Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 9:27 — Shipmen - See 1 Kings 5:6 note. With respect to the acquaintance of the Phoenicians with this particular sea, it may be observed that they are not unlikely to have had trading settlements there, as they had in the Persian Gulf, even at this early period. The commerce with

2 Kings 15:25 — A captain of his - A mere “captain,” a person, therefore, of very moderate rank. The low birth of Pekah is probably glanced at in Isaiah’s favorite designation of him as “Remaliah’s son” Isaiah 7:4-5, Isaiah 7:9; Isaiah 8:6.From the fact that Pekah employed Gileadites to carry out his designs, it has been conjectured that he himself belonged to the trans-Jordanic region.In the palace of the king’s house - Rather, “In the tower of the king’s palace;”

2 Kings 19:25 — the affairs of this world are determined and ordered from the very beginning of things. Sennacherib’s boasting, however, proved that he did not know this, that he did not recognize himself simply as God’s instrument - “the rod of His anger” Isaiah 10:5 - but regarded his victories as gained by his own “strength and wisdom” Isaiah 10:13.

2 Kings 23:3 — By a pillar - Rather, “upon the pillar” (see 2 Kings 11:14, note).Made a covenant - “The covenant.” Josiah renewed the old covenant made between God and His people in Horeb Deuteronomy 5:2, so far at least as such renewal was possible by the mere act of an individual. He bound himself by a solemn promise to the faithful performance of the entire Law.With all their heart - “Their” rather than “his,” because the king was considered as

1 Chronicles 25:7 — their brethren - i. e., “with others of the tribe of Levi.” Each son of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, was at the head of a band of twelve skilled musicians, consisting partly of his own sons, partly of Levites belonging to other families 1 Chronicles 25:9-31. The 24 band-leaders, together with their bands, formed a body of 288 persons (24 x 12 =288) Besides these, we hear of there being above 3,700 singers, who were probably divided, like the trained musicians, into 24 courses, which must have contained

1 Chronicles 5:1 — privileges, passed to Joseph, its other rights, those of dignity and pre-eminence, fell to Judah; of whom came the chief ruler, an allusion especially to David, though it may reach further, and include a glance at the Messiah, the true “Ruler” of Israel Micah 5:2.

2 Chronicles 11:23 — Rehoboam’s wisdom was shown:(1) In dispersing his other sons instead of allowing them to remain together in Jerusalem, where they might have joined in a plot against Abijah, as Adonijah and his brothers had done against Solomon 1 Kings 1:5-10;(2) In giving his sons positions which might well content them and prevent them from being jealous of Abijah.He desired many wives - (Compare 2 Chronicles 11:21). Some prefer to connect the words with the preceding words. If so, they denote another

Nehemiah 13:4 — priest Nehemiah 3:1, with Tobiah and Sanballat will account for the absence of any reference to him either in Neh. 8–10, or in Nehemiah 12:27-47.The chamber - The entire outbuilding, or “lean-to,” which surrounded the temple on three sides 1 Kings 6:5-10.Allied - i. e, “connected by marriage.” Tobiah was married to a Jewess Nehemiah 6:18, who may have been a relation of Eliashib; and his son Johanan was married to another Nehemiah 6:18, of whom the same may be said.

Job 29:1 — once paused in his addresses to give his friends an opportunity to speak, and that they were silent when they seemed called upon to vindicate their former sentiments, was what particularly roused the wrath of Elihu and induced him to answer; Job 32:2-5.

Psalms 115:14 — their return to their country their number was comparatively small. This promise of a great increase was in accordance with the cherished wishes of the Hebrew people, and with the repeated promises which God had made to their fathers. Compare Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12.You and your children - The blessing shall be not only on you, but it shall go down to future generations,

Psalms 132:7 — ark. This is evidently language supposed to have been used on bringing up the ark into its place in Jerusalem: language such as they may be supposed to have sung or recited on that occasion.We will worship at his footstool - See the notes at Psalms 99:5. The meaning is, the footstool of God: let us bow humbly at his feet. The language denotes profound adoration. It expresses the feelings of those who bare the ark to its assigned place.

Psalms 18:16 — from above, or from heaven; all came from God.He took me - He took hold on me; he rescued me.He drew me out of many waters - Margin, great waters. Waters are often expressive of calamity and trouble, Psalms 46:3; Psalms 69:1; Psalms 73:10; Psalms 124:4-5. The meaning here is, that God had rescued him out of the many troubles and dangers that encompassed him, as if he had fallen into the sea and was in danger of perishing.

Psalms 33:21 — For our heart shall rejoice in him - See the notes at Psalms 13:5.Because we have trusted in his holy name - In “him,” the “name” often being put for the person himself. See the notes at Psalms 20:1. The idea is:(a) that the fact of our having put our trust in God is in itself an occasion of joy or rejoicing;(b) that the result will be joy, for we shall never be disappointed.It will always, and in all circumstances, be a source of joy to anyone that he HAS put his trust in the name of God.

Psalms 71:21 — wilt enlarge my happiness, and wilt do still greater things for me.And comfort me on every side - literally, “Thou wilt turn thyself; thou wilt comfort me.” The word also means to surround; to encompass Genesis 2:11, Gen 2:13; 1 Kings 7:24; Psalms 18:5; and the idea here may be that God would “go around him,” or encircle him, and would thus comfort him. This idea is expressed in our common version. It was the confident assurance of entire, or complete consolation.

Psalms 78:27 — expression, designed to give beauty to the description by the image of their fluttering wings.Like as the sand of the sea - An expression also designed to denote their great numbers, Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12; Genesis 41:49; Joshua 11:4; 1 Samuel 13:5; Revelation 20:8.

Proverbs 12:10 — Regardeth - literally, “knoweth.” All true sympathy and care must grow out of knowledge. The duty of a person to animals:(1) rests upon direct commandments in the Law Exodus 20:10; Exodus 23:4-5;(2) connects itself with the thought that the mercies of God are over all His works, and that man’s mercy, in proportion to its excellence, must be like His Jonah 4:11; and(3) has perpetuated its influence in the popular morality of the East.Tender

Proverbs 6:16-19 — A new section, but not a new subject. The closing words, “he that soweth discord” (Proverbs 6:19, compare Proverbs 6:14), lead us to identify the sketch as taken from the same character. With the recognized Hebrew form of climax (see Proverbs 30:15, Proverbs 30:18, Proverbs 30:24; Amos 1:1-15; Amos 2:0; Job 5:19), the teacher here enumerates six qualities as detestable, and the seventh as worse than all (seven represents completeness), but all the seven in this instance belong to one man, the

Ecclesiastes 2:7 — I got - Rather, I bought, in distinction from those born in the house. The “children of Solomon’s servants” (compare Ezra 2:55, Ezra 2:58) were more probably of Canaanite origin 1 Kings 9:20-21; 1 Kings 5:15 than Hebrews 1 Kings 9:22.Possessions of great and small cattle - Rather, herds of oxen and sheep.All ... before me - King David’s herds and flocks are mentioned in 1

Jeremiah 7:16 — They had reached that stage in which men sin without any sense of guilt (see 1 John 5:16).Neither make intercession to me - In Jeremiah 14:7-9 we have an intercessory prayer offered by Jeremiah, but not heard. The intercession of Moses prevailed with God Numbers 11:2; Numbers 14:13-20; Numbers 16:22, because the progress of the people

Ezekiel 30:20-26 — spoken three months before the capture of Jerusalem Ezekiel 26:1, and three months after the prophecy of Ezekiel 29:1. Meantime, Pharaoh-Hophra’s attempt on Jerusalem had been foiled, and the Egyptians driven back into their own country (Jeremiah 37:5 note).Ezekiel 30:21I have broken - Especially by the defeat at Carchemish.A roller - Or, a bandage.Ezekiel 30:22The strong - Such power as Egypt yet retained at home and abroad.That which was broken - The power which Egypt aimed at ineffectually, the