Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 17:13 — My son - The minatory clause which occurs after this in Samuel is here omitted, because the writer is not about to record the sins of Solomon, or the sufferings 1 Kings 11:9-40 which he thereby brought upon himself.

1 Chronicles 22:5 — Young and tender - The exact age of Solomon at this time is uncertain; but it cannot have been more than 24 or 25. It may have been as little as 14 or 15. Compare the 1 Kings 2:2 note.

1 Chronicles 27:4 — Dodai The words “Eleazar, son of,” have probably fallen out before Dodai (or Dodo). According to Jewish tradition, EIeazar 1 Chronicles 11:12 was cousin to David; his father, Dodai, being Jesse’s brother. Mikloth was probably second in command to Eleazar.

1 Chronicles 29:23 — The throne of David is called here “the throne of the Lord,” as in 1 Chronicles 28:5 it is called “the throne of the kingdom of the Lord,” because God had set it up and had promised to establish it.

1 Chronicles 8:28 — These dwelt in Jerusalem - Jerusalem was partly within the limits of the tribe of Benjamin Joshua 18:28; but we do not hear of Benjamites inhabiting it until after the return from the captivity 1 Chronicles 9:3; Nehemiah 11:4.

2 Chronicles 6:40-42 — Turn not away the face of thine anointed - i. e., make him not to hide his face through shame at having his prayers rejected (compare the 1 Kings 2:16 note).The mercies of David - i. e., “God’s mercies toward David.”

Psalms 105:41 — He opened the rock ... - See the notes at Psalms 78:15. “They ran in the dry places like a river.” Or, “a river.” They flowed along in the desert - a river of waters. See the notes at 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Psalms 78:52 — But made his own people to go forth like sheep ... - That is, he was a shepherd to them. He defended them; provided for them; led them - as a shepherd does his flock. See the notes at Psalms 23:1-2.

Proverbs 15:26 — Some prefer the margin, and render, words of pleasantness are pure. Gracious words are to God as a pure acceptable offering, the similitude being taken from the Levitical ritual, and the word “pure” in half ceremonial sense (compare Malachi 1:11).

Jeremiah 27:7 — His son, and his son’s son - Evil-Merodach and Nabonadius (see Daniel 5:1 note).Shall serve themselves of him - See the marginal reference. After long servitude to the Persian and Median kings, the Selucidae ruined the remains of Babylon.

Ezekiel 45:7-8 — And the length shall be over against - Or, “and” in length “over against.”The definition of the prince’s territory was to prevent the oppressions foretold (1 Samuel 8:14 ff), described 2 Kings 23:35, and reproved Jeremiah 22:0.

Ezekiel 47:4 — The knees - The mission of Paul and Barnabas Acts 13:1-4 is another marked epoch in the Church’s history; and the time of Paul’s martyrdom denotes an increase in the Gentile Church, which corresponds with the waters reaching the loins.

Ezekiel 7:18 — Various signs of mourning common in eastern countries. Baldness was forbidden to the Israelites Deuteronomy 14:1. They seem, however, in later times to have adopted the custom of foreign nations in this matter, not without permission. Compare Isaiah 22:12.

John 6:33 — The bread of God - The means of support which God furnishes. That which, in his view, is needful for man.Is he ... - Is the Messiah who has come from heaven.And giveth life ... - See the notes at John 1:4.

Romans overview — written in Greek. Though addressed to a people whose language was Latin, yet this Epistle to them, like those to other churches, was in Greek. On this point, there is also no debate. The reasons why this language was chosen were probably the following: (1) The Epistle was designed doubtless to be read by other churches as well as the Roman congregation; compare Colossians 4:16. Yet the Greek language, being more generally known and spoken, was more adapted for this purpose than the Latin tongue. (2)

1 Corinthians 1:17 — baptism was entrusted to the ministers of the church of inferior talents, or to those who were connected with the churches permanently, and not to those who were engaged chiefly in traveling from place to place. The reasons of this may have been: (1) That which Paul here suggests, that if the apostles had themselves baptized, it might have given occasion to strifes, and the formation of parties, as those who had been baptized by the apostles might claim some superiority over those who were not. (2)

2 Thessalonians 3:12 — Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus ... - A more solemn command and appeal to do what he had before enjoined on all of them; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; see the notes on that verse.

1 Timothy 2:9 — In like manner also - That is, with the same propriety; with the same regard to what religion demands. The apostle had stated particularly the duty of men in public worship 1 Timothy 2:8, and he now proceeds to state the duty of women. All the directions here evidently refer to the proper manner of conducting public worship, and not to private duties; and the object here is to state the way in which he would have the

Revelation 2:2 — with the heart of man, a prerogative which is always attributed to the Saviour. See John 2:25. But no one can do this who is not divine; and this declaration, therefore, furnishes a strong proof of the divinity of Christ. See Psalm 7:9; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10; 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Kings 8:39.And they labor - The word used here ( κόπος kopos) means properly “a beating,” hence wailing, grief, with beating the breast; and then it means

Revelation 4 overview — Analysis Of The ChapterThis chapter Revelation 4:1-11 properly commences the series of visions respecting future events, and introduces those remarkable symbolical descriptions which were designed to cheer the hearts of those to whom the book was first sent, in their trials, and the hearts of all believers