Bible Commentaries

Exodus 10:25-29 — their flocks and herds; but the "NEB translates this verse so as to mean that Pharaoh must not only let the Israelites take their flocks and herds, but that he must also himself provide animals suitable for sacrifice."Robert P. Gordon, op. cit., p. 185. The RSV skirts the question by an ambiguous rendition. It turned out to be true, in fact, that the Egyptians did enrich the Hebrews by giving them costly jewels, gold, silver, and other gifts on the night of their departure. Johnson interpreted the

Exodus 16:1-3 — the passage of about six weeks after the departure from Egypt. "The whole congregation murmured against Moses and against Aaron" This is the third instance of Israel's murmuring, the others being at Pi-hahiroth (Exodus 14:10-12), and at Marah (Exodus 15:24). Upon this occasion of their murmuring, God heard their cry and sent bread from heaven. "Would we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt… This cry puts on the garb of piety, and names the name of Jehovah, but indicates a lack

Exodus 17:8-10 — of Canaan. They were a kindred race to Israel, which should have incited them to pity, but, on the contrary, they viciously attacked the straggling rearward of the host of the Chosen People at a time when they were exhausted and weary (Deuteronomy 25:18). As signified in the memorial name chosen for the episode, the Amalekites deliberately lifted up their hand against the "throne of God," and sought to thwart His purpose regarding Israel. As to why the Amalekites attacked Israel, the fundamental

2 Kings 12:4-8 — do what the king ordered. There also might have been some instances of dishonesty in their handling of the money, although the text does not say that. "Every man from his acquaintance" It is not clear here just what this means; but in 2 Chronicles 24:5 we learn that "The collection was to be made throughout Judah, each of the priests and Levites collecting the temple tax in his own neighborhood."Ibid. "The priests consented that they should take no more money from the people, neither repair the breaches

2 Kings 5:1-4 — (because of his own fault) by the king of Israel (Joram). "By him Jehovah had given the victory unto Syria" Some scholars have marveled that Jehovah in this expression is accredited with the victory of Syria, but this is in full keeping with Daniel 4:25 c. As for which victory is spoken of here, Hammond thought it was probably a victory over an army of Shalmanezer II that had threatened the independence of Syria.The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 5b, p. 92. "But he was a leper" It is rather annoying that

1 Chronicles 29:10-19 — palace, for which I have made provision." "The palace" Only in these two verses is this term applied to the temple. "It is the Hebrew form of a Persian word used generally to designate the residence of the Persian monarch, as in Esther 1:2; Esther 1:5; Esther 2:3; Esther 2:8; Nehemiah 1:1; and in Daniel 8:2."Albert Barnes, Chronicles, p. 366. "David blessed Jehovah" We normally think of God's blessing men, not the other way around; but we learn from 1 Chronicles 29:20, below, that when David commanded

Ezra 7:25-26 — his counsellors to Jerusalem; (3) permission to draw upon the royal sub-treasury large grants up to the limits set in Ezra 7:22; (4) permission to convey to Jerusalem all of the money that Ezra might receive from an area-wide fund-raising effort; and (5) a royal mandate to "inquire" concerning Judah and Jerusalem. B.    Permanent provisions: (1) Ezra was endowed with the chief authority over all the great satrapy beyond the River, with power to appoint magistrates and judges, and

Psalms 25:1-7 — tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; For they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: According to thy lovingkindness remember thou me, For thy goodness sake, O Jehovah." "Let me not be put to shame" (Psalms 25:2). The distress of the petitioner is evident throughout the psalm. He is acutely conscious of his enemies and the treachery of those whom he has trusted. He is oppressed by the consciousness that he does not really know what to do under the distressing

Psalms 8:5-6 — than God, And crowned him with glory and honor. Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet:" "A little lower than God." We mention what we considered errors in the English Revised Version (1885) and American Standard Version renditions of the first verse; but here we must confess the superiority of those later versions over older renditions. Those older translations were unduly influenced by the Septuagint (LXX) which mistranslated "Elohim,"

Leviticus 23:15-21 — This latter fact received emphasis from Jesus Christ in the great parables of the kingdom which represented the "tares" growing in the wheat, and the "good and bad fishes alike" being encompassed within the visible structure of it (See Matthew 13). (5)    The use of leavened bread on this occasion may also have indicated that, "complete and final redemption was not yet attained by the church,S. H. Kellogg, op. cit., p. 461. but that her probation had begun. PENTECOST. The great

Leviticus 24:17-21 — killeth a beast shall make it good: and he that killeth a man shall be put to death." The principles enunciated here were basic to Biblical and Near Eastern Law throughout history. This doctrine is given three times in the O.T. - here, Exodus 21:23-25, and in Deuteronomy 19:21. Inherent in this are some factors that appear to be forgotten in a large degree today. (1)    Violence against people deserves punishment. (2)    The punishment should be proportional

Leviticus 26:3-13 — (Leviticus 26:3) stood the great condition, IF. If Israel would obey; if Israel would really keep God's commandments and walk in his ways - then, only then, would God so richly bless them. "Threshing shall reach unto the vintage… etc." (Leviticus 26:5) "One season of fruitfulness shall run into the next; in Amos' celebrated words, `the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him that sows the seed.' (Amos 9:13)."Robert P. Gordon, New Layman's Bible Commentary, Leviticus (Grand

Leviticus 8:1-5 — the royal priesthood. It is true, of course, that the Levites later succeeded to the status here reserved to Aaron and his sons, but the typology is here. "We can become priests only by our connection with the High Priest, Jesus Christ."Ibid,, p. 135. "The garments… the anointing oil… the bullock… etc." The definite articles here refer back to Exodus 28 and Exodus 29, where instructions for all of these things were provided, thus establishing a very close connection with Exodus.

Numbers 8:1-4 — of the sacred narrative is that of returning over and over again to the same subject, with additional details or instructions added in each reference. The same sacred pattern is here: The details of the lampstand are given elsewhere: (1) in Exodus 25:31-40, where it is planned; (2) in Exodus 37:17-29, where it is made; (3) in Exodus 40:24-25, where it is actually set up; (4) in Leviticus 24:2, where details for the sacred oil is given; and (5) here we find the actual lighting of it in a particular

Deuteronomy 3:1-4 — as witnessed by the hymnology of the nation: I know that Jehovah is great,And that our Lord is above all gods.... Who smote many nations,And slew mighty kings,Sihon king of the Amorites,And Og king of Bashan,And all the kingdoms of Canaan.(Psalms 135:5; Psalms 135:10-11). (Also see a similar passage in Psalms 136:17-21.) Blair gives the following neat summary of how the extensive territories of Sihon and Og were distributed: "The conquered territories were assigned to the tribes of Reuben and Gad

Deuteronomy 4:9-14 — again reflects the normal practice of the suzerainty treaties under which one copy was retained by the suzerain and the other given to the vassal to deposit in the temple of his god. In Israel's case, both copies were placed in the Ark (Deuteronomy 10:1-5; Deuteronomy 31:9; Deuteronomy 31:26)."Anthony Phillips, Deuteronomy (Cambridge: University Press, 1973), p. 33. It is of significance that by both tables being placed in the Ark, their being so placed, "symbolized the permanent presence of God"Ibid.

Joshua 24:8-13 — built not, and ye dwell therein; of vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not do ye eat." Holmes stated that, "`Fought against Israel' (Joshua 24:9) should be omitted, because Balak did not join battle with Israel."Samuel Holmes, op. cit., p. 255. Such an opinion overlooks the near identity between Moab and Midian at that time in history. Numbers 31:8 reveals that five kings of Midian were slain, as well as Balaam, the implication that Balaam also "fought against Israel," despite there being

Judges 17:1-3 — silver unto Jehovah from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee" Josephus placed these events shortly after the times of Joshua in the days of Othniel the Judge,Josephus, Antiquities, p. 155. and Campbell pointed out that, "Many scholars agree with this, because of the mention of Jonathan the grandson of Moses (Judges 18:1) and because of the presence of Phinehas, the son of Eleazer in Judges 20:28."D. K. Campbell, p. 146. "Micah" This

1 Samuel 3:10-14 — a dream, because, "Samuel rises and runs to Eli after each of the first three calls."International Critical Commentary, p. 27. The appearance of the Lord here, was something more than a voice; "There was an objective presence; because in 1 Samuel 3:15 it is called not [~chazown] (a sight seen when in a state of ecstasy), but [~mar'ah] (something seen when wide awake, and in full, calm possession of every faculty)."The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 66. The mention of "vision" (1 Samuel 3:15) does

2 Samuel 12:7-9 — the hand of Saul" The order of these two statements, "Indicates that the reference to David's anointing is to that of his private anointing in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:13), rather than to either of the two subsequent anointings (2 Samuel 2:4; 2 Samuel 5:3)."Ibid., p. 352. Note also that God here says, "I anointed," whereas it was actually Samuel who did the anointing. "Thus Samuel functioned as God's representative; he anointed David for the Lord."Ibid. "And your master's wives into your bosom" Some