Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 18:1-46 — Jehovah or Baal? 1. In the third year] in Luke 4:2-5; James 5:17 the duration of the famine is given as 3 years and 6 months. 3. The governor of his house] The same office as that alluded to in 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 16:9. Feared the Lord greatly] His name (’Servant of Jehovah’) was a true index of his

2 Chronicles 30:1-27 — this permission Hezekiah thought might be extended to the whole community. 3. At that time] i.e. at the proper season, viz. the 14th day of the first month. The cleansing of the Temple was not completed till the 16th day of that month: 2 Chronicles 29:17. 5. Done it of a long time] RV ’kept it in great numbers.’ According to Exodus 12:8 the Passover was to be observed by ’the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel.’ 6. The posts] bit. ’the couriers,’ who were

Nehemiah 13:1-31 — peoples of those lands’ is a kindred expression. 4. Eliashib] previously mentioned in Nehemiah 3:1; Nehemiah 12:10. Chamber] RV ’chambers.’ 6. The two andthirtieth year] i.e. 433 b.c. Obtained I leave] i.e. to return to Palestine. 7. Understood of] better, ’perceived.’ 10. For] RV ’so that.’ The Levites not receiving the support due to them had to work to maintain themselves. 11. Forsaken] i.e. unprovided for. Gathered them] i.e. the Levites. 17. What evil..

Esther 1:1-22 — second term to designate the ’material,’ and render ’of white cotton and blue,’ white and blue (or violet) being the Persian royal colours (Esther 8:15). The beds] RV ’the couches,’ upon which the feasters reclined. 7. Royal wine] LXX has ’wine which the king himself used to drink.’ The state] RV ’the bounty.’ 8. According to the law] i.e. according to the king’s express command on this occasion; for it is implied that in general the

Job 36:1-33 — (continued) 1-15. Elihu maintains the wisdom and impartial justice of the rule of God. His purpose is to discipline and improve men, even by their afflictions. 3. From afar] from a review of the whole universe. 4. He] RV ’one’; i.e. Elihu. 7b. RV ’But with kings upon the throne he setteth them for ever.’ 9. Their work] i.e. their faults. Exceeded] RV ’behaved themselves proudly.’ 12. Without knowledge] without learning God’s lessons. 13. Hypocrites] RV ’godless.’

Job 41:1-34 — ’When he raiseth himself up the deer are afraid who slip (or stray) among the broken places on the banks of the river.’ It is not the usual term for ’the mighty’ that is used here. Shebarim, ’broken places,’ in Joshua 7:5, refers to the slope of a ravine. 26. Habergeon] RV ’pointed shaft.’ An ordinary bullet will not pierce a crocodile’s scales. 30. RV ’His underparts are like sharp potsherds: He spreadeth as it were a threshing wain upon the

Job 8:1-22 — The First Speech of Bildad Holding the same doctrine about sin and suffering as Eliphaz, Bildad supports the views of his friend by an appeal to the teaching of antiquity. He shows less sympathy and more narrowness of mind than Eliphaz. 1-7. Bildad maintains the justice of God’s actions. Since Job’s children have perished it must have been for their sins. As for Job, if he would but repent he would be restored to prosperity. 2. Like a strong wind] violent, headstrong. 3. Can

Isaiah 21:1-10 — depressed at the thought of Babylon’s fall, which he foresees will involve calamity for Judah (Isaiah 21:2-4, Isaiah 21:10); (b) distance from Babylon is presupposed (Isaiah 21:6-9); and (c) Assyrian researches have revealed three earlier sieges, in 710 by Sargon, and in 703 and 696 by Sennacherib. In 710 and 703 the king of Babylon was Merodach Baladan, who sent an embassy to Hezekiah (Isaiah 39:1), and whose immediate interests were identical with those of Hezekiah with whom he desired an alliance.

Zechariah 9:1-17 — Peace 1-8. A judgment is about to fall on Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, Sidon, and the cities of the Philistines. A remnant from Philistia will acknowledge God. God will encamp around His sanctuary. 9, 10. The coming of Messiah and His kingdom of peace. 11-17. Hope for Israel. God will enable her to contend successfully with Greece. He will aid and bless her. 1. Burden] oracle, or prophecy: see Jeremiah 23:33-40. In the land] RV ’upon the land.’ Hadrach] not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible.

Luke overview — ’we’ when he was present, and ’they’ when he was absent. It thus appears that he joined the apostle at Troas on the Second Missionary journey (about 50 a.d.), and accompanied him to Philippi (Acts 16:10). Here St. Paul left him (Luke 17:1). After this for several years we cannot trace his movements, but he was probably engaged in missionary work in the district, for when St. Paul returned to Philippi some seven years later on his third missionary journey, St. Luke was still there (Acts

John 14:1-31 — Christ; (5) the mission of the Comforter. Some scholars think that a displacement has occurred in the farewell discourses, and particularly that this c, which seems to conclude Christ’s words to His disciples, originally stood between John 16, 17. 1. ’Be not disquieted at My departure (see John 13:36). Have faith that I have the power to fulfil the promises that I now make to you.’ 2. My Father’s house] i.e. heaven. Many mansions] RM ’abiding-places.’ There are

John 19:1-42 — The Crucifixion. The Burial 1-3. Inside the Prætorium. Scourging and mockery by the soldiers (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15). It might be supposed from Mt and Mk that the scourging was only the ordinary preliminary to a Roman execution, but Luke 23:16 suggests that it was an act of mercy to Jesus intended to save His life. This the Fourth Gospel fully confirms,

John 20:1-31 — Two angels] as in Lk. Mt and Mk mention only one. St. John notices their exact attitude and position. 15. Supposing him to be the gardener] Many did not recognise our Lord at first, because His appearance had undergone a certain change (Matthew 28:17; Mark 16:12; Luke 24:16, Luke 24:37; John 21:4). 16. Rabboni] Edersheim regards this as the Galilean form of ’Rabbi.’ 17. Touch me not, etc.] ’I have not come to renew the old intimacy, but am on the point of returning home to My

John 3:1-36 — Christ’s miracles and teaching had made an impression, not only on Nicodemus, but as Nicodemus himself says (John 3:2, cp. John 12:42), on other members of the Sanhedrin. This interview took place by night, on account of the timidity of Nicodemus (cp. John 7:50), and probably in St. John’s house at Jerusalem, the evangelist himself being present. Nicodemus may possibly be the Nicodemus, son of Gorion, mentioned in the Talmud. 1. A ruler] i.e. a member of the Sanhedrin. 2, 3. Nicodemus had asked no

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 — tongues; I should like you all to possess that gift; but it is inferior to prophecy unless the speaker can interpret and so build up the Church. (6) I myself could do you no good by speaking in a tongue, unless I added interpretation and teaching. (7) The melody played upon a musical instrument cannot be recognised unless the notes are distinct; (8) the bugle-call must be clear if it is to bring men to battle. (9) Similarly, unless it is possible to understand what you say, of what value are your

1 Corinthians 16:1-24 — Epistle to the Galatians. The Churches of Galatia were those he had established in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra: see Acts 13:14; Acts 14:23. 2. The first day of the week] viz. Sunday, already the day for Christian assemblies (Acts 20:7); a fit time for an act of Christian love. This v. is the great scriptural justification of the weekly offertory. That there be no gatherings (RV ’that no collections be made’) when I come] i.e. that it may be all your own doing, not mine.

Galatians 4:1-31 — The Bondage of the Law. Freedom in Christ 1-7. Under the Law we were in bondage; under the Gospel we have received the freedom of sons. Paraphrase. ’(1) The heir before he comes of age can no more enter upon his inheritance than a servant in the family can possess himself of it, (2) but must

Joshua overview — significant form Jehoshua (’Jehovah (is) salvation’). His intimate relation to Moses—like that of Elisha to Elijah—afforded an unique education for the future leader of Israel, who had been divinely designated (Deuteronomy 1:37-38) as successor to the great Lawgiver, and was solemnly consecrated by him to that office by the laying-on of hands (Numbers 27:18-23, cp. Deuteronomy 31:14-23). The echo of Moses’ charge, ’Be strong and of a good courage’ (Deuteronomy

Joshua 19:1-51 — ’south country,’ that slopes away from the Hebron range towards the desert, bounded on the W. by the Mediterranean and on the E. by the Dead Sea and the Valley of Edom. 10-16. The lot of Zebulun: in the low hills W. of Nazareth and E. of Accho. 17-23. The lot of Issachar: comprising the plain of Esdraelon. 22. Tabor] Here Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali had a common border. 24-31. The lot of Asher: the coast and low hills, from Carmel to Tyre. 32-39. The lot of Naphtali: the high mountains of

2 Samuel 14:1-33 — Absalom’s Return from Geshur After waiting for two years, Absalom forces Joab to use his influence to bring about a reconciliation between him and his father. 2. Tekoah] 6 m. S. of Bethlehem. It was the home of the prophet Amos (Amos 1:1). 7. We will destroy] She purposely makes the case appear as bad as possible. My coal] The word means a glowing piece of wood. The surviving son is compared to a spark left when the rest of the fire has gone out. The passage casts an interesting light on