Bible Commentaries

Genesis 15:1-21 — God Promises an Heir to Abraham and the Land of Canaan for his Descendants. The Promise is Ratified by a Covenant The passage is from the Primitive source. A somewhat similar account from the Priestly narrative is given in Genesis 17. The repetition shows the importance attached by the compiler of Genesis to these records of the promises as testifying to the divine purposes for the Hebrew people. 1. Vision] probably a trance, with the senses dormant, but the mind awake to spiritual

Genesis 2:4-24 — rather than in His transcendental power; and this concern of His is expressed in terms which are properly applicable to the only living persons we directly know, viz. men. This anthropomorphism runs through the whole of the Paradise story (cp. Genesis 2:7-8, Genesis 2:19, Genesis 2:21,; Genesis 3:8). (d) The lordship of man over creation is expressed, not by setting him up as the goal to which all tended (cp. Genesis 1:26.), but by representing him as the first created, before plants or herbs (Genesis

Exodus 8:1-32 — consisted of a hole dug in the ground outside the house and plastered with clay. It was heated in the same manner as before, and after the fuel was withdrawn, the oven was wiped out and the dough pressed to the hot sides. Kneading-troughs] wooden bowls. 7. The plague would not be difficult to imitate, seeing the frogs abounded everywhere. But the magicians could not remove the plague. 9. Glory over me] RV ’Have thou this glory over me’: an expression of courtesy equivalent to ’I am

1 Kings 1:1-53 — was treated by his father (1 Kings 1:6) makes it probable that he was the eldest surviving son. 6. His mother bare him after Absalom] RV ’he was born after Absalom’; Adonijah and Absalom were sons of different mothers (2 Samuel 3:3-4). 7. Joab] David’s nephew, and at this time captain of the host or national militia (2 Samuel 8:16). His support of Adonijah was probably due to the latter’s being the eldest surviving son of David, and to his active character. Abiathar] son

2 Chronicles 20:1-37 — overthrown by God. The early part of this chapter is additional to the narrative in 1 K: the latter part reproduces 1 Kings 22:41-49. 1. Other beside the Ammonites] better (with LXX), ’some of the Meunim’ (or Maonites): cp. 2 Chronicles 26:7 and Judges 10:12. They seem to have been the people from Mt. Seir mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20:10, 2 Chronicles 20:23. 2. Beyond the sea] i.e. from the eastern side of the Dead Sea. On this side Syria] lit. ’from Syria,’ but Syria is probably

Esther 3:1-15 — Esther’ Mordecai explains in a prayer to the Almighty that he refused to bow down to Haman, ’that he might not prefer the glory of man above the glory of God.’ Amongst many heathen peoples divine honours were paid to human beings. 7. Nisan] i.e. March-April. The twelfth year of Xerxes would be 474 b.c. They cast Pur, etc.] i.e. early in the first month they cast lots for every day of the year to find out which day would be the most favourable for the success of Haman’s design.

Job 42:1-6 — that hideth counsel without knowledge?’ i.e. that misreads in his ignorance the real facts of divine providence. The point is that Job now agrees in God’s estimate of himself. 4. Again he repeats God’s words in Job 38:3 and Job 40:7. 5, 6. Job declares that he now understands God’s relations towards man in a far deeper and truer sense than he had hitherto. At once he retracts and repents of all that he had said amiss. The sight of God, i.e. a clearer apprehension of His majesty

Psalms 1:1-6 — Pentateuch. Doth.. meditate] lit. ’crooneth over,’ repeats again and again in a low tone. 3. And he shall be] better, ’for he becomes,’ i.e. in consequence of his constant study of God’s law. Like a tree, etc.] cp. Jeremiah 17:7-8, where the illustration is more fully developed, and the character of the wicked is similarly illustrated (Psalms 17:5-6); and Ezekiel 47:12. And whatsoever, etc.] The illustration is dropped at this stage, and the words apply to the righteous man.

Psalms 42:1-11 — Libro 2 El segundo y tercer libro del Salterio (Salmos 42-72, 73-89) son solo las dos partes de un todo, la sección más grande del cual (Salmos 42-83) se llama Salterio Elohista, porque el nombre Elohim (Dios ) se usa casi exclusivamente en lugar del nombre Jehová (el Señor), que predomina en el resto de los

Numbers 11:1-35 — Exodus 19:15. 25. They prophesied] This does not mean that they were able to predict the future, but that they broke out into the praise of God, and declared His will and goodness, while in a state of spiritual exaltation and ecstasy: see on Exodus 7:1. 26. Were written] enrolled among the seventy. The fact that Eldad and Medad also received the spirit shows that the spirit of God is not limited to certain places or individuals, and that He is no respecter of persons: cp. Acts 10:34-35, Acts 10:44-48;

Numbers 18:1-32 — except when these are presented by the priests on their own behalf (Leviticus 4:26), the heave portion of the peace offerings (Leviticus 3), the first fruits of oil, wine, and wheat (Numbers 18:12-13), devoted things (Numbers 18:14 see on Leviticus 27:21-28 firstlings of clean animals, the redemption price of the firstborn of men and unclean beasts (Numbers 18:15-18), and the tithe of the tithe paid to the Levites (Numbers 18:25-28). 9. Most holy] see on Leviticus 2:3. 16. See Numbers 3:47; Leviticus

John 12:1-50 — The Triumphal Entry. Close of the Public Ministry 1-11. Supper at Bethany (see on Matthew 26:6 and Mark 14:3, which record the same incident). The event in Luke 7:36. is different. The supper was at the house of Simon the leper, a near relation, perhaps the father, of Lazarus and the sisters. St. John alone mentions the name of the woman who anointed Jesus, the quantity of the unguent (1 litre = 12 oz.), and

Galatians overview — Apostle’s personality, and fits in with the course of his life and thought. External evidence of its authenticity is to be found in Polycarp, Irenæus, Clemens Alexandrinus, and Justin Martyr. The first-named quotes Galatians 4:26 and Galatians 6:7, though without mentioning the source; the others definitely cite the Epistle as the work of St. Paul. 2. The persons addressed. This question has given rise to considerable controversy, and is even yet being discussed to some extent. (1) Some scholars,

Joshua 2:1-24 — ’Rahab’). See on Joshua 2:10 and Joshua 6:25. 6. She had brought them, etc.] Then, as now, the flat roofs of Eastern houses were used for such purposes as drying flax stalks. The flax would be ripe (cp. Exodus 9:31-32) shortly before wheat harvest. 7. The fords] Clearly, therefore, there were fords in the neighbourhood of Jericho. The account of the miraculous crossing in Joshua 3, 4 cannot be based on ignorance of that fact. At the present time fords are said to be comparatively rare in the southern

1 Thessalonians overview — earliest books of the New Testament. 1. The Persons Addressed. The Thessalonians inhabited the chief city of Macedonia. Macedonia was the first European country in which St. Paul preached, and he always regarded it with peculiar affection. In Acts 16, 17 we have St. Luke’s wonderfully vivid narrative of the bringing of the Gospel to Macedonia. After some stay at Philippi the Apostle went through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, where he stayed for some six months (Acts 17:1-9), preaching

2 Thessalonians overview — earliest books of the New Testament. 1. The Persons Addressed. The Thessalonians inhabited the chief city of Macedonia. Macedonia was the first European country in which St. Paul preached, and he always regarded it with peculiar affection. In Acts 16, 17 we have St. Luke’s wonderfully vivid narrative of the bringing of the Gospel to Macedonia. After some stay at Philippi the Apostle went through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, where he stayed for some six months (Acts 17:1-9), preaching

2 Timothy overview — Timothy, he is the author of 2 Timothy. 2. Reader. Undoubtedly the same as in the case of 1 Timothy. 3. Date and place of composition. It was written shortly before the Apostle’s martyrdom from his prison in Rome, probably in the early part of 67 or 68 a.d. 4. Contents and purpose. The Apostle’s primary object in the Epistle is to beg Timothy to come to him, as he was in prison and forlorn, most of his ordinary companions being gone elsewhere, and he needed the human comfort of a friend.

1 Peter 5:1-14 — early Church. From the Gk. for ’elder’ ’priest’ is derived, and from the Gk. for ’overseer’ ’bishop.’ In NT. however elders are not distinguished from bishops, as they soon afterwards were: cp. Acts 20:17, Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5, Titus 1:7. A witness] Gk. ’martyr,’ not merely one who has seen, but one who bears witness to what he has seen: cp. Hebrews 12:1. The Apostles were to be witnesses: see Acts 1:8, Acts 1:22; John 15:27 cp. Acts 22:20;

Judges 15:1-20 — Samson’s Revenge. 3. More blameless than, etc.] RV blameless in regard of.. when I do them a mischief.’ Samson means that the Philistines have now clearly put themselves in the wrong. 4. Foxes] RM ’jackals.’ 6. See Judges 14:15. 7. Though ye have done] RV ’if ye do.’ 8. Top, etc.] RV ’cleft of the rock of Etam.’ Samson leaves his own tribe for the neighbouring territory of Judah. 9-13. The action, of the men of Judah. 9. Lehi] The name means ’jawbone,’

1 Samuel 12:1-25 — Samuel resigns his Judgeship This chapter is a continuation of 1 Samuel 10:17-24, and the scene of the events recorded is the great national assembly at Mizpeh. Notice, however, the reference to Nahash (1 Samuel 11) in 1 Samuel 10:12. 2. My sons] cp. 1 Samuel 8:1-5. 3. His anointed] i.e. Saul the anointed king. This becomes