. 799. According

Ezekiel 33 overview — The remainder of Ezekiel falls into two parts: (1) the first deals with the restoration from captivity (Ezekiel 33-39), and (2) the second deals with the new arrangement and laws of the future kingdom (Ezekiel 40-48).J. R. Dummelow's Commentary, p. 512, EZEKIEL'S CALL TO HIS NEW MISSION; STRESSING THE OLD RULES It was a discouraging situation that confronted Ezekiel. Israel was not yet a united entity. (1)    There was the arrogant and conceited remnant that remained in Judea,

Numbers 6 overview — Jack, Ltd., 1924). however, the N.T. does not refer to them as Nazirites. Of the three known examples of the Nazirites for Life, it is significant that, "They were vowed or dedicated to the Lord by their parents even before they were born (Judges 13:5; Judges 13:14; 1 Samuel 1:11, and Luke 1:15)."C. F. Keil, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 35. In the fact that women were permitted to become Nazirites, Whitelaw saw: "A recognition of the

Zephaniah 2 overview — interpolation or insisted that they were addressed to the Philistines;J. M. Powis Smith, International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T and T Clark, 1911), p. 211. but such attacks upon the prophecy were incapable of being accepted. John D. W. Watts (1975), a highly respected, present-day scholar has this: "(The passage) is addressed to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The people of God are usually called "a people" and the word "nation" is used mainly for the heathen so that it became a synonym for heathen.

Revelation 13:1 — Asia. Historicists find here the Roman empire and the Roman Catholic church (the papacy). Futurists identify the first beast as Antichrist, and the second as the false prophet. Ralph Earle, Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. 10 (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1967), p. 578. Our own interpretation is not like any of these. See discussion under the chapter heading, above. Having ten horns and seven heads … These seven heads are the symbols of seven great world empires: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece,

Revelation 19:7 — Publishing Company, 1967), p. 464. The figure of marriage to represent the relationship between the Lord and his people is often used in the New Testament, but in various analogies. In Matthew 22:1-4, the Christians are guests at the wedding. In Matthew 15:1 ff, they are certain of the bridesmaids. In 2 Corinthians 11:1-3, they are chaste virgins betrothed unto the Lord. In Ephesians 5:22-32 and in Romans 7:4, the analogy is that Christians are now married to the Lord. "When passages like this (Revelation