Bible Commentaries

Genesis 22:1-24 — practice among the Semitic races, and was regarded as the most pleasing service which men could offer to their deities. It was the ’giving of their firstborn for their transgression, the fruit of their body for the sin of their soul’ (Micah 6:7). The horrible custom was even practised by the Jews in the dark days of Ahaz and Manasseh: cp. 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3; 2 Chronicles 33:6, ana the cases of Jephthah (Jdg ll) and Mesha, king of Moab (2 Kings 3:27). The custom probably prevailed

Genesis 49:1-33 — 33:6. 3. Excellency] rather, ’preeminence.’ 4. Unstable] rather, ’unrestrained,’ descriptive of ungoverned passion. Reuben’s sin is mentioned in Genesis 35:22. Excel] rather, ’have the preëminence.’ 5-7. The prediction respecting Simeon and Levi. Simeon and Levi were both sons of Leah; but they also were brethren in the cruelty of their attack on the Shechemites (Genesis 34:25), The scattered state of both these tribes in their after history is well

Genesis 9:1-29 — The Divine Blessing and Covenant. Noah and the Vine. The Curse of Canaan 1-7. The primeval benediction of man (Genesis 1:28) is now repeated and enlarged. Animal food is allowed (cp. Genesis 1:29), but blood is forbidden. The blood makes the life manifest, as it were, to our senses, and the life belongs to God, and must, therefore,

Job 28:1-28 — channel.’ Ancient mines were often not vertical shafts, but sloping tunnels. A slight change would give ’He breaketh open a shaft away from light.’ 5. As it were fire] RV ’as it were by fire,’ a reference to mining operations. 7. A path] the miner’s tunnel. 9. The miner’s excavations. 10. Rivers] RM ’passages.’ IIa. RV ’He bindeth (with clay) the streams that they trickle not,’ i.e. he prevents water from entering the mine. 12-28. Man can

Leviticus 27:1-34 — are to be found in Numbers 6:1-21; Numbers 30; 1 Samuel 14:24; Psalms 132:2-5, and of the former in Genesis 28:20-22; Judges 11:30-31; Numbers 21:1-3. The present chapter deals with positive vows. The votive offering may be a human being (Leviticus 27:2-8), an animal (Leviticus 27:9-13), a house (Leviticus 27:14-15), or a piece of land (Leviticus 27:16-25). 2-8. Human beings vowed to Jehovah must not be offered to Him in sacrifice. They must be redeemed, a certain sum of money being paid into the

Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 — returneth the wind.’ The sameness involved in the constant renewal of its changes of direction is brought out by the wording. The ’circling, circling,’ the changing, at once endless and monotonous, marks here too an emptiness of aim. 7. Unto the place] The writer supposes that the salt water percolates by underground fissures, getting rid of its salt on the way, and so through hidden channels returns to the sources whence it had set out. 8. All things are full of labour] RM ’all

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 — In Life Remember Death and Judgment 1. The Creator is to be remembered in youth. When the powers of mind and body are failing, it will be too late. 1-7. Commentators have differed much as to the interpretation of this passage. It has been taken by many as a description of the gradual failing of one bodily organ after another till death supervenes. In that case we may explain Ecclesiastes 12:2. thus:

Isaiah 48:22 — Los infieles no pueden compartir la paz prometida. Las palabras se repiten casi exactamente en Isaías 57:21 . El siervo de Jehová Isaías 49:1 . El Siervo de Jehová habla de Su llamado y misión. Jehová confirma la confianza de Su siervo. 14-26. Las objeciones que surgen de la poca fe respondieron: ( a ) no puede ser que Jehová haya olvidado a Sión, como

Ezekiel 11:1-25 — cooking is over, leaving the valuable ’flesh’ behind. This is more in line with the latter part of the chapter. 6. The wicked counsellors, whatever their policy may have been, had already put many of their fellow citizens unjustly to death. 7. The proverb would prove true in quite a different sense from that in which it was first used. The only flesh in the caldron would be that of the wicked leaders’ victims. Those who thought they were the flesh would be taken out of the caldron

Hosea 9:1-17 — would fail. 3. See on Hosea 8:13. Egypt and Assyria were the nations which assailed them on either side. By one of them they would be taken captive. ’Unclean food’ (RV), in contrast to the fertile products of their own land: cp. 2 Kings 18:27-31; Ezekiel 4:12, Ezekiel 4:13. 4. Bread of mourners] Instead of being joyous festivals they would be like funeral feasts. For their bread, etc.] RV ’for their bread shall be for their appetite: it shall not come,’ etc. A further step in

Numbers 16:1-50 — Dathan, Abibam, and On This incident is similar to that recorded in Numbers 12, and while it illustrates the difficulties Moses encountered in his leadership, owing to the jealousy of those under him, it served to confirm him (Numbers 16:28) and Aaron (a 17) in the position assigned to them. It is now generally agreed that this chapter is composed of two narratives interwoven with each other. The one describes a rebellion led by Dathan, Abiram, and On against the civil authority of Moses (Numbers 16:1-2,

Numbers 23:1-30 — angel met him on the way (see Numbers 23:4). 3. I will go] to inspect the omens, to see what indications are visible of God’s will: cp. Numbers 24:1; Leviticus 19:31. To an high place] RV ’to a bare height’: see on Numbers 22:41. 7. Balaam is constrained to bless Israel as God has manifestly done. This is plain from three signs, (1) the separation of the people (Numbers 23:9), (2) their number (Numbers 23:10), and (3) their righteousness (Numbers 23:10). Aram] the ancient name

Numbers 35:1-34 — and Levites, benefited by this arrangement, for the latter being dispersed throughout the land were able to instruct the people in the law and worship of God. On the duty of the priests and Levites to teach the people see Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 17:8-9; Deuteronomy 33:10; 2 Chronicles 19:8-10. It would appear that the law of the Levitical cities was never strictly carried into practice. 4, 5. There is a difficulty in understanding these measurements. Perhaps the simplest explanation is to say

Jonah overview — exceeding great city.’ The Hebrew makes it plain that the writer is looking back on a time already past, writing to those who are no longer familiar with the greatness of Nineveh. But as Nineveh was the metropolis of the world till its fall in 607 b.c., this book must have been written after that date. Further, no writer of the time when Assyria was the greatest of the world-powers would have described its ruler as ’the king of Nineveh,’ any more than Napoleon at the height of his

Matthew 7:1-29 — however, may have really formed part of the sermon. The words about rash judgment, and about a tree being known by its fruit, as well as the striking conclusion, are found also in St. Luke’s sermon. 1-5. On the habit of criticising others (Luke 6:37-42). St. Luke’s account is here the fuller, and he places the section in a more satisfactory relation to what goes before. Our Lord condemns all forms of censoriousness. He calls censorious persons hypocrites, and says that they are worse than

Luke 15:11-32 — las fiestas y le muestra igual honor y amor ( Lucas 15:28 ). Se muestra, como los fariseos, completamente inconsciente de sus propios defectos, y arrogantemente se jacta: 'Nunca he quebrantado el mandamiento de tu' ( Lucas 15:29 ): ver en Lucas 15:7 . Pone la peor construcción de los pecados pasados ​​de su hermano, quizás exagerándolos ( Lucas 15:30 ), y se muestra incapaz de perdonar ( Lucas 15:30 ). La parábola puede aplicarse adecuadamente para ilustrar las relaciones entre judíos y gentiles

2 Timothy 1:1-18 — Greek. 6-14. Exhortation to firmness in his glorious calling. 6. Stir up] as a fire that is beginning to die down. The gift of God] which he received at his ordination by the laying on of the hands of St. Paul and the presbyters of Ephesus (1 Timothy 4:14). 7. Fear] indicating a certain timidity in Timothy, like the ’Be not ashamed’ of 2 Timothy 1:8. A sound mind] RV ’discipline.’ It means self-discipline, self-control. 8. His prisoner] St. Paul was now undergoing his last imprisonment

2 Timothy 2:1-26 — devote himself to other occupations, but observes the rules of his service. God’s minister must be like him, and like the labourer who works hard in the field. In which case, St. Paul adds, he has, like the husbandman, a right to a living wage. 7. If Timothy thinks it over, he will see that it is only reasonable that the presbyter should be supported by a stipend, answering to the labourer’s wages. 8. Timothy is to be firm and unflinching in maintaining the doctrines of the Incarnation

2 Peter 1:1-21 — virtue’: cp. 2 Peter 1:11 (RV). The Christian life is not a mere adding of qualities together, but a growth. Virtue is in faith, as the flower is in the seed; the complete fruit is love: cp. 1 Timothy 1:5; 6. Temperance] RM ’self-control.’ 7. Brotherly kindness] RV ’love of the brethren,’ i.e. the Christians: cp. 1 Peter 3:8. Charity] RV ’love,’ which goes beyond the Christian circle to God and all that He has made. 9. Blind, and cannot see far off] As in 1 Peter

Revelation 6:1-17 — the enemies of God and the triumph of those who ’overcome.’ The Lamb opens the seven seals. Apparently we are to understand that, as each seal is opened, a portion of that which is written in the book is revealed pictorially. Revelation 7 contains an episode between seals six and seven. The first six seals. The key to this vision is the prophecy of Christ in Matthew 24:3-31. In that prophecy, Matthew 24:4-14 foretell the signs preceding the destruction of Jerusalem, Matthew 24:15-28