Bible Commentaries

Exodus 6:2-3 — beyond what seems to be said is intended. First, let it be understood that the patriarchs DID know God by the name Jehovah. When Abraham offered Isaac and God provided a ram as the sacrifice, Abraham called the name of the place Jehovah-jireh (Genesis 22:14). Moses' own mother was named Jochebed (Exodus 6:20), which means "Jehovah is glory!"[9] Abraham knew Jehovah in the land of Ur, for God told him, "I am Jehovah that brought thee out of Ur" (Genesis 15:7), and Abraham used "Jehovah" in addressing

Exodus 6:2-3 — what seems to be said is intended. First, let it be understood that the patriarchs DID know God by the name Jehovah. When Abraham offered Isaac and God provided a ram as the sacrifice, Abraham called the name of the place Jehovah-jireh (Genesis 22:14). Moses' own mother was named Jochebed (Exodus 6:20), which means "Jehovah is glory!"[9] Abraham knew Jehovah in the land of Ur, for God told him, "I am Jehovah that brought thee out of Ur" (Genesis 15:7), and Abraham used "Jehovah" in addressing

Nehemiah 8:1 — mention of the seventh month (Tishri) here should be understood as a reference to the very next month after the completion of the wall in the sixth month (Elul), "There is nothing against the inference that the seventh month of the same year is intended."[2] Short also agreed that the events of this chapter, "Came only a few days after the completion of the wall, which occurred on the 25th day of the month Elul (Nehemiah 6:15), the sixth month."[3] Throughout this whole century, from the times of James

Nehemiah 8:1 — mention of the seventh month (Tishri) here should be understood as a reference to the very next month after the completion of the wall in the sixth month (Elul), "There is nothing against the inference that the seventh month of the same year is intended."[2] Short also agreed that the events of this chapter, "Came only a few days after the completion of the wall, which occurred on the 25th day of the month Elul (Nehemiah 6:15), the sixth month."[3] Throughout this whole century, from the times of James

Ecclesiastes 3:16 — way than an animal, that no one knows whether the soul of man goes up to God when he dies, or if the soul of the beast goes downward. "This is a favorite proof-text for those who deny that man has an immortal spirit that survives physical death."[12] This writer is no apologist for Solomon. Throughout the historical books, we stressed the consummate wickedness of this evil man; but there are some things about the general interpretation of this paragraph that do not fit. Solomon believed in God;

Ezekiel 48:1 — faroff tomorrow. It is going on now. Christ has been reigning ever since Almighty God committed into his hands "All authority in heaven and upon earth"; and it will continue until the last enemy, death itself, has been destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:25). Oh, but some do not allow Christ to reign over them. True indeed, but that makes no difference whatever. Jesus Christ is over all; and the people who refuse him have chosen for themselves eternal death. Before leaving this section, we shall observe

Ezekiel 48:1 — faroff tomorrow. It is going on now. Christ has been reigning ever since Almighty God committed into his hands "All authority in heaven and upon earth"; and it will continue until the last enemy, death itself, has been destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:25). Oh, but some do not allow Christ to reign over them. True indeed, but that makes no difference whatever. Jesus Christ is over all; and the people who refuse him have chosen for themselves eternal death. Before leaving this section, we shall observe

Daniel 12:1 — prophet Daniel. Such interpretations we leave without comment to those who prefer to disbelieve the holy prophecies of the "end times." The various premillennial views of this chapter we also reject on the basis that "the millennium" of Revelation 20 is nothing more nor less than the entire dispensation of the Gospel, embracing all of the time between the First Advent and the Second Advent of Christ. (See extensive studies on this in the Book of Revelation. Also, we have given a summary of it

Amos 9:11 — breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." PROPHECY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST This verse foretells how salvation for all men "shall be effected in the house of David, in whose line Christ was to come."[23] Note that the Jerusalem temple is by-passed, absolutely, here. All of the great victories of Israel were won during the period when they had the "tabernacle," not the temple; and, as Barnes pointed out, "He speaks of the house of David, not in any

Amos 9:11 — breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." PROPHECY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST This verse foretells how salvation for all men "shall be effected in the house of David, in whose line Christ was to come."[23] Note that the Jerusalem temple is by-passed, absolutely, here. All of the great victories of Israel were won during the period when they had the "tabernacle," not the temple; and, as Barnes pointed out, "He speaks of the house of David, not in any

Numbers 19:1 — similarity between what is written here and any of those rites. Besides, it is quite possible, as Adam Clarke said, that "it is very likely that the Gentiles learned of these rites from the patriarchs, and we need not wonder at finding coincidences."[2] As for the reason this particular method of cleansing from pollution deriving from contact with the dead appears just here in Moses' narrative, that is quite apparent. Of course, more elaborate laws for the removal of such uncleanness had already

Numbers 19:1 — similarity between what is written here and any of those rites. Besides, it is quite possible, as Adam Clarke said, that "it is very likely that the Gentiles learned of these rites from the patriarchs, and we need not wonder at finding coincidences."[2] As for the reason this particular method of cleansing from pollution deriving from contact with the dead appears just here in Moses' narrative, that is quite apparent. Of course, more elaborate laws for the removal of such uncleanness had already

Jonah 1:17 — ready at the instant God needed it, just as the tree had been growing by the bitter waters of Marah for a long time prior to the moment when Moses was commanded to cast it into the waters for the purpose of making the bitter waters sweet (Exodus 15:23f). The miraculous nature of the event narrated here is seen in the timing of the fish's appearance and swallowing Jonah and in the fact of the experience not being fatal to Jonah. "Three days and three nights ..." Most commentators move quickly to

Micah 5:2 — Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written through the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a governor Who shall be the shepherd of my people Israel" (Matthew 2:5,6). The entire religious hierarchy of ancient Israel understood perfectly the Messianic character of this prophecy and answered Herod accordingly, Testimony of such a nature is irrefutable as regards the true import of this verse. "Which art little

Luke 18:11 — self-righteousness. All people are sinners. Although it is true that some like the Pharisee are not sinners of grosser type, yet their respectability only emphasizes the sins they do have. None are righteous (Romans 3:10); all have sinned (Romans 3:23); and all human righteousnesses are "as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). C. These teach some vital facts about prayer. A short prayer is better than a long one (Matthew 6:7,8; 23:14). Also, prayers should be directed, not to ourselves, nor to the audience,

Luke 18:11 — self-righteousness. All people are sinners. Although it is true that some like the Pharisee are not sinners of grosser type, yet their respectability only emphasizes the sins they do have. None are righteous (Romans 3:10); all have sinned (Romans 3:23); and all human righteousnesses are "as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). C. These teach some vital facts about prayer. A short prayer is better than a long one (Matthew 6:7,8; 23:14). Also, prayers should be directed, not to ourselves, nor to the audience,

Luke 18:11-14 — self-righteousness. All people are sinners. Although it is true that some like the Pharisee are not sinners of grosser type, yet their respectability only emphasizes the sins they do have. None are righteous (Romans 3:10); all have sinned (Romans 3:23); and all human righteousnesses are "as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). C.    These teach some vital facts about prayer. A short prayer is better than a long one (Matthew 6:7,8; 23:14). Also, prayers should be directed, not

John 1:18 — one who, as both God and man, is in a position truly to reveal him. This verse declares that Christ has indeed provided for man such a faithful revelation of the Father. No man hath seen God at any time … This is not a contradiction of Exodus 24:10, where it is recorded that a whole company of Israelites "saw the God of Israel"; nor is this a contradiction of Job 42:5, where Job said of God, "Now mine eye seeth thee." Of course the TERMINOLOGY of these passages is contradictory:

Romans 16:1-2 — could have understood this problem any better than Paul; for there was a time when he himself came down to Jerusalem and "assayed to join himself to the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple" (Acts 9:26). Paul’s purpose of "joining" the Jerusalem congregation was realized through the intervention of Barnabas, thus setting the great example which would require every child of God to make it his first order of business, upon a change

Joshua 8:30 — evidence of the extremely abbreviated nature of the Book of Joshua. Here we have a passage that the critics hate. The narrative here is denounced as misplaced, unfitting, and "impossible to be true, since Joshua had not yet conquered central Canaan."[25] What really troubles them is the proof this passage gives of the PRIOR existence of the Mosaic law. It is a vain criticism that the passage does not belong here; "Here is where it is!" Furthermore, it belongs here. As Schaeffer noted, "The victorious