Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 17:4 — I have commanded. Elijah miraculously fed three times: (1) by ravens (1 Kings 17:6 ); (2) by a widow (1 Kings 17:9 ); (3) by an angel (1 Kings 19:5 , 1 Kings 19:6 ). ravens. Note "I have commanded". All things possible when He speaks. Almighty power is a better and easier explanation than all rationalistic inventions. there. Nowhere else. Note the special lesson. Any-where but in God's appointed place he would have perished.

2 Kings 14:21 — Azariah. Called also Uzziah (2 Kings 15:13 , 2Ki 15:30 , 2 Kings 15:32 ; 2 Chronicles 26:1 .Isaiah 1:1 ; Isaiah 6:1 .Hosea 1:1 .Amos 1:1 .Zechariah 14:5; Zechariah 14:5 ). In Chronicles called Azariah (1 Chronicles 3:12 ). These different names are common, having the same or similar meanings. sixteen years: i.e. when "made" king. Only three years old at his father's death. See note on 2 Kings 15:1 .

1 Chronicles 29:11 — greatness. Compare Psalms 145:3 . and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton in verses: 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 , fourteen "ands", (including "Both" (1 Chronicles 29:12 ) and "Now" (1 Chronicles 29:12 ) placing great emphasis on the fifteen separate clauses of praise and prayer. power. Compare 1 Chronicles 29:12 and Psalms 21:13 . glory. Compare 1 Chronicles 29:13 .Psalms 96:6 ("beauty"). victory. Compare 1 Samuel 15:29 ("Strength"). majesty. Compare Psalms 21:5 ("honour").

Job 24:1 — Why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis . App-6 . times. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for the events which take place in them. THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew Shaddai. App-4 . see = perceive, or understand. days. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for His doings in them: e.g. visitation, or judgment, &c. Compare Job 18:20 . Psalms 37:13 ; Psalms 137:7 . Ezekiel 21:29 . Obadiah 1:12 .Luke 19:42 . 1 Corinthians 4:3 .

Psalms 106:47 — God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . gather us. Not necessary to suppose a late date for the Psalm. The Spirit of God spake by the prophets. David was a prophet (Acts 2:30 , Acts 2:31 ). Moreover, the Dispersion was well known, being foretold in Deuteronomy 28:64 . We might as well reason away 1 Kings 8:46-60 , for Solomon himself prays this prayer. holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 . name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

Psalms 120:2 — Deliver = Pluck me. Hebrew. nazal. Same word as in Psalms 119:170 . The reference is to 2 Kings 18:30 , 2 Kings 18:32 . my soul = me. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . lips. Hebrew = lip: i.e. Rab-shakeh's. The reference is to 2 Kings 18:19-35 ; 2 Kings 19:8-13 . 2 Chronicles 32:10-19 . Isaiah 36:4-20 ; Isaiah 37:8-13 . See App-67 . tongue. Figure of speech Epistrophe ( App-6 ), with "tongue", Psalms 120:3 .

Psalms 20:3 — all thy offerings. Some codices, with eight early printed editions, read "every present of thine". offerings = gift offerings, or presents. Hebrew. minchah. App-43 . accept. Hebrew turn to ashes. This was the only way by which Jehovah accepted what was offered. See note on Genesis 4:4 . Selah. Here, connecting the prayer of Psalms 20:4 with the atonement or accepted sacrifice of Psalms 20:3 ; the only ground on which prayer can be answered. See App-66 .

Psalms 32:9 — horse . . . mule. Compare Proverbs 26:3 . bit . . . bridle. See note on "eye", Psalms 32:8 . Lest = Otherwise they will not. come near = draw near: i.e. for help and instruction, so as to understand what they are to do: (1) to help, Hebrew. karab, App-43 . (Deuteronomy 4:7 . Deu 34:18 ; Psalms 119:151 ; Psalms 145:18 . Nehemiah 13:4 ); or (2) i n worship (Leviticus 16:1 . 1 Samuel 14:36 . Ezekiel 40:46 ; Ezekiel 44:15 ).

Proverbs 16:9 — deviseth his way. See notes on Proverbs 16:1 . directeth his steps. Illustrations: Joseph's brethren (Genesis 37:18-28 , and Pro 45:5 ); Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:5 ); Saul (1 Samuel 9:3 , 1Sa 9:15 , 1 Samuel 9:16 ; 1 Samuel 23:26 ; 1Sa 23:-28 ); Jesse (1 Samuel 16:8-11 ; 1 Samuel 17:23 , 1 Samuel 17:53 ); Syrians (2 Kings 5:2 ); woman (John 4:7 ); Saul (Acts 9:1 , &c.); Philemon.

Ecclesiastes 9:14 — a little city. For the application of verses: Ecclesiastes 9:14-16 , note the following illustrations: poor (2 Corinthians 8:9 . Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:6-8 ); wise (1 Corinthians 1:24 ); delivered (1 Corinthians 1:18 , 1 Corinthians 1:25 ); none remembered (Isaiah 53:3 ); despised (1 Corinthians 1:28 ); words heard in quiet (Job 6:24 .Ezekiel 1:24 , Ezekiel 1:25 .Luke 10:39; Luke 10:39 ). men. Hebrew, plural of 'enosh. App-14 .

Isaiah 37:35 — defend = shield. See note on Isaiah 31:5 . My servant. Three are so called in this book: David (here); Israel or Jacob (the nation) (Isaiah 41:8 ; Isaiah 42:19 ; Isaiah 43:10 ; Isaiah 44:1 ; Isaiah 45:4 ; Isaiah 48:20 ; Isaiah 49:3 and whole chapter); and Messiah (Isaiah 42:1 ; Isaiah 65:8 ). David's sake. Note how Hezekiah refers to these words in his "Songs of the Degrees" (Psalms 132:1 , Psalms 132:10 ).

Isaiah 9:7 — no end. Compare the angelic message (Luke 1:32 , Luke 1:33 ). it. Feminine, referring to the kingdom. upon. henceforth. Quoted in Luke 1:32 , Luke 1:33 . the Lord of hosts. See note on Isaiah 1:9 , and 1 Samuel 1:3 . sent a word. ch. Isaiah 2:5 , Isaiah 2:6 which had now been fulfilled. Compare Isaiah 5:25 . 2 Chronicles 28:6-8 . Jacob. See note on Isaiah 2:5 . lighted = fallen.

Jeremiah 37:15 — smote = scourged. put him in prison. Note Jeremiah ' s prison experiences:. (1) put in on false charge (Jeremiah 37:11-15 ); (2) released, but confined in the court of the prison; (3) imprisoned again in Malchiah's miry dungeon (Jeremiah 38:1-6 ); (4) released again as before (Jeremiah 38:13-28 ); (5) carried away in chains by Nebuchadnezzar, but released at Ramah (Jeremiah 40:1-4 ). in prison = in the house of bonds. the prison = the house of detention.

Jeremiah 7:1 — Jeremiah's Sixth Prophecy (see Book comments for Jeremiah). came. The danger attending this message is shown in Jeremiah 26:0 . Compare Jeremiah 7:2 with Jeremiah 26:2 ; Jeremiah 7:3 with Jeremiah 26:13 ; Jeremiah 7:12-14 with Jeremiah 26:4-6 . Jeremiah 26:0 was in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, probably his fourth year. Jeremiah 26:0 is the historical appendix of Jeremiah 7:0 . the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Daniel 10:5 — man . Hebrew ' ish . App-14 . clothed, &c. Compare the description in Revelation 1:0 . Note the Divine and angelic appearances in this book: Daniel 3:25 ; Daniel 4:13 , Daniel 4:17 , Daniel 4:23 ; Daniel 6:22 ; Daniel 7:16 ; Daniel 8:13 , Daniel 8:14 , Daniel 8:16-26 ; Daniel 9:21 ; Daniel 10:4-8 , Daniel 10:10 , Daniel 10:16 , Daniel 10:18 , Daniel 10:20 ; Daniel 12:1 , Daniel 12:5 , Daniel 12:6 .

Daniel 7:2 — spake and said . The vision is related in words. I saw = I was looking. by = during. the four winds . All blowing at the same time and producing the one result described in verses: Daniel 7:3-8 . winds . Chaldee. ruach. App-9 . strove upon = brake or burst forth against; converging on one point. the great sea: i.e. the Mediterranean Sea, or the sea, denoting the peoples of the earth, as interpreted for us in Daniel 7:17 .

Hosea 11:12 — Ephraim compasseth Me, &c. The Structure (p. 1221) shows the change of subject in Hosea 11:12 Hosea 12:8 , which is "incorrigibility". The chapters are badly divided here. with deceit. See Isaiah 29:13 .Ezekiel 33:31 .Matthew 15:8 , Matthew 15:9 . Mark 7:6 , Mark 7:7 . Judah yet ruleth, &c. Compare 2 Chronicles 13:10-12 . with the saints = with the Holy One. Hebrew, plural; so used elsewhere. Compare Joshua 24:19 . Proverbs 30:3 .

Hosea 8:4 — they have set up kings. Compare Hosea 7:7 . See 2 Kings 15:13 , 2Ki 15:17 , 2 Kings 15:27 (Shallum, Menahem, Pekah). made princes = caused [men]to bear rule. Hebrew. sarar = to bear rule. See note on Hosea 12:3 . knew = acknowledged. idols = elaborate idols. of their silver, &c. Compare Hosea 2:8 ; Hosea 13:2 . they = he. The nation spoken of as one man. But the Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac read "they", with the Authorized Version.

Joel 2:1 — Zion . See App-68 . sound an alarm. Ref to Pentateuch (Numbers 10:5 , Numbers 10:9 ). App-92 , My. Note the Pronoun, and see notes on Joel 1:6 , Joel 1:7 . holy mountain = mountain of My sanctuary. holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 . the day of the LORD. See notes on Joel 1:15 . This is the subject of the book. Compare Obadiah 1:15 .Zephaniah 1:14 , Zephaniah 1:15 . the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Amos 5:4 — thus saith. Note the prophetic formula (see App-82 ), introducing the exhortation, and emphasising it. the Lord . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . Seek ye Me, &c. Note this word "seek" in the several exhortations. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 12:5 ). App-92 . As in Psalms 9:10 . Isaiah 9:13 .Jeremiah 10:21 .Hosea 10:12 .Zephaniah 1:6 . ye shall live. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:5 , see note there. Deuteronomy 30:19 ). App-92 . Compare Isaiah 55:3 .