Bible Commentaries

Proverbs 18:21 — power. Hebrew "hand", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the power put forth by it. the tongue. Illustrations: the ten spies (Numbers 14:36 , Numbers 14:37 ); Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9 , 1 Samuel 22:10 ); Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:28 , 2 Kings 18:35 ; 2 Kings 19:22-35 . 2 Chronicles 32:21 ); Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:3-7 ); Sapphira (Acts 5:5-10 ); Esther (Esther 7:0 and Esther 8:0 ); Paul (Acts 16:28-34 ); the Gospel (Romans 1:16 . 2 Corinthians 2:16 ).

Ecclesiastes 1:1 — The words. Rashi says that, when this expression occurs at the beginning of a book, it shows that the book is meant for reproof, and he gives evidence from Deuteronomy 1:1 (Compare Ecc 32:15 ). Amos 1:1 (Compare Ecclesiastes 4:1 ). Jeremiah 1:1 (Compare Ecc 30:6 ). David, 2 Samuel 23:1 (Compare Ecclesiastes 1:6 ). the Preacher. This comes from Luther's version "Prediger"; but "Koheleth" does not include the idea of preaching. Some

Ecclesiastes 2:3 — mine heart : i.e. resolved. to give myself unto: or, how to enlist, by wine, my very flesh [in the work]: i.e. the work of proving the heart with mirth "yet retaining wisdom". wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 . wisdom. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13 . men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . Note the use of this word in Ecc. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13 . under the heaven. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 . Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "sun", to which it is equivalent. all the

Ecclesiastes 3:1 — 28 "seasons" (= 4x7. See App-10 .) In Hebrew Manuscripts these are set out in 14 lines; 2 in a line, with a space between each pair. purpose. Hebrew. hephez. Alleged to be later Hebrew. See App-76 . under the heaven. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 .

Isaiah 14:13 — said = saidst. ascend = mount up. heaven = the heavens. mount of the congregation. Not Zion, but the Divine assembly of judgment. Compare Psalms 75:2 ; Psalms 82:1 .Ezekiel 28:12-14 . sides = recesses. Same word as in Isaiah 14:16 ; Isaiah 37:24 , and 1 Samuel 24:3 .Ezekiel 32:23 . the north. This helps us to localize the dwelling place of God. No "Semitic conception", but Divine revelation of Him Who knows what Satan "said in his heart". Compare Psalms 75:6 . Job 26:7 .

Isaiah 14:4 — take up this proverb. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 23:7 , Numbers 23:24 ; Numbers 24:3 , Numbers 24:15 , Numbers 24:20 , Numbers 24:21 , Numbers 24:23 ). Elsewhere only in Micah 2:4 .Habakkuk 2:6 , and Job 27:1 ; Job 29:1 . proverb = triumph-song. king of Babylon. Figure of speech Polyonymia . One

Isaiah 25:6 — the LORD of hosts. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 . people = the peoples. a feast. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia in this verse: a feast (Hebrew. mishteh) of fat things (Hebrew. shemanim) , a feast of (Hebrew. mishteh) wines on the lees (Hebrew. shemarim) ; of fat things (Hebrew.

Isaiah 28:1 — come to a cycle of woes corresponding with the "burdens". In these "woes" Jehovah's purpose is alternately thrown into sharp contrast (see the Structure, above). crown of pride = pride's crown, or proud crown (i.e. Samaria; compare Amos 6:1 , Amos 6:3 ). Figure of speech Enallage ( App-6 ). Referring to the circle of towers which girdled Samaria. to = of. Ephraim = one tribe. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for all the tribes of Israel. a fading flower. Compare Isaiah 1:30

Isaiah 40:31 — run . . . walk. Note the Figure of speech C a t a- basis , to call attention (by Application) to the progress of experience in grace. At first we fly (compare Paul, 2 Corinthians 11:5 ; 2 Corinthians 12:11 ); then we run (compare Paul, Ephesians 3:8 ); then we walk (compare Paul, 1 Timothy 1:15 ).

Isaiah 47:13 — astrologers. The scientists of Babylon were divided into three classes: writers of (1) charms to be placed on afflicted persons or houses; (2) formulae of incantations; (3) records of observations which mixed up astronomy with astrology, and resulted, in the case of any two successive or concurrent events, in the conclusion that one was the cause of the other; and, the further conclusion was reached by reasoning from

Isaiah 53:8 — from prison and from judgment, &c. = by constraint and by sentence He was taken away. who shall declare His generation? = as to the men of His age [i.e. His contemporaries!, who ponders, or considers as to this seed, seeing He is to be "cut off"? Compare Isaiah 53:10 . cutoff. Compare Daniel 9:26 . Thus the climax of this prophecy is reached: (1) a hint (Isaiah 42:4 ); (2) open lament (Isaiah 49:4 ); (3) personal suffering (Isaiah 50:6 ); now (4) a violent death (Isaiah 53:8 ).

Isaiah 63:9 — He was afflicted. Hebrew text reads, "In all their adversity [He was] no adversary". But some codices, with two early printed editions, read as text of Authorized Version. the Angel of His presence. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:19 ; Exodus 23:20 , Exodus 23:21 ; Exodus 33:14 ). App-92 . redeemed them. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:13 ). App-92 . bare them. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:4 .Deuteronomy 1:31 ; Deuteronomy 32:18 ). Compare Isaiah 46:3 , Isaiah 46:4 .Acts 13:18

Isaiah 66:3 — Compare Isaiah 65:4 . burneth incense = maketh a memorial of frankincense. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 2:2 ). App-92 . chosen. See note on Isaiah 1:29 . their soul = they. Note the Introversion beginning with the last clause of Isaiah 66:3 , and including Isaiah 66:4 , They delight, &c. I also will choose, &c. When I called, &c. When I spake, &c. They chose, &c. I delighted not.

Jeremiah 11:3 — the LORD God of Israel. This title occurs in Jeremiah fourteen times (Jeremiah 11:3 ; Jeremiah 13:12 ; Jeremiah 21:4 ; Jeremiah 23:2 ; Jeremiah 24:5 ; Jeremiah 25:15 ; Jeremiah 30:2 ; Jeremiah 32:36 ; Jeremiah 33:4 ; Jeremiah 34:2 , Jeremiah 34:13 ; Jeremiah 37:7 ; Jeremiah 42:9 ; Jeremiah 45:2 ). the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4

Jeremiah 2:3 — holiness unto the LORD. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:6 ). the firstfruits, &c, which were consecrated. Ref to Pentateuch (Exodus 23:19 . Deuteronomy 18:4 ; Deuteronomy 26:10 ). App-92 . devour = devoured. offend = be held guilty. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 4:13 , Leviticus 4:22 , Leviticus 4:27 ; Leviticus 5:2 , Leviticus 5:3 , Leviticus 5:4 , Leviticus 5:5 , Leviticus

Jeremiah 2:5 — What iniquity. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:4 ). App-92 . iniquity. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 . fathers. Not merely recently, but of old (Jeremiah 2:7 . Judges 2:10 , &c). vanity = the vanity. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Ad-junct), for vain things: i.e. idols. Compare Jeremiah

Jeremiah 33:11 — The voice of joy, &c. Compare Jeremiah 7:34 ; Jeremiah 16:9 ; Jeremiah 25:10 . the LORD of hosts = Jehovah (with ' eth) Zebaoth. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 , and 1 Samuel 1:3 . mercy = lovingkindness, or grace. Not the same word as in Jeremiah 33:26 . for ever = age-abiding. Therefore

Lamentations 3:20 — My soul. The primitive reading was "Thy soul", which the Sopherim have recorded, and state that they altered it to "My soul" (see App-33 ), considering it an offensive anthropomorphism. By so doing they destroyed the logical sequence and deep pathos of the primitive text. The three verses (Lamentations 3:19-21 ) retranslated will show this: 19) "Remember my humiliation and my misery,

Ezekiel 11:1 — spirit . As in Ezekiel 2:2 . Hebrew. ruach, App-9 . See note on Ezekiel 8:3 . the east gate . Compare Ezekiel 43:1 . the LORD'S. Hebrew. Jehovah. s. App-4 . door = entrance. five and twenty men . These are not the same as in Ezekiel 8:16 , but were princes of the People, a title never given to priests, who were

Ezekiel 3:12 — spirit. Hebrew roach. App-9 . See notes on Ezekiel 8:3 . took me up = laid hold of me. behind me. Therefore the prophet must have been facing south, as the glory appeared from the north (Ezekiel 1:4 ). voice = sound. saying, &c. By reading berum (arose) instead of baruk (Blessed), Ginsburg