Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 8:3 — In 2 Chronicles 5:4, ““the Levites” took up the ark;” and by the Law the ark was the special charge of the Kohathites Numbers 3:31; Numbers 4:15. But all priests were Levites Joshua 3:3, though all Levites were not priests. And as Joshua had done Joshua 3:6; Joshua 6:6, so Solomon called upon the priests to bear the holy structure, allowing to mere Levites only the inferior honor of helping to transport the tabernacle and the vessels of the sanctuary.

2 Kings 17:15 — life has been a mistake; and the result is utter powerlessness. Literally, the word rendered “vanity” seems to mean “breath” or “vapor” - a familiar image for nonentity. It occurs frequently in the prophets, and especially in Jeremiah (e. g. Jeremiah 2:5; Jeremiah 8:19; Jeremiah 14:22, etc.).

1 Chronicles 15:5 — The sons of Kohath - The order of the sons of Levi according to primogeniture is, Gershom, Kohath, Merari Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16. But the Kohathites, of whom came the priestly family of the Aaronites, had precedence in all respects. To them especially was committed the attendance upon the ark and the bearing of it. Of the six Levitical families mentioned 1 Chronicles 15:5-10 one only was descended from Gershom, one from Merari, and four (Uriel, Elizaphan, Hebron, and Uzziel) from Kohath.

1 Chronicles 27:32-34 — A list - supplemental in character - of some chief officers of David, not mentioned before. The list cannot belong to a very late part of David’s reign, since it contains the name of Ahithophel, who killed himself during Absalom’s rebellion 2 Samuel 17:23.1 Chronicles 27:33Was the king’s companion - or, “king’s friend,” as in 1 Kings 4:5. Compare also 2 Samuel 16:17.1 Chronicles 27:34After Ahithophel - i. e., next in counsel to Ahithophel: inferior to him, but superior to all others.

1 Chronicles 29:21 — With their drink offerings - i. e., with the drink-offerings appropriate to each kind of burnt-offering, and required by the Law to accompany them (see Numbers 15:5, Numbers 15:7,Numbers 15:10, etc.).Sacrifices - or, “thank-offerings,” as the same word is translated in 2 Chronicles 29:31; 2 Chronicles 33:16. Of “peace-offerings for thanksgivings” only a small part was the priest’s; the sacrificer and his friends feasted on the remainder Leviticus 7:15, Leviticus 7:29, Leviticus 7:34.

Psalms 141:10 — Let the wicked fall into their own nets - See the notes at Psalms 35:8. Compare Psalms 7:15-16.While that I withal escape - Margin, as in Hebrew, “pass over.” While I safely pass over the net or snare which has been secretly laid for me. The word “withal” means, in the Hebrew, “together, at the same time;” that is, At the same time that they fall into the net, let me pass over it in safety. See the notes at Job 5:13.

Psalms 78:23 — Though he had commanded the clouds from above - Though he had showed that he had absolute control over the clouds, and had only to command them and they would furnish rain in abundance. Compare the notes at Isaiah 5:6.And opened the doors of heaven - As he had done at the deluge, Genesis 7:11. The idea is, that he had rained down manna upon them in such abundance that it might be compared with the waters that had been sent down at the deluge.

Psalms 78:24 — And had rained down manna upon them to eat - Exodus 16:4-5, Exodus 16:14; Numbers 11:7-9. Compare the notes at John 6:31.And had given them of the corn of heaven - Food that seemed to come down from heaven. The reference here is to the manna, and it is called corn in the sense that it was food, or that it supplied the place of grain. It may also have been called corn from its resemblance to grain. See Exodus 16:31.

Psalms 89:28 — My mercy will I keep for him for evermore - I will not withdraw my favor from him, nor from his posterity, Psalms 89:33-36. In him, and in his Great Descendant, the throne shall be established forever. This dominion will not be like the changing dynasties of this world, but will be perpetual and eternal.And my covenant shall stand fast with him - See 2 Samuel 7:14-16; 2 Samuel 23:5. It shall be firm, or established with him and his family.

Isaiah 14:14 — this language and that used in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, in regard to antichrist: ‘He, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.’ And this similarity is the more remarkable, because antichrist is represented, in Revelation 17:4-5, as seated in babylon - the spiritual seat of arrogance, oppression, and pride. Probably Paul had the passage in Isaiah in his eye when he penned the description of antichrist.

Jeremiah 23:2 — fled there, while others fell away to the Chaldaeans: and finally the best of the land had been carried to Babylon with Jeconiah.Driven away - i. e., made them outcasts. In the East, shepherds never drive their flocks, but go ahead of them John 10:4-5.Have not visited them - i. e., have not concerned yourselves about their conduct.

Ezekiel 5:3-4 — Of the third part a few are yet to be taken and kept in the fold of the garment (representing those still to remain in their native land), and yet even of those few some are to be cast into the fire. Such was the fate of those left behind after the destruction of Jerusalem Jeremiah 40:0; Jeremiah 41:0. The whole prophecy is one of denunciation.Ezekiel 5:4Thereof - Or, from thence, out of the midst of the fire. Omit “For.”

Numbers 25:4 — Take - i. e., assemble the chiefs of the people to thee (compare the phrase “took men,” in Numbers 16:1). The offenders were to be first; slain by the hands of “the judges of Israel” Numbers 25:5, and afterward hung up “against the sun” (i. e., publicly, openly; compare 2 Samuel 12:12) as an aggravation of their punishment. This would be done by impaling the body or fastening it to a cross. Compare Deuteronomy 21:23 note, and 2 Samuel 21:9.

Deuteronomy 23:1 — Compare Leviticus 21:17-24. Such persons, exhibiting a mutilation of that human nature which was made in God’s image, were rejected from the covenant entirely. However, they could be proselytes (compare Acts 8:27). The Old Testament itself foretells Isaiah 56:3-5 the removal of this ban when under the kingdom of Messiah the outward and emblematic perfection and sanctity of Israel should be fulfilled in their inner meaning by the covenanted presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

Deuteronomy 26:1 — significant conclusion to it, namely,(1) the formal acknowledgment in deed and symbol of God’s faithfulness, by presentment of a basket filled with firstfruits, and in word by recitation of the solemn formula prescribed in Deuteronomy 26:3, Deuteronomy 26:5-10; and(2) the solemn declaration and profession on the part of each Israelite on the occasion of the third tithe Deuteronomy 26:12.

John 8:51 — If a man keep my saying - If he believes on me and obeys my commandments.He shall never see death - To see death, or to taste of death, is the same as to die, Luke 2:26; Matthew 16:28; Mark 9:1. The sense of this passage is, “He shall obtain eternal life, or he shall be raised up to that life where there shall be no death.” See John 6:49-50; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 11:25-26.

Acts 8:35 — Opened his mouth - See Matthew 5:2.At the same scripture - Taking this as a “text” to be illustrated.Preached unto him Jesus - Showed him that Jesus of Nazareth exactly corresponded to the description of the prophet, and that therefore he referred to the Messiah, and that the Messiah was Jesus of Nazareth. How far Philip detailed the circumstances of the life and death of Christ is unknown. What follows shows also that he stated the design of baptism, and the duty of being baptized.

Acts 9:40 — But Peter put them all forth - From the room. See a similar case in Matthew 9:25. Why this was done is not said. Perhaps it was because he did not wish to appear as if seeking publicity. If done in the presence of many persons, it might seem like ostentation. Others suppose it was that he might offer more fervent prayer to God than he would be willing they should witness Compare 2 Kings 4:33.Tabitha, arise - Compare Mark 5:41-42.

1 Samuel 13:2 — The state of things which preceded the events described in this chapter seems to have been a comparative peace between Israel and the Philistines, since Saul had only 3,000 men under arms. At the same time Philistine garrisons continued to occupy the country of the Israelites in certain strong places, whereof one was at Geba (Jeba), in the immediate neighborhood of Gibeah 1Sa 10:5; 1 Samuel 13:3, and exactly opposite Michmash (Mukhmas), which was on the northern edge of the great Wady Suweinit.

1 Samuel 3:1 — See the margin reference note. Josephus says that Samuel’s call to the prophetic office happened when he had just completed his twelfth year (compare Luke 2:42).Was precious - (or rare) The song of Hannah, and the prophecy of the “man of God” (1 Samuel 2:27 note), are the only instances of prophecy since Deborah. Samuel is mentioned as the first of the series of prophets Acts 3:24.No open vision - Better rendered, “There was no vision promulgated or published.” (Compare 2 Chronicles 31:5.)