Bible Commentaries

Proverbs 17:16 — Wherefore is there a price, &c. = Why is this ready money in the hand of a fool to get wisdom when he has no sense? Illustrations: Israel (2 Chronicles 30:10 ); the Jews (Luke 4:28 ); Herod Antipas (Luke 23:11 ); Jews (John 5:40 ; John 8:45 ); Athenians (Acts 17:32 , Acts 17:33 ); Felix (Acts 24:25-27 ); Agrippa (Acts 26:28 ). wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 1:2 . heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the sense in it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 — a season = an appointed time. Hebrew. zrman. Compare Ezra 10:14 .Nehemiah 2:6 . Esther 9:27 . A word is not necessarily a "later" word, because there has not been occasion for it to be used, or needed before. See App-76 . a time = a season. Note the 28 "seasons" (= 4x7. See App-10 .) In Hebrew Manuscripts

Isaiah 22:25 — 22:20 , i.e. the day of Shebna's overthrow. This would be the day of Eliakim's exaltation. the nail: which Shebna thought himself to be, but which Jehovah declared Eliakim to be. removed. cut down. fall. cut off. Referring to verses: Isaiah 22:17-19 . Figure of speech Synonymia , emphasizing the completeness of Shebna's downfall. The interpretation belongs to the two men, but the application refers (1) to the two parties in Jerusalem, and (2) to the Messiah, in Whom the prophecy will be exhausted.

Isaiah 27:6 — He shall cause, &c. This verse is not an "addendum". or "irrelevant", or "an illegible gap". It is necessary in order to give us the subject of the song, which is reserved till this verse. The symbol is to tell us that Israel is the vineyard (Compare Isaiah 27:12 ). See the Structure on the previous page; and note that in (Isaiah 26:1-21 ) we have the Song of Judah, while in (Isaiah 27:2-6 ) the song concerning Israel. the world = the inhabited world. Hebrew. tebel.

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

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 — their affliction 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

Isaiah 66:3 — cut off = breaketh. oblation = gift, or meal offering. Hebrew. minchah . swine's blood. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 14:8 . Leviticus 11:7 ). 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

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.

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 10:3-10 , Jeremiah 10:15 ; Jeremiah 14:22 ; Jeremiah 16:19 , Jeremiah 16:20 . Deuteronomy 32:21 . Act 14:15 . 1 Corinthians

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 called "princes of the sanctuary" (Isaiah

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 thinks the meaning should be "[when] the glory of Jehovah arose (or was lifted up) from its place" (Compare Ezekiel 10:4 , Ezekiel 10:17 , Ezekiel 10:19

Daniel 1:21 — continued = continued in office. See first occurance: Exodus 25:30 . Dan 25:30 , also Exodus 27:20 ; Exodus 28:29 , Exodus 28:30 , Exodus 28:38 ; Exodus 29:38 , Exodus 29:42 ; Exodus 30:8 , &c. Compare Ezekiel 39:14 , "continual employment". the first year of king Cyrus: i.e. during the whole period of Babylonian supremacy over Israel for sixty-nine years (495-426 = 69). It does not say that he did not continue longer, but that he lived to see that important

Hosea 10:8 — sin. Hebrew. chata. App-44 . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the idols associated with it. Compare Deuteronomy 9:21 . 1 Kings 12:30 . the thorn and the thistle. Ref to Pentateuch (Genesis 3:18 ). This combination of words occurs only in these two places. "Thorns" is found in Exodus 22:6 , &c.; "thistles", Hebrew. darda, only here, and Genesis 3:18 . Compare Hosea

Joel 1:14 — a solemn assembly = a day of restraint. Hebrew. 'azarah. Occurs only here, in Joel 2:15 ; 2 Kings 10:20 ; and Isaiah 1:13 . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 23:36 . Numbers 29:35 .Deuteronomy 16:8; Deuteronomy 16:8 ) where the feminine form 'azereth is used ( App-92 ). It is found also in 2 Chronicles 7:9 , Nehemiah 8:18 . gather

Amos 5:25 — . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . This is a question in some codices and three early printed editions; but other codices, and four early printed editions, read it as an affirmative statement. If a question, the answer is No. See Deuteronomy 32:17 . Joshua 5:5-7 . Jeremiah 7:22 , Jeremiah 7:23 .Ezekiel 20:8 , Ezekiel 20:16 , Ezekiel 20:24 . unto Me, Not "unto demons". Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 17:7 . Deuteronomy 32:17 ). App-92 , Compare Psalms 106:37 . 1 Corinthians 10:7 .

Micah 4:1 — in the last days = at the end of the days. Here we are carried forward to a yet future day. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 49:1 , the same phrase. Numbers 24:14 ). App-92 . Compare Isaiah 2:2 , &c. Ezekiel 38:8 , Ezekiel 38:16 . Hosea 3:5 the mountain, &c. Compare Micah 3:12 ; and see Isaiah 2:2-4 . Both prophecies are independent, and complementary (see Psalms 24:3 .Ezekiel

Micah 7:12 — he = one. But a special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), reads "they": i.e. thine exiles. come = come home; as in 1 Samuel 11:5 .Psalms 45:15 .Proverbs 2:10 , or, into blessing; as in Psalms 69:27 . Nothing has "fallen out" of the text! Assyria. See the "enemy", Micah 7:10 . the fortified cities = the cities of Matzor (i.e. the fortress) put for Egypt. Compare

Nahum 1:12 — quiet = secure. cut down = cut down (like dry stubble). when he, &c . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 12:12 ). Compare Isaiah 8:8 . Daniel 11:10 . -12 Though, &c . = And [now, O Judah], &c. Through not seeing the Structure and the change of subject at "-12-14", modern critics say "the first part of this verse is certainly more or less corrupt"; and

Zechariah 7:5 — in the fifth. month. The month Ab (our August, App-51 . V). The fast had already then been instituted to commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem on the tenth of Ab (Jeremiah 52:12 , Jeremiah 52:13 ). seventh month. The month Tisri (our October). The fast had already then been instituted, on the third