Bible Commentaries

Psalms 120:1 — cried unto the Lord, and he heard me - I had no other resource. I could not meet the slander. I could not refute it. I could not prevent its effects on my reputation, and all that I could do was to commit the case to the Lord. See the notes at Psalms 37:5-6.

Ecclesiastes 7:15-17 — best explained by a paraphrase. Solomon states how the wise man should regard the “crooked Ecclesiastes 7:13 work of God” when it bears upon him. He says in effect, “Do not think that thou couldest alter the two instances (described in Ecclesiastes 7:15) of such crooked work so as to make it straight, that thou art more righteous or more wise than He is Who ordained these events. To set up thy judgment in opposition to His would imply an excess of wickedness and folly, deserving the punishment of premature

Song of Solomon 6:10 — bride here only as the Shulamite, and beg her to perform for their entertainment a sacred dance (see Song of Solomon 6:13) of her own country. The bride, after complying with their request, while they sing some stanzas in her praise Song of Solomon 7:1-5, and after receiving fresh commendations from the king Song of Solomon 7:6-10, invites him to return with her to her mother’s house Song of Solomon 7:11-4. Many Jewish allegorists interpret the whole as referring to the times of the second temple, and

Isaiah 20:4 — recently-discovered graves of the kings of Thebes, a multitude of “Egyptian and Ethiopian prisoners” are represented - showing that Egypt and Ethiopia were sometimes “allied,” alike in mutual defense and in bondage (compare Isaiah 47:2, and Nahum 3:5).

Isaiah 3:9 — the heart; or as it is expressed in our translation, that the expression of the face will “witness” against a wicked man.They declare ... - By their deeds. Their crimes are open and bold. There is no attempt at concealment.As Sodom - see Genesis 19:5; compare the note at Isaiah 1:10.Wo unto their soul - They shall bring woe upon themselves; they deserve punishment. This is an expression denoting the highest abhorrence of their crimes.They have rewarded evil ... - They have brought the punishment

Isaiah 33:24 — forgiven, and that God was now disposed to show them favor and mercy. It is common in the Scriptures to represent any calamity as the consequence of sin, to identify the removal of the calamity and the forgiveness of the sin. Thus, the Saviour said Mark 2:5 to the man afflicted with the palsy, ‘Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.’ And when the scribes complained, he urged that the power of forgiving sins and of healing disease was the same, or that the forgiveness of sin was equivalent to the removal of disease

Isaiah 37:3 — either to the reproaches of Rabsbakeh, or more probably to the fact that Hezekiah regarded the Lord as rebuking his people for their sins. The word which is used here (תוכחח tôkēchâh), means more properly chastisement or punishment Psalms 149:7; Hosea 5:9.And of blasphemy - Margin, ‘Provocation.’ The word used here (נאצה ne'âtsâh), means properly reproach or contumely; and the sense is, that God and his cause had been vilified by Rabshakeh, and it was proper to appeal to him to vindicate the honor

Isaiah 59:8 — strangers to true contentment and happiness. From no quarter had they peace, but whether in relation to God, to their own consciences, to each other, or to their fellow-men, they were involved in continual strife and agitation (see the notes at Isaiah 57:20-21).And there is no judgment in their goings - Margin, ‘Right.’ The sense is, that there was no justice in their dealings. there was no disposition to do right. They were full of selfishness, falsehood, oppression, and cruelty.They have made them

Isaiah 63:3 — I have trodden the wine-press alone - I, Yahweh, have indeed trod the wine-press of my wrath, and I have done it alone (compare the notes at Isaiah 34:5-6). The idea here is, that he had completely destroyed his foes in Idumea, and had done it by a great slaughter.For I will tread - Or rather, I trod them. It refers to what he had done; or what was then past.And their blood shall be sprinkled - Or rather,

Ezekiel 27:10-11 — wrote that the rude and warlike people of Persia were rising into notice, soon about to seize, under Cyrus, the empire of the Asiatic world.Lud - See Genesis 10:13. The union here of “Lud with Phut,” an undoubtedly African tribe (compare Ezekiel 30:5; Isaiah 66:19) seems to indicate Lud to be of Hamitic race, not the Semitic race. Both names occur repeatedly on Egyptian inscriptions, especially as supplying mercenary soldiers.Phut - Libyans (see Genesis 10:6).Ezekiel 27:11Gammadims - Rendered by

Ezekiel 4:5 — (circa 390 years); and in the case of Judah from Josiah’s reformation. But it seems more in accordance with the other “signs,” to suppose that they represent not that which had been, but that which shall be. The whole number of years is 430 Ezekiel 4:5-6, the number assigned of old for the affliction of the descendants of Abraham Genesis 15:13; Exodus 12:40. The “forty years” apportioned to Judah Ezekiel 4:6, bring to mind the 40 years passed in the wilderness; and these were years not only of punishment,

Hosea 11:7 — depended, on “backsliding” or aversion from God. The political existence of Israel, as a separate kingdom, depended on his worship of the calves, “the sin wherewith” Jeroboam “made Israel to sin.” This was the ground of their “refusing to return” Hosea 11:5, that, through habitual sin, they were no longer in their own power: they were fixed in evil.Though they called them to the most High - Literally, “called him.” As one man, the prophets called Israel; as one man, Israel refused to return; “none at all

Habakkuk 1:7 — himself and others. His elevation is too is, in his own thought, from himself. He is self-sufficing; he holds from no other, neither from God nor man. His “dignity” is self-sustained; His “judgment” is irresponsible, as if there were none Ecclesiastes 5:8 higher than he. He has, like all great world-powers, a real dignity and majesty. He infuses awe. The dignity is real but faulty, as being held independently of God. This is a character of antichrist Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4, a lawless insolence,

Zechariah 7:13 — answer; they shall seek Me early, and they shall not find Me” Proverbs 1:27-28. So by Isaiah, “When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of bloods” Isaiah 1:15. So by Hosea, Hosea 5:6, by Micah Micah 3:4, by Jeremiah Jeremiah 11:14; Jeremiah 14:12. It was one message which was verilied in every day of chastisement, “there will be a ‘too late;’” not a final “too late,” until the end of ends comes, but a “too

Matthew 18:8-9 — If thy hand ... - See the notes at Matthew 5:29-30. The sense in all these instances is the same. Worldly attachments, friendships, and employments of any kind, that cannot be pursued without leading us into sin, be they ever so dear to us, must be abandoned, or the soul will be lost.It is better

Matthew 20:1 — inconsiderable part of Judea was employed in the culture of the grape. Vineyards are often used, therefore, to represent a fertile or well-cultivated place, and hence the church, denoting the care and culture that God has bestowed on it. See the notes at Isaiah 5:7. Compare Jeremiah 12:10. For the manner of their construction, see the notes at Matthew 21:33.

Matthew 24:6 — it was not carried into execution, Antig. xx. 34. He also says that Vitellius, governor of Syria, declared war against Aretas, king of Arabia, and wished to lead his army through Palestine, but the death of Tiberius prevented the war, Antiq. xviii. 5. 3.The end is not yet - The end of the Jewish economy; the destruction of Jerusalem will not immediately follow. Be not, therefore, alarmed when you hear of those commotions. Other signs will warn you when to be alarmed and seek security.

Matthew 5:27-28 — Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery - See the notes at Matthew 5:21. Our Saviour in these verses explains the seventh commandment. It is probable that the Pharisees had explained this commandment, as they had the sixth, as extending only to the external act; and that they regarded evil thoughts and a wanton imagination

John 11:3 — Whom thou lovest - John 11:5. The members of this family were among the few special and intimate friends of our Lord. He was much with them, and showed them marks of special friendship Luke 10:38-42, and they bestowed upon him special proofs of affection in return. This shows that

Acts 18:19 — And he came to Ephesus - See the notes on Revelation 2:1-5. This was a celebrated city in Ionia, in Asia Minor, about 40 miles south of Smyrna. It was chiefly famous for the Temple of Diana, usually reckoned one of the seven wonders of the world. Pliny styles this city the ornament of Asia. In the times of