Bible Commentaries

Exodus 40:1-38 — Tabernacle and consecrate it, together with its furniture, and the priests by anointing them. 2. On the first day of the first month] i.e. of the month Abib (see on Exodus 12:2, Exodus 12:41) in the second year after the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 40:17). They left Egypt on the fifteenth day of Abib, and arrived at Sinai in the third month: see Exodus 19:1. 4. The things to be set upon it] i.e. the shewbread (see Exodus 40:23 and on Exodus 25:30). 5. Before the ark] in a line with it but outside the

2 Chronicles 26:1-23 — Reign of Uzziah This chapter adds largely to the parallel account of Uzziah’s reign in 2 Kings 15:1-7, and furnishes information respecting his wars, his military defences, and the cause of his leprosy. 1. Uzziah] This is the usual form in Chronicles except in 1 Chronicles 3:12 in Kings it is generally ’Azariah.’ 6. Jabneh] between Joppa

Esther 8:1-17 — was appointed to be a minister of State, since the ring was used for giving authority to royal decrees (see Esther 8:8): cp. Genesis 41:42. 4. Then the king held out] This seems to imply that Esther had approached the king unbidden: see Esther 4:11. 7. Behold, I have given, etc.] The king mentions this to show that his denial of her request to reverse the letters of Haman (Esther 8:5) was due not to lack of desire, but lack of ability to meet her wishes. 8. Write ye also] The letters written by

Psalms 107:1-6 — The contents of these Pss. are a surer guide to the period to which they belong than is the case in the other books, as many of them give either direct references or unmistakable hints regarding experiences of the exile or the return. Thus Psalms 107:10-16 refers to the years of captivity, as does also Psalms 137. Other Pss., such as 126, refer to the joy of the return, and others still, e.g. 132, are prompted by the rebuilding of the Temple. The feature of this book which is most marked is its

Psalms 50:1-23 — Ps. is one of solemn warning to those who attempt to serve God by formal sacrifices while their lives are full of wickedness. God will come to judge His people (Psalms 50:1-6). He tells the formalists that He does not need animal sacrifices (Psalms 50:7-13), and asks for praise, obedience, and prayer (Psalms 50:14-15). He reproves the hypocrites for their sins (Psalms 50:16-20) and ends with a call to repentance (Psalms 50:21) and a promise of salvation to true worshippers (Psalms 50:22). The teaching

Psalms 89:1-52 — God to vindicate His faithfulness. Psalms 89:1-4 are introductory, announcing the Psalmist’s purpose of praising God, and recalling the covenant made with David. The following vv. celebrate God’s glory among His heavenly hosts (Psalms 89:5-7), in His victory over His enemies, especially Egypt (Psalms 89:8-10), and in the world of nature (Psalms 89:11-12). Psalms 89:13-14 declare His attributes of strength, righteousness, mercy, and truth, and Psalms 89:15-18 speak of the blessedness of

Isaiah 15:1-9 — Mounting up] RV ’ascent’: the prophet sees the ascent of Luhith crowded with weeping fugitives. 6. Shall be desolate] because they have been stopped at the source (2 Kings 3:19, 2 Kings 3:25). Hay.. grass] RV ’grass.. tender grass.’ 7. The brook of the willows] Evidently mentioned as the boundary of the land and generally identified with the brook Zered (Numbers 21:2; Deuteronomy 2:13). The fugitives are pictured as carrying their possessions to the border for safety. 8. The cry]

Jeremiah 51:1-64 — 25:26. 1, 2. The imagery is of the wind scattering the chaff on the threshingfloor. The wind and the fanners are the Medes (Jeremiah 51:11). 3. Him that bendeth] i.e. his bow in defence of Babylon. Brigandine] coat of mail. 5. See on Jeremiah 50:29. 7. Babylon has been God’s instrument in His vengeance on the nations. 10. Hath brought forth our righteousness] has judged that the Jews’ idolatry has been sufficiently punished, and that they are again to be treated as righteous. 11. The

Hosea 11:12-14 — 12:1. Ephraim.. east wind] an attack on Israel’s foreign policy and cunning commercial dealings with foreign powers. The wind stands for what is useless and unsatisfying. The east wind was noted for its violence and destructiveness: cp. Psalms 48:7. They seek eagerly to obtain what in the end will destroy them. Oil.. Egypt] Oil was one of the richest products of Palestine: see Deuteronomy 8:8; 2 Kings 18:32. 2. Jacob] as before used to introduce the personal history of the Patriarch, from which

Luke 13:1-35 — which Pilate built with the sacred money of the Temple treasury (Korbanas), to the great scandal of pious Jews. The persons killed were probably workmen, whose death was regarded as a judgment for their impiety. For ’Siloam’ see on John 9:7. The idea was very common among the Jews that great calamities are a proof of great sin. This was the view of Job’s friends, who were convinced that his great misfortunes argued him a great sinner (Job 4:7; Job 8:2-14, Job 8:20; Job 22:5). Our

Luke 6:1-49 — perversion.’ 6-11. The man with the withered hand (Matthew 12:9; Mark 3:1). See on Mt. 12-19. Choice of the Twelve (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:13). See on Mt and Mk. 16. Judas the brother of James] So AV and RM. But RV ’Judas the son of James.’ 17. In the plain] RV ’on a level place.’ This may have been a plateau, high up the mountains, but see on Matthew 5:1. 20-49. Great sermon to the disciples and in part to the multitudes. It forms here the ordination address of the Twelve. In

Romans 16:1-27 — introduce: cp. Romans 12:18; 2 Corinthians 3:1. Apparently, Phoebe was the bearer of the Epistle. Servant] lit. ’deacon,’ RM ’deaconess’: translated ’deacon’ in Philippians 1 etc., but ’minister’ in Ephesians 3:7; Ephesians 6:21, etc. Either Phoebe had been definitely appointed to minister to women (cp. 1 Timothy 5:3.), or she is called ’minister’ because she voluntarily devoted herself to good works. Cenchrea] the eastern port of Corinth. 2. Succourer]

Philippians 1:2 — Gracia ] es el amor perdonador y redentor de Dios hacia los hombres: ver Romanos 4:24 a Romanos 5:2 ; Romanos 5:17 ; Efesios 1:6 ; Efesios 2:7 , etc. I. Acto de alabanza y oración ( Filipenses 1:3 ) § 2. Filipenses 1:3 . El característico Día de Acción de Gracias paulino, Filipenses 1:3 , se encuentra con una cadena de oraciones participiales cargadas de cláusulas

Joshua 14:1-15 — Joshua 15:18-19. 6. Thou knowest the thing, etc.] The promise to Caleb occurs in Numbers 14:24, and is referred to again in Deuteronomy 1:36. On Caleb see on Joshua 15:13. 10. These forty and five years] The notes of time given here and in Joshua 14:7 are interesting. Caleb was 40 years old at Kadesh: 45 years have intervened since then, and he is now 85. Allowing 38 years for the penal wanderings, we get 7 years as the period covered by the war of conquest up to this date. 12-15. Hebron assigned

Hebrews 1:4 — 'habiendo llegado a ser', es decir, por Su exaltación. Mejor ] una palabra característica de toda la Epístola, que está diseñada para mostrar la superioridad en todos los puntos de la nueva dispensación sobre la antigua. Cp. una 'mejor esperanza', Hebreos 7:19 ; 'mejor pacto', 'mejor ministerio', 'mejores promesas', Hebreos 8:6 ; 'mejor tabernáculo', Hebreos 9:11 ; 'mejores sacrificios', Hebreos 9:23 ; 'mejor posesión', Hebreos 10:34 ; 'mejor país', Hebreos 11:16 ; 'mejor resurrección', Hebreos 11:35

Hebrews 5:1-14 — evidenced by Psalms 110 (Hebrews 5:4-6). In His humanity, too, Jesus suffered grievously, but by teaching Him obedience that awful suffering perfected Him as a priest, so that He became the author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:7-10). 1-3. First qualification—human brotherhood. 1. Gifts and sacrifices] The former are the vegetable, the latter the animal, sacrifices. Together they describe all kinds of offerings. 2. Have compassion] RV ’bear gently.’ The word

2 Peter 3:10 — el mundo, por ejemplo, tierra, mar, cielo. Pero se puede referir a los cuerpos celestes (RM). Las obras que están en él ] es decir, los procesos de la naturaleza. Por tanto, la expresión "será descubierto" (RM) es bastante apropiada: cp. 1 Pedro 1:7 .

Revelation 3:1-22 — memory of their conversion: cp. Galatians 3:1. As a thief] cp. Revelation 16:15; Matthew 24:43. 4. Names] i.e. persons: cp. Acts 1:15. Have not defiled] RV ’did not defile,’ i.e. at some crisis of persecution, when most yielded: cp. Acts 7:14. Walk] i.e. spend their life. White] the colour of victory: cp. Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:18, Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:9. 5. The same shall be clothed] RV ’shall thus be arrayed’; ’thus’ = ’as I am’: cp.

1 Samuel 16:1-23 — Samuel 22:18-19, shows that Samuel’s fears were far from baseless. Say, I am come to sacrifice] Samuel was not asked to prevaricate. God relieved him of his difficulty by giving him a definite command. 4. Beth-lehem] originally Ephrath (Genesis 48:7), 5 m. S. of Jerusalem. Trembled] For Samuel had been wont to move from one town to another to punish offences (1 Samuel 7:16). 5. Sanctify yourselves] This was done by washing themselves and removing all ceremonial defilement. He sanctified Jesse

2 Samuel 21:1-22 — Gibeonites] The lives of the Gibeonites had been spared, through fear of God’s anger being excited by any breach of the covenant made with them (Joshua 9, especially Joshua 9:20). 2. Amorites] Strictly speaking, the Gibeonites were Hivites (Joshua 9, 7), especially 2 Samuel 21:20). 2. Amorites] Strictly speaking, the Gibeonites were Hivites (Joshua 9:7), but ’Amorites’ was a general name for the Canaanites. 3. Wherewith shall I make the atonement?] i.e. what sum of money shall I pay