Bible Commentaries

Exodus 1:1-22 — Oppression of the Israelites 5. Seventy souls] Jacob himself is included in the number: cp. Genesis 46:8-27. Of the seventy, sixty-eight were males. If to the direct descendants of Jacob we add the wives of his sons and grandsons, and the husbands of his daughters and grand-daughters, and all their servants with their families, it appears that the total number

Exodus 32:1-35 — sacrifice; see on Exodus 24:9-11. On the nature of the play in this case see Exodus 32:18-19, Exodus 32:25, where we learn that it included singing and dancing. Cp. Exodus 15:20-21; Judges 21:19-21; 2 Samuel 6:12-14; 1 Kings 18:26 mg; Isaiah 30:29. 7-14. God tells Moses of the sin of the people and of His purpose to destroy them. At the intercession of Moses they are spared. 7. Thy people which thou broughtest out] By their own act the people have broken the covenant bond uniting them to Jehovah.

2 Kings 2:1-25 — his zeal and devotion in this struggle against Baal worship, won for himself among the prophets of the Old Testament is evidenced by the expectation subsequently entertained that he would come again: see Malachi 4:5-6, and cp. Matthew 11:14; Matthew 17:11; Luke 1:17; John 1:21. It is said that a chair is still placed for him by the Jews at the circumcision of every child, and that at the Paschal feast the door is set open for him to enter. At our Lord’s Transfiguration he is recorded to have

Ezra overview — Nebuchadrezzar and the deportation of a large number of its inhabitants into Babylonia. There they were probably gathered into colonies or settlements at various places, such as Tel-abib (Ezekiel 3:15), Tel-melah, Tel-harsha (Ezra 2:59), Casiphia (Ezra 8:17), and others. So long as they remained quiet subjects they were not, as a rule, persecuted or enslaved. They were at liberty to cultivate the land and to acquire servants (Jeremiah 29:5; Ezra 2:65); and, to judge from the value of the contributions

Ezekiel 2:1-27 — occupies the whole of Ezekiel 2, and Ezekiel 3:1-13. The second was seven days later, among the exiles at Tel-abib (Ezekiel 3:14-21). The third was connected with a repetition of the vision, apparently in the neighbourhood of Tel-abib (Ezekiel 3:22-27). The First Commission (Ezekiel 2:1 to Ezekiel 3:13) This consisted of two series of instructions (Ezekiel 2:1-7 and Ezekiel 3:4-11) separated by a visionary symbol of prophetic inspiration (Ezekiel 2:8 to Ezekiel 3:3), and was followed by the withdrawal

Daniel 5:1-31 — to him his request and his promises (Daniel 5:10-16). Declining the offered reward Daniel rebukes Belshazzar for neglecting the lessons of humility taught by Nebuchadnezzar’s history, and interprets the writing as a message of doom (Daniel 5:17-29). That night Belshazzar is slain and Darius the Median receives the kingdom (Daniel 5:30-31). Teaching. The profanations of Belshazzar were very similar to those of Antiochus Epiphanes (1 Maccabees 1:20-24; 2 Maccabees 5:15-17), and Belshazzar’s

Micah 2:1-13 — continue (Micah 2:3-5), and even Jerusalem shall be plowed as a field (Micah 3:12). The leaders reproach Micah as no patriot since he utters such things against his people, and no prophet since he forgets that God must save His chosen nation (Micah 2:6-7). Micah replies that God will keep His nation, but that Jerusalem is not essential to God’s purpose. When the capital is mined, the nation may only be made more fit to fulfil its true ends in the world (Micah 2:12-13). 2. Cp. 1 Kings 21 for the

Deuteronomy 21:1-23 — The unworked heifer and the untilled land probably suggested complete severance from human life, and symbolised the unnaturalness of the crime of murder. 6. The washing of the hands is a protestation of innocence. Cp. the action of Pilate in Matthew 27:24. 7. The elders, in the name of all the citizens, take an oath of purgation. The publicity and solemnity of the ceremony must have had a powerful effect upon the public conscience, and in some cases no doubt assisted in the discovery of the murderer. 10-14.

Mark 4:1-41 — 13:1; Luke 8:4). See on Mt. 10-20. The parable interpreted (Matthew 13:10; Luke 8:9). See on Mt. 21-25. Further remarks upon teaching by parables (Luke 8:16-18). Omitted by Mt, who introduces these sayings in other connexions, viz. Matthew 5:15; Matthew 7:2; Matthew 10:26, which see. 21. A candle] RV ’the lamp.’ A bushel] RV ’the bushel.’ A bed] RV ’the bed.’ A candlestick] RV ’the stand.’ St. Matthew introduces this saying into the Sermon on the Mount

Luke 2:1-52 — census of Quirinius: (1) There is no direct evidence, except St. Luke’s statement, that Augustus (31 b.c.-14 a.d.) ever held a census of the whole Roman empire. (2) Quirinius was not governor of Syria at the time of our Lord’s birth (about 7 or 6 b.c.), but either Sentius Saturninus (9-6 b.c.), or Quinctilius Varus (6-4 b.c.). As to (1), the absence of direct confirmatory evidence ought not to be sufficient to discredit a statement which is made as a result of careful enquiry, by a nearly

John 5:1-47 — Bethesda. Cristo y el sábado 1-47. Un milagro en el estanque de Betesda en el día de reposo y una controversia que surgió de allí. Este milagro puede considerarse como una parábola que ilustra los efectos mortales del pecado y el poder del Salvador para hacer frente a los casos más

Acts 5:1-42 — With this should be compared the faith of the Corinthians in the efficacy of the cloths that had touched St. Paul’s body (Acts 19:12). Something of superstition probably mingled with this faith, but true faith predominated, and God accepted it. 17-42. Second imprisonment of Peter and John. Speech of Gamaliel. 17. The Sadducees] see on Matthew 3:7; Acts 4:1. 20. Words of this life] i.e. the new life in God which the Death, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord had made possible for man. 28.

Romans 5:1-21 — carácter (4) fortalece nuestra expectativa de gloria, (5) y esta expectativa es confirmada por un sentido del amor de Dios implantado por el Espíritu Santo. (6) Tenemos razón al confiar plenamente en el amor que Dios reveló por la muerte de Cristo. (7) Nunca se ha conocido algo semejante entre los hombres, porque no éramos buenos, (8) sino pecadores, cuando Cristo murió por nosotros. (9) En vista de esto, podemos confiar en que Él nos salvará hasta el final. (10) Porque si Dios sacrificó a su Hijo

Romans 6:14 — Según la ley] RV 'según la ley'. Un código de preceptos no da poder de cumplimiento. Solo (1) muestra lo que es correcto, (2) revela la pecaminosidad del hombre, (3) lo estimula a la oposición: cp. Romanos 7 ; 1 Corintios 15:56 ; Gálatas 4:5 . 'Estar "bajo la ley", en el lenguaje de San Pablo, significa evitar el pecado por temor a las penas impuestas al pecado por la ley. Este principio de miedo no es lo suficientemente fuerte como para mantener a los

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 — an idol represents no real deity, for there is but one God. (5, 6) The heathen, doubtless, speak of many deities and demigods, but we know that these have no actual existence: we believe in God the Father and the Creator and in Jesus Christ His Son. (7) There are many Christians, however, not so well instructed as we are, who still think, as they have been accustomed, of an idol as representing an existing deity, and are shocked at the idea of eating meat which has been offered to it in sacrifice.

Galatians 2:1-21 — verdad del evangelio. (6) Pero los líderes más influyentes de la Iglesia de Jerusalén, sea cual sea su autoridad, que no concierna a la verdad o la aprobación divina de mi enseñanza, no tenían ningún deseo de corregir o complementar mis puntos de vista, (7) pero reconocí que yo tenía mi esfera de trabajo entre los gentiles tan verdaderamente como la tenía Pedro entre los judíos, (8) y que cada uno tenía éxito en su propia esfera. (9) No solo eso, sino que estos líderes, Santiago, Pedro y Juan, nos dieron

Hebrews 7:11 — el poder de una vida indisoluble (así RV). Lo que lo constituye sacerdote no es un mandamiento externo, sino un poder inherente a Él como el Hijo eterno, quien, aunque como encarnado murió, resucitó de entre los muertos y vive para siempre ( Hebreos 7:24 ). Sus calificaciones eran personales, no oficiales. 18, 19 . Lea: 'Porque hay una anulación de un mandamiento preliminar [o provisional] [a saber. que constituye el sacerdocio levítico] debido a su debilidad y falta de provecho [es decir, su incapacidad

1 Peter 1:10 — como súbditos — como, en particular, sirvientes, esposas, maridos; y nuevamente, en general, como miembros de una comunidad cristiana; 1 Pedro 3:13 a 1 Pedro 4:6 , aliento por sus peligros y sufrimientos, cuyo propósito se explica; D , 1 Pedro 4:7 , exhortación a una vida cristiana sobria, espiritual y amorosa, para la gloria de Dios. A. 1 1 Pedro 2:11 . Introducción, que esboza el pensamiento de toda la sección.

Revelation 2:1-29 — denounced in 2 Pet. and Jude. It seems to have desired that Christians should be permitted to take part in the clubs and organisations of the heathen society around them, and in their festivals, permeated though they were with idolatrous observances. 1-7. To the Church in Ephesus Christ speaks as He who is present with the Churches (Revelation 2:1). The Church is praised for its work for Christ, its endurance of suffering, and its faithfulness to the truth (Revelation 2:2-3), yet it is blamed, not because

Ruth 3:1-18 — The Appeal to Boaz 1. Marriages are always arranged by the parents in Eastern lands; here, of course, the mother-in-law must intervene. 2-7. Grain is winnowed in the evening, to avoid the heat of the day and take advantage of the cool sea-wind, which blows in Palestine from 4 p.m. to half-an-hour before sunset. As a rule the threshing floor, which is an open space of clean, hard, dry ground,