Bible Commentaries

Genesis 10:1-32 — are in many cases plainly national (the Jebusite, the Canaanite, etc.). Others are well-known names of countries (Mizraim or Egypt, Asshur, etc.), and nearly all appear elsewhere in OT. in a geographical sense (see especially Ezekiel 27 and Ezekiel 38:1-13). We may therefore consider that the arrangement is determined chiefly by geographical considerations, nations in proximity to each other being regarded as related. Thus the races assigned to Japheth (Genesis 10:2-5) are all in the N., those to Ham

Genesis 34:1-31 — The Dishonour done to Dinah, and the Crafty Revenge of Simeon and Levi 1. Went out to see the daughters of the land] According to Josephus there was a festival among the Canaanites at Shechem. 7. Folly] The term is frequently applied in the moral sense as equivalent to immorality: see Deuteronomy 22:21; Judges 20:6; 2 Samuel

Nehemiah 7:1-73 — A List of those who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel 2. Hanani] after carrying information to Nehemiah respecting the condition of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:2), he must have returned with him to Judaea. 3. Until the sun be hot] By this time the mass of the citizens would be astir. While they stand by] RV ’while they (i.e. the sentries) stand on guard.’ 4. The houses were not builded] i.e. the

Job 3:1-26 — Job Curses his Day Job curses the day of his birth. He asks why he did not die at birth: why should his wretched life be prolonged? We are now confronted with a striking change in Job’s frame of mind from that presented in Job 2:10. Probably a considerable interval had elapsed before his friends arrived. He complains in the speeches which follow of the emaciated state into which he had fallen, and that from being the honoured of all he had become a byword to his neighbours: cp.

Psalms 26:1-12 — This Ps. appears to belong to a later age than David’s, when the Temple (Psalms 26:8), with its altar (Psalms 26:6), and its public assemblies for worship (Psalms 26:12), was a familiar institution. The writer, conscious of his own uprightness, protests against the idea of being classed with the wicked, and sharing their untimely fate. He appeals at the outset to God’s judgment, and at the close preaches the

Psalms 44:1-26 — akin to the spirit of the Maccabean age, but the conditions indicated in the Ps. may be found also at an earlier date, such as the time of the invasion by Sennacherib in the reign of Hezekiah. God has helped His people in the days of old (Psalms 44:1-3), and they are still confident in Him (Psalms 44:4-8), yet He has allowed their enemies to bring them low (Psalms 44:9-16). But they are still loyal to Him (Psalms 44:17-22), and cry earnestly that He would remember them and save them (Psalms 44:23-26). Title.—See

Psalms 55:1-23 — he complains is his equal and not his subject. There is really nothing to fix the date of the Ps., though some of the experiences of Jeremiah may illustrate it. It falls into three portions, which have been described as marked by despair (Psalms 55:1-8), indignation (Psalms 55:9-15), and trust (Psalms 55:16-23). 3. Cast iniquity upon me] attack me with wicked devices, as they might roll down stones on an enemy. 6. A dove] the wild rock-dove, which can fly fast and far. 8. Hasten my escape] RV

Proverbs 12:1-28 — 4. A crown, etc.] Possibly there may be a reference to the crown worn on their wedding-day by bride and bridegroom (Song of Solomon 3:11; Song of Solomon 8:9). In Damascus the bridal crown consists of a silver hoop covered with a network of strings of corals. On this net are fastened strings of gold coins. 5. Two kinds of plans. 6. Their very words are an ambush, meant to cause destruction. 9.

Leviticus 16:1-34 — Ritual of the Day of Atonement (See also Leviticus 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11; Exodus 30:10.) This solemn ceremonial took place once a year on the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri = September). It was enacted by the high priest alone, but the whole nation indicated its interest and participation in it, by resting from

Leviticus 17:1-16 — Rule of Sacrifice. Prohibition against eating Blood 1-9. The first part of this Law prescribes that all oxen, sheep, and goats, slaughtered for food, must first be presented to Jehovah at the sanctuary. This seems to presuppose a time when the Israelites used but little flesh food, and were not widely

Ezekiel 14:12-23 — be spared when the city is taken, and will escape into exile. But this is in order that the earlier exiles, seeing the abandoned conduct of the later, may realise how thoroughly Jerusalem has deserved its punishment, and may cease to regret its fate. 13. The land] RV ’a land.’ Ezekiel 14:13-21 suppose a series of general cases. Then will I stretch, etc.] RV ’and I stretch.. and break.. and send.. and cut off.’ All this is part of the supposition. 14, 20. Noah, Daniel, and

Ezekiel 20:45-32 — The Sword of the Lord against Jerusalem (and Ammon?) Ezekiel 21 of the Hebrew Bible begins with Ezekiel 20:45 of the English. It is mainly concerned with Jerusalem (Ezekiel 20:45 to Ezekiel 21:27), but has an appendix consisting of a short prophecy about Ammon, which has been interpreted in different ways (Ezekiel

Ezekiel 40:1-20 — down on the N. side of the Temple mountain, and sees the Temple buildings extending to the S. like a city. A supernatural figure, like those in Ezekiel 9, appears, and measures the various parts of the Temple in Ezekiel’s presence (Ezekiel 40:1-4). (a) The Outer Court and its Gateways (Ezekiel 40:5-27) The Outer Eastern Gateway (Ezekiel 40:5-16), Fig. 3, E. For the following details see Fig. 1. The outer boundary of the Temple was a wall 6 cubits thick and 6 cubits high (Ezekiel 40:5). Steps

Amos 6:10 — difícil v. tal como está aquí, debemos recordar que era el deber de los parientes más cercanos velar por la disposición del cuerpo, y que, si bien el entierro era la regla casi universal, la cremación podría recurrir en circunstancias especiales ( 1 Samuel 31:12). El hombre afectado por la peste en las habitaciones interiores de la casa no debe contaminar el nombre del Señor pronunciándolo en la presencia inmediata de la muerte, ya que un musulmán no puede decir sus oraciones en un lugar inmundo.

Numbers 16:1-50 — La rebelión de Kokah, Datán, Abibam y más Este incidente es similar al registrado en Números 12 , y si bien ilustra las dificultades que Moisés encontró en su liderazgo, debido a los celos de sus subordinados, sirvió para confirmarlo ( Números 16:28 ) y Aarón (a 17) en el puesto que se les asigna. Actualmente se acepta en general que este capítulo

Matthew 14:1-36 — Death of the Baptist. Feeding the Five Thousand. Walking on the Sea 1, 2. Herod’s opinion of Jesus (Mark 6:14; Luke 9:7). 1. Herod the tetrarch] son of Herod the Great, received by his father’s will the government (tetrarchy) of Galilee and Peræa. His first wife was the daughter of the Arabian prince

Deuteronomy 22:5 — 'Dios no es autor de confusión', y las distinciones naturales que Él mismo ha designado deben respetarse. Todo lo que contraviene la ley de la naturaleza contraviene la ley de Dios: cp. el principio establecido por San Pablo en 1 Corintios 11:3 . La inmodestia conduce a la inmoralidad. Puede haber aquí una alusión a las prácticas impías relacionadas con ciertos ritos idólatras en los que los sexos intercambiaban vestimenta. 6, 7. Tomar tanto al pájaro viejo como al joven sería

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

John 8:1-59 — The Feast of Tabernacles Continued. Christ the Light of the World John 7:53 to John 8:11. The woman taken in adultery. All modern critics agree that this section is no original part of the Fourth Gospel. It is not in the author’s style; it breaks the sequence of our Lord’s discourses, and is omitted by most of the ancient authorities.

Ruth 2:1-23 — Ruth the Gleaner 1. Boaz] (’quickness’) was a kinsman of Elimelech’s. We are not informed of the precise degree of relationship. Here and at Ruth 3:2 he is designated an ’acquaintance.’ It is by no means certain that we are to think of him