Bible Commentaries

Genesis 13:1-18 — 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] ’dweller in open villages.’ It is thought by some that they were the original inhabitants of the country who had been subdued by Canaanite invaders. The words dwelled then in the land indicate that the writer lived long after

Genesis 16:1-16 — Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:6). It was accounted a great disgrace and a sign of God’s displeasure to be without offspring: cp. Genesis 30:23. 5. My wrong be upon thee] i.e. May the blame for the wrong done to me (by Hagar’s conduct) fall on thee. 7. The angel of the Lord] see on Exodus 3:2. Shur] The word means ’wall’ and was probably applied to the chain of fortresses on the NE. frontier of Egypt. The Desert of Shur was the wilderness bordering on these fortresses which were built

Exodus 5:1-23 — Increase of the Oppression 1. Pharaoh] probably P. Merenptah. See on Exodus 1:8. His court may have been at Zoan or Tanis during the events that ensued: cp. Psalms 78:12, Psalms 78:43; The Lord God of Israel] Heb. ’Jehovah the God of Israel’: see on Exodus 3:13, Exodus 3:18. Similarly in the next v. Pharaoh says, ’Who is Jehovah?.. I know not Jehovah.’ Jehovah not being known and worshipped

1 Chronicles 27:1-34 — as considerable accumulations of treasure. Some of his possessions may have formed part of what the king could claim from the nation in virtue of his position (cp. 1 Samuel 8:14-15), or may have been given him freely by his subjects (cp. 1 Samuel 10:27), but the bulk was doubtless derived from his successful wars (see 1 Samuel 30:20; 2 Samuel 8:6-8). The lands in the low plains (1 Chronicles 27:28) were probably in part taken from the Philistines. Castles] better, ’towers’ to shelter the

Ezra 1:1 — concluyera con las mismas palabras que forman el comienzo de Esdras. En el primer año de Ciro ] es decir, del reinado de Ciro sobre Babilonia, 538 a. C. La palabra del Señor ... Jeremías ] ver Jeremias 29:10 ; Jeremias 25:11 cp. también Ezequiel 11:7 ; Ezequiel 37:12 . Jeremías describió el período del cautiverio como 70 años y Ezequiel como 40 ( Esdras 4:6 ). Su duración real, calculada desde la Caída de Jerusalén en 586, fue de unos 50 años, pero el intervalo entre la destrucción del Templo

Job 15:1-35 — The Second Speech of Eliphaz 1-16. Eliphaz accuses Job of impiety and arrogance. 2. And fill, etc] utter idle, empty remarks. 7. It was a popular idea that there was a primeval man endowed with perfect wisdom, corresponding to the figure of the Divine Wisdom in Proverbs 8. 8. Render, ’Didst thou hearken in the council of God?’ i.e. before the creation of the world.

Psalms 14:1-7 — This Ps., like Psalms 12, gives a picture of a corrupt state of society in which God is ignored, and His people are oppressed. David’s authorship is not absolutely disproved by Psalms 14:7, which some have regarded as a later addition, and where, in any case, ’bring back the captivity’ may only mean ’restore the fortunes.’ Though God is denied (Psalms 14:1), He really sees (Psalms 14:2), speaks (Psalms 14:3), and

Psalms 31:1-24 — every side’ (Psalms 31:13, Jeremiah 20:10). These parallels are mostly in the central section (Psalms 31:9-18), and possibly this is an insertion in the middle of an earlier Davidic Ps. In the closing vv. there are several resemblances to Psalms 27. 3. For thy name’s sake] see Psalms 23:2, Psalms 23:3. 4. Strength] RV ’stronghold.’ 5. The first clause of this v. formed one of the Sayings of our Lord on the Cross (Luke 23:46). The Psalmist’s attitude in life was Christ’s

Leviticus 18:1-30 — (Genesis 29, 30). 21. Cp. Leviticus 20:1-5. Molech] (’king’) the firegod of the Ammonites and Canaanites, and especially of the Phœnicians, to whom children were sacrificed in burnt-offering. Pass through the fire] see 1 Kings 11:5-7; 2 Kings 3:27; 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31; Jeremiah 32:35. The idea underlying child sacrifice is probably that of propitiating the deity by offering the most valued possession: see 2 Kings 3:27, and cp. the case of Abraham and

Song of Solomon 2:1-17 — (Proverbs 31:29). The Huleh lily, in the north of the Holy Land, grows in the midst of thorns, which lacerate the hands of the flower-gatherers. The soil near Bethlehem, in the S., is enamelled with lilies and covered almost everywhere with dwarf thorns. 3-7. In this strife of mutual compliments she now likens him to the beautiful, flowering, fruit-bearing apple tree, which gives a welcome shade, gratifies the sense of taste, and is to Orientals a symbol of love. 4. He has brought her to a ’house

Isaiah 3:1-26 — 1. Stay and the staff] A prophecy of famine: cp. Isaiah 3:7, as the clause following explains. But if the latter clause is a gloss then ’stay and staff’ would refer to the classes upon which the stability of the life of the community depends. ’Staff’ in the Heb. is the fern, form of ’stay.’ 2.

Jeremiah 15:1-21 — 1-9. The coming woes described. 1. Moses (Exodus 17:11; Exodus 32:11; Numbers 14:13-20) and Samuel (1 Samuel 7:9; 1 Samuel 12:23) were successful pleaders with God in time past: cp. Psalms 99:6. 2. To death] meaning, by pestilence. 4. To be removed into] RV ’to be tossed to and fro among.’

Jeremiah 7:1-34 — 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 to Eastern fanatics’ (Stanley, ’Jewish Church,’ ii, 438). 5-7. Their tenure of the Temple is conditional on obedience to the covenant made by God with their fathers. 10. We are delivered] By the discharge of this formality we are set free for a return to wickedness. 11. Den of robbers] a place of retreat in

Ezekiel 16:8 — pertenecían: cp. la ceremonia relacionada con la limpieza de los leprosos ( Levítico 14:6 ). Este rito puede haber tenido la intención, en todo caso, serviría para contrarrestar cualquier disposición a honrar y adorar a esos espíritus malignos (cf. Levítico 17:7 ). 12-14. A continuación, el sumo sacerdote entra en el Lugar Santísimo con incienso y la sangre de su ofrenda por el pecado, que rocía una vez sobre el propiciatorio y siete veces en el espacio anterior a él, haciendo así expiación por él y su casa. 15-19.

Luke 3:1-38 — authority over all the provinces and armies. This gives the date 25, 26 a.d. for the beginning of the ministry of John. Jesus, who appeared soon afterwards, was, therefore, probably baptised 26 a.d., and kept the first Passover of His ministry (John 2:13) 27 a.d. Allowing three Passovers to the ministry, the crucifixion took place in 29 a.d. Pilate] see on Matthew 27:2. Herod being tetrarch] see art. ’Dynasty of the Herods.’ Philip] the tetrarch, is to be carefully distinguished from his brother

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 — the noun is appropriately applied to the spirit which seeks not its own but others’ good, and sacrifices itself for others. 1-3. Great gifts (e.g. tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith) and even good deeds are of no avail without love: cp. Matthew 7:22. What a man is, is more important than what he has. 1. Tongues] the gift the Corinthians most valued. Have not charity] do not use the gift in a spirit of love. Sounding brass] i.e. merely so much noise. 2. All faith] see on 1 Corinthians 12:9.

Joshua 3:1-17 — The Passage of Jordan This is the initial miracle of Joshua’s leadership. Its moral effect upon the Israelite host is suggested in Joshua 3:7 and Joshua 4:14 that wrought upon the Canaanites in Joshua 5:1 (which properly belongs to this section of the book). 3. The ark of the covenant of the Lord your God] see Exodus 25:10-22 and Exodus 37:1-9. It was the authoritative symbol of the Divine

Hebrews 8:1-13 — called the ’true’ tabernacle, i.e. authentic or primary, that on earth being secondary, a copy of the heavenly (Hebrews 8:5). 3. Gifts and sacrifices] see on Hebrews 5:1. A high priest implies an offering, and this Christ has: see on Hebrews 7:27 and references there. 4. The connexion is with Hebrews 8:2. Christ’s ministry must be in the heavenly tabernacle, for there is already a priesthood on earth; the office on earth is preoccupied. ’He would not be a priest at all’

1 Samuel 9:1-27 — to 1 Samuel 10:16 comes from a different source from 1 Samuel 8 : see intro. there. The author of this section gives no hint that the choice of a king was displeasing to God. But we meet with the views of 1 Samuel 8 again when we come to 1 Samuel 10:17. 1. Power] RV ’valour.’ 4, 5. The districts of Shalisha, Shalim, and Zuph have not been identified. 5. Take thought] rather, ’be anxious.’ 6. In this city] probably Ramah. 9. This v. is probably an explanatory note by the

2 Samuel 15:1-37 — to Jerusalem. 1. Fifty men to run before him] Such runners have always formed part of royal state in the East: cp. 1 Kings 1:5; 1 Kings 18:46. 2. Rose] rather, ’used to rise,’ and stand by the gate so as to meet all who went in or out. 7. Forty years] This is obviously a mistake. Some versions read ’four.’ 8. I will serve the lord] i.e. by sacrifices and offerings (2 Samuel 15:12). Absalom may have remembered his father’s device (1 Samuel 20:6). 9. Went to. Hebron]