Bible Commentaries

Genesis 13:1-18 — The Return of Abraham from Egypt, and his Separation from Lot 1. Into the south] see on Genesis 12:9. 5, 6. There was not sufficient pasturage and water (especially after the recent famine and drought) for the two encampments with their flocks and herds, which doubtless numbered many thousands. 7. The Perizzite]

Genesis 50:1-26 — The Burial of Jacob, and Death of Joseph 2. For the importance attached by the Egyptians to the preservation of the corpse see on Genesis 40:19. The process, which was so thorough that mummies of Joseph’s time may be seen in our museums in a state of good preservation, was briefly as follows. The brain and intestines were removed, and the stomach cleansed and filled with spices (embalmed).

Nehemiah 12:1-47 — The Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem 1. The priests] The names in Nehemiah 12:1-7 likewise appear with some variations in Nehemiah 10:3-8 see also Ezra 2:36-39. 8. The Levites] cp. Nehemiah 10:9-14. Over the thanksgiving] RM ’over the choirs.’ 10. Jeshua] The high priest who

Job 24:1-25 — Job’s Seventh Speech (concluded) 1-25. Job continues to express his perplexity at the ways of Providence in the ordering of the world. The poor and the weak suffer; violence and wrong go unpunished. 1. Render, ’Why are times not laid up’ (i.e. set apart for doing justice)

Psalms 31:1-24 — The writer of this Ps. gratefully records God’s past deliverances (Psalms 31:1-8), appeals to God for help against the enemies who assail him in the present (Psalms 31:9-18), and ends with fervent thankfulness and serene assurance (Psalms 31:19-24). The language suggests a later age than David’s, and has many parallels

Psalms 81:1-16 — After a summons to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Psalms 81:1-3) this Ps. recalls the meaning of Israel’s national festivals as memorials of their deliverance from Egypt (Psalms 81:4-7). From Psalms 81:6 onward God is the speaker. In Psalms 81:8-10 He repeats His ancient command to Israel to worship Him

Leviticus 18:1-30 — Forbidden Degrees of Marriage, and of Chastity 3. Some of the unions here forbidden as incestuous were permitted among the nations of antiquity. The early Egyptians, e.g. permitted marriage with a full sister. Abraham married his half-sister (Genesis 20:12), a practice here forbidden (Leviticus 18:9, Leviticus 18:11). 6. Uncover their nakedness] i.e. marry. 8. Father’s wife] This is not the same as ’mother’ in the previous v. so that polygamy is here presupposed. It was common, perhaps

Leviticus 3:1-17 — and the right thigh, fall to the lot of the priests after being dedicated to God in a peculiar way by waving them before Him (see on Leviticus 7:28-34). The rest of the flesh is eaten by the offerer and his family at a sacrificial meal (Leviticus 7:15-16). The Peace Offering represents, it is thought, the earliest form of sacrifice, in which the Deity and the worshippers exhibit their good relationship by sharing a common meal. It is therefore the sacrifice expressive of harmony between God and

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 — En la vida recuerda la muerte y el juicio 1. El Creador debe ser recordado en la juventud. Cuando los poderes de la mente y el cuerpo estén fallando, será demasiado tarde. 1-7. Los comentaristas han diferido mucho en la interpretación de este pasaje. Muchos lo han tomado como una descripción

Jeremiah 7:1-34 — 1-20. Ceremonies and sacred places shall be no defence. 4. God, said the false prophets, will never allow His Temple to be overthrown: cp. Micah 3:11. The temple, etc.] The threefold repetition suggests ’the energy of iteration that only belongs

Ezekiel 12:1-20 — daytime is a symbol of the captivity awaiting Jerusalem, and that the action of the evening foreshadows the secret flight which Zedekiah will attempt, and the punishment of blindness which will prevent him from seeing the land of his exile (Ezekiel 12:1-16). Another symbolic action, resembling that of Ezekiel 4:9., is also commanded. Ezekiel is to eat and drink sparingly and with trembling, in token of the famine which the coming siege will cause in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 12:17-20). 2. The story of

Ezekiel 38:1-23 — Gog. The conjecture that ’Magog’ (Mgg = Ggm = Bbl) is a cryptogram for ’Babel’ (Babylon) has no probability. Gog in any case is the representative of remote heathendorn, and is located in the far N. (Ezekiel 38:6, Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2), while he has allies in the distant S. (Ezekiel 38:5). Chief prince of Meshech, etc.] RV ’Prince of Rosh, Meshech,’ etc., and so in Ezekiel 38:3, Ezekiel 39:1. The land meant by ’Rosh’ is unknown, but there can

Zechariah 6:1-15 — The Eighth Vision. The Symbolic Crowning 1-8. Four war-chariots, with variously coloured horses, go forth to execute God’s judgments against the enemies of oppressed Israel in different parts of the earth. Two, in particular, go. northwards, to ’quiet His spirit’ (i.e. to satisfy

Malachi 4:1-6 — 4The New Elijah 1. The comparison is to an oven heated by a fire lighted within it: cp. Matthew 6:30. This passage is closely connected with the preceding. Stubble] rather, ’straw.’ 2. ’The day of the Lord is darkness and not light’ (Amos 5:20),

Malachi 4:1-6 — 4 El nuevo Elías 1. La comparación es con un horno calentado por un fuego encendido en su interior: cp. Mateo 6:30 . Este pasaje está estrechamente relacionado con el anterior. Rastrojo ] más bien, 'paja'. 2 . "El día del Señor es tinieblas y no luz" ( Amós 5:20 ),

Matthew 13:3 — Parábolas ] En el NT. la palabra parábole se limita casi a los evangelios sinópticos, siendo las únicas excepciones Hebreos 9:9 ; Hebreos 11:19 ; (RV), donde se usa del AT. tipos de NT. realidades. En los Evangelios significa ocasionalmente una máxima o un proverbio ( Mateo 15:15 ; Lucas 4:23 ; (RV) Lucas 5:36 ; Lucas 6:39), pero casi siempre una parábola, es decir (en lo que respecta

Joshua 10:12-14 — Entonces habló Josué ] Este célebre pasaje (como se verá en RV) consiste en (1) una introducción en prosa, Josué 10:12 ; (2) un fragmento poético citado del libro de Jaser, Josué 10:12 ; Josué 10:13 ; y (3) un comentario en prosa sobre esa cita, 13b; 14. Las cuatro líneas del libro de Jaser corren, literalmente, de la siguiente

Joshua 20:1-9 — Appointment of Cities of Refuge The allotment of the tribal inheritance is followed by the appointment of six cities of refuge previously provided and in part assigned by Moses, according to the terms of the Sinaitic law concerning manslaughter: cp. Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35:6. These are enumerated in the following order:—W. of Jordan: Kedesh (N.), Shechem (central), Hebron (S.); E. of Jordan: Bezer (S.), Ramoth-Gilead (central), Golan (N.). Geographical considerations must have had the first place;

Joshua 24:1-33 — Joshua’s Second and Final Farewell This discourse (Joshua 24:1-15), with Israel’s response (Joshua 24:16-24), and consequent renewal of the Covenant (Joshua 24:25-28), occupies the bulk of the chapter. The book is then brought to a conclusion in three short paragraphs, recording (a) the death and burial of

1 Samuel 19:1-24 — Until the morning] RV ’in the morning.’ 6. It was difficult for David to estimate correctly Saul’s feelings towards him, because the king’s repentance was real while it lasted, and because much might be ascribed to his madness. 10. That night] David would probably flee at once: hence LXX may be right in joining these words to 1 Samuel 19:11, ’And it came to pass that night that Saul sent.’ 13. An image] RV ’the teraphim.’ ’Teraphim,’ like