Bible Commentaries

Exodus 12:1-51 — Exodus 13:4; Exodus 23:15; Exodus 34:18; Deuteronomy 16:1), i.e. the month of ripening ears, and corresponds to the end of March and the beginning of April. After the exile it was called by the Babylonian name of Nisan: see e.g. Nehemiah 2:1 Esther 3:7. The sacred feasts were computed from this date: see Leviticus 23:4-5, Leviticus 23:15, Leviticus 23:24; The civil year began in autumn with the first day of the seventh month after Abib, called by the Babylonians Tishri and in OT. Ethanim: see 1 Kings

1 Kings 2:1-46 — David’s last Will and Testament The recital of David’s last charge to Solomon and his death is followed by an account of the execution of Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei. 3, 4. Cp. Deuteronomy 17; 2 Samuel 7. 5. Abner.. Amasa] For Abner see 1 Chronicles 9:36; 1 Samuel 14:50; 2 Samuel 2-3 for Amasa see 2 Samuel 17:25 (Cp. 1 Chronicles 2), 2 Samuel 19:13; 2 Samuel 20:4-13. Joab’s slaying of Abner may be palliated, though not justified, in

1 Chronicles overview — not much before 300 b.c., and consequently separated by a much longer period than Kings from the events it records. 2. Sources. Among the sourees of information referred to in the course of the narrative are (a) genealogical tables (1 Chronicles 5:17); (b) the book of the kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chronicles 16:11, the same work being probably meant by the slightly different titles in 2 Chronicles 27:7; 2 Chronicles 33:18); and (c) the writings of certain prophets, Samuel, Nathan, Gad, Ahijah,

2 Chronicles overview — not much before 300 b.c., and consequently separated by a much longer period than Kings from the events it records. 2. Sources. Among the sourees of information referred to in the course of the narrative are (a) genealogical tables (1 Chronicles 5:17); (b) the book of the kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chronicles 16:11, the same work being probably meant by the slightly different titles in 2 Chronicles 27:7; 2 Chronicles 33:18); and (c) the writings of certain prophets, Samuel, Nathan, Gad, Ahijah,

Leviticus 17:1-16 — the vicinity of Jerusalem. This raises the question of the date of the composition of the Law of Holiness, and scholars are still divided upon it. The law is repealed in Deuteronomy 12:15, where it is implied that different conditions of life prevail. 7. The object of this enactment was to counteract the tendency to offer sacrifice to those demons of the wilderness which were worshipped in the form of he-goats, for so the RV renders the word here translated devils: see note on Azazel in Leviticus 16:8.

Song of Solomon 5:2-9 — A Dream. His Beauty and hers 2-7. Another dream of hers, with a painful ending. The accumulation (Song of Solomon 5:2) of names of endearment reminds us of the frequent repetition, by a Palestinian bridegroom during the wedding dance, of Yâ halâli, Yâ mâli,

Jeremiah 31:1-40 — keeping up the image of a garden. 13. Both young men] RV ’and the young men’ (shall rejoice with the old). 14. The sacrifices shall be so numerous that the priests and their families shall have abundance for their share: see Leviticus 7:31. 15. The mourning which took place at Ramah, whether on account of some unrecorded butchery there on the part of the Chaldean conquerors, or in reference to their general cruelty to the exiles there assembled for deportation to Babylon (see Jeremiah

Lamentations 1:1-22 — misery of the city, describing it as ’solitary,’ as ’a widow,’ and as ’tributary,’ i.e. Judah has lost her independence; and there is ’no comforter,’ Lamentations 1:2, Lamentations 1:9, Lamentations 1:17, Lamentations 1:21. It falls naturally into three sub-divisions, as seen below. In structure it is strictly alphabetical: each v. being of triple construction. 1-11. The poet laments Zion’s utter desolation. 1. How] a characteristic word for the

Ezekiel 8:1-18 — Jerusalem Various forms of idolatry, increasing in heinousness and rising to a climax, were seen practised in the precincts of the Temple. First there was the ’image of jealousy’ (Ezekiel 8:3-6), next a species of secret animal-worship (Ezekiel 8:7-12), then the lamentation of the women for Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:13-15), and lastly the worship of the sun (Ezekiel 8:16-18). 1. The sixth year.. the sixth month] August-September, 591 b.c. Mine house] to which Ezekiel’s prophetic activity was confined

Daniel 10:1-13 — prominent in the book of Enoch (Daniel 6-15). 1. The third year of Cyrus] 636 b.c., the latest date mentioned in Daniel’s life. But the time appointed was long] RV ’Even a great warfare.’ 4. Hiddekel] the Tigris (Genesis 2:14): see on 82. 7. Cp. Acts 9:7. 9. See Acts 8:18. 11. Cp. Ezekiel 2:1. 12. For thy words] RV ’for thy words’ sake.’ 13. Prince] guardian angel: cp. Daniel 10:20-21, Daniel 12:1. One and twenty days] the period of Daniel’s fasting (Daniel 10:2).

Hosea 11:1-11 — ’fall upon.’ His branches] RV ’his bars,’ i.e. his defences, meaning either his strong cities or his nobles, on whom he depended for safety. But their evil counsellors (if we take it in the latter sense) would prove their ruin. 7. Though.. him] Though they formally called on God, they do not really exalt Him in their hearts. 8. Hosea’s feeling again turns to tenderness. How can the loving Father bear to chastise His people as they deserve! Admah.. Zeboim] with reference

Numbers 12:1-16 — ’the Cushite woman.’ This can hardly be Zipporah, who was a Midianite (Exodus 2:16, Exodus 2:21). Moses, it appears, had married again. Marriage with the Canaanites was forbidden (Exodus 34:16), but not with the Egyptians (see Deuteronomy 23:7-8). 2. Miriam is called a prophetess in Exodus 15:20: see note there and cp. Exodus 4:14-17. 3. Moses made no retort to the criticism, thus exhibiting true greatness. 6-8. The superior favour shown here to Moses consists (1) in the direct manner in

Zechariah 5:1-11 — it. Zechariah’s aim is still to encourage his desponding countrymen. Never again will the nation, as a whole, suffer for sin; only the sinner and his house shall perish. 6. Ephah] the greatest measure among the Jews, a round vessel holding about 7 gals. This vision describes the fulfilment of the promise given in Zechariah 3:9. Resemblance] A very slight change of one Heb. letter gives the reading, ’This is their transgression in all the land.’ This makes much better sense. The prophet

Matthew 2:1-23 — The Wise Men 1-12. The star in the east and the visit of the Magi (peculiar to St. Matthew). The incident fits well into secular history. About the time when the star appeared (7 or 6 b.c.), Herod the Great, being alarmed by a prophecy that the royal power was about to pass away from him and his line, put the authors of it to death. It is evident, therefore, that the announcement by the wise men that Herod’s supplanter

Acts 20:1-38 — Timothy, and had probably been converted, like Timothy, during St. Paul’s first missionary journey. Tychicus] He was with St. Paul at Rome during his first imprisonment, and was the bearer of Ephesians (Ephesians 6:21-22) and Colossians (Colossians 4:7-8). He is mentioned again 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12. Trophimus] a Gentile convert of Ephesus, whom St. Paul was accused of introducing into the Temple at Jerusalem (21 :28f). He is mentioned again 2 Timothy 4:12. These] i.e. probably Tychicus and Trophimus

Philippians 1:1-30 — of greeting in Philippians 1:1-2 is that common to the Epistles of the third group. 1. To all the saints] holy persons—consecrated to God as all Christian believers are. This and similar emphatic expressions (in Philippians 1:3-4, Philippians 1:7-8, Philippians 1:25, chapter Philippians 4:2) show that the entire Church, despite differences between its members (Philippians 2:2-3; Philippians 4:2), has the Apostle’s confidence. Only in this Epistle are the Church officers singled out in

1 Timothy 2:1-15 — Militant, ’that under him we may be godly and quietly governed.’ 3. This is good] that is, the public offering of intercessory prayers. God our Saviour] see 1 Timothy 1:1. 4. Will have, etc.] RV ’willeth that all men should.’ 5-7. A summary statement of the gospel which St. Paul preached. It is introduced in connexion with the doctrine of God’s will that all men should be saved. Surely that is His will, is the Apostle’s argument, for He is the God of all (there is

James 2:1-26 — 1:9). 6. Josephus (’Ant.’ 28.8) speaks of the cruelty of the rich Sadducees to the poor in Jerusalem: cp. also Isaiah 3:15; Amos 4:1, and many other passages from the prophets of the OT. denouncing the cruelty and oppression of the rich. 7. Worthy name] RV ’honourable name.’ For baptism into the name of Christ see Acts 2:38. For the expression cp. Acts 5:41; (RV) Philippians 2:9. By the which ye are called] better, ’which was called over you,’ i.e. probably at

Revelation 20:1-3 — son de Cristo, ya sea en la tierra o en el paraíso ( Apocalipsis 20:5 ). Sobre ellos 'la muerte segunda' (cp. Apocalipsis 20:14 ; Apocalipsis 2:18 ) no tiene poder, porque ellos 'han pasado de muerte a vida', 1 1 Juan 3:14 ; ( Apocalipsis 20:6 ). 7-10. Después del tiempo de descanso, y cuando se acerque el Juicio Final, el poder del mal volverá a cobrar fuerza ( Apocalipsis 20:7 ). Gog y Magog, es decir, el mundo hostil al pueblo de Dios, cp. Ezequiel 38 f. ( Apocalipsis 20:8 ), asaltará la

Revelation 9:1-21 — power, they are to be like scorpions in that they give pain to men, but only for a limited period—a visitation of locusts was usually limited to five months, from May to September. They are to afflict those who are not sealed: see on Revelation 7:1. (Revelation 9:4.). The description of the locusts is partly taken from Joel 1:6; Joel 2:1. No special significance need be sought in the details, which probably are only meant to increase the vivid terror of the picture (Revelation 9:7.). Unlike