Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 4:42-44 — God’s ability to multiply resources 4:42-44 Archaeologists debate the site of Baal-salishah. In obedience to the Mosaic Law, the man in view brought Elisha his offering of firstfruits to honor God by giving this offering to His servants (Numbers 18:13; Deuteronomy 18:4). This simple act

Ezra 5 overview — 3. The delay in construction ch. 5 As a result of Samaritan intimidation (Ezra 4:1-5), the restoration Jews stopped building the temple in 536 B.C. (Ezra 4:24), and did little work on it until 520 B.C. The Jews should have persevered because Cyrus had supported their efforts to rebuild it. Artaxerxes’ work stoppage order (Ezra

Job 18:1-4 — Bildad’s criticism of Job 18:1-4 Obviously Bildad was impatient because Job refused to change his mind or admit great guilt (Job 18:1-2). Job had claimed that God was tearing him like a beast tears its prey (Job 16:9), but Bildad said Job was tearing himself (Job 18:4 a). We can see

Psalms 135:15-18 — In contrast to Israel’s sovereign God, the idols of the nations are impotent (cf. Psalms 115:4-8). Psalms 135:15-18 illustrate Psalms 135:5 as Psalms 135:8-12 prove Psalms 135:4.

Song of Solomon 2:8-17 — 2. Increased longing 2:8-17 Whereas the setting so far had been Israel, it now shifts to the Shulammite’s home that was evidently in Lebanon (cf. Song of Solomon 4:8; Song of Solomon 4:15).

Jeremiah 4:1-4 — Gentile blessing through Israelite repentance 4:1-4 These verses provide the answer to God’s question in Jeremiah 3:1. This is the repentance that was necessary for Yahweh to return to His "wife."

Ezekiel 1:4-28 — 2. The vision proper 1:4-28 Ezekiel saw three things in this vision: living beings (Ezekiel 1:4-14), wheels in motion (Ezekiel 1:15-21), and a great expanse (Ezekiel 1:22-28).

Ezekiel 25:12 — The Edomites had taken vengeance on the Judahites rather than helping them (cf. 36:1-7; Genesis 25:30; Genesis 27:41-46; Genesis 32:4; Lamentations 4:21-22; Amos 1:11-12).

Ezekiel 40:48-49 — The temple entrance 40:48-49 The walls that supported the doorframes leading into the vestibule of the temple were five cubits (8 feet 4 inches) deep on each side of the opening. Some medieval cathedrals in Europe also have massive, ornate entryways. These walls protruded

Daniel 10:2-3 — 1:11-13). Obviously these were literal weeks of days. Evidently, the previous revelations from God, and the welfare of the Jews-who had returned to Palestine but were encountering opposition, were the reasons for Daniel’s grave concern (cf. Ezra 4:1-5; Ezra 4:24; Philippians 4:6-7). Even though many Israelites were returning to Palestine, God had already revealed that they would experience trouble there.

Zechariah 10:7 — Then the Israelites who previously had been weak from idolatry and apostasy would be strong. They and their children would rejoice in the Lord when He saved them (Psalms 32:11; Philippians 4:4).

Deuteronomy 4:15-24 — 3. The prohibition of idolatry 4:15-24 Because God did not reveal Himself in any physical form He forbade the Israelites from making any likeness of Him as an aid to worship (Deuteronomy 4:15-18). They were not to worship the heavenly bodies for this purpose either (Deuteronomy 4:19),

Luke 8:4-8 — The giving of the parable 8:4-8 (cf. Matthew 13:1-9; Mark 4:1-9) As in the other Synoptics, Jesus gave the first parable to the crowds and then interpreted it for His disciples.

John 4:44-45 — his own country, why did the Galileans welcome Jesus, since Galilee was His homeland? The Greek word patris translated "country" can mean either homeland or hometown. The Synoptics always used it to describe Nazareth (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24). One explanation is that John viewed Judea as Jesus’ homeland or possibly Jerusalem as His hometown. [Note: Westcott, 1:77-78; Hoskyns, pp. 287-88; B. Lindars, The Gospel of John, pp. 200-201.] Perhaps John regarded Judea and Jerusalem

Acts 17:4 — Paul’s reasoning persuaded (epeisthesan) some in the synagogue services (cf. Acts 26:28; Acts 28:23). His converts seem to have been mainly Gentiles (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:9) many of whom were God-fearers (cf. Acts 10:4; Acts 13:43; Acts 16:14), but some of them were Jews. Jason (Acts 17:5), Aristarchus (Colossians 4:10), and Secundus (Acts 20:4) appear to have been among these new believers. The "leading women" could have belonged to the upper classes or

Acts 5:14 — Luke stopped giving numbers for the size of the church (cf. Acts 1:15; Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4) and just said that God was adding multitudes of both men and women to the church constantly.

2 Corinthians 1:24 — toward them as he did (cf. 1 Peter 5:1; 1 Peter 5:3). Furthermore Paul recognized that they needed no human lord since they were comparatively solid in their faith. The word "joy" (Gr. chara) occurs as often in this epistle (2 Corinthians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:4; 2 Corinthians 7:13; 2 Corinthians 8:2) as it does in Philippians (Philippians 1:4; Philippians 1:25; Philippians 2:2; Philippians 2:29; Philippians 4:1).

Hebrews 4:6-7 — continue to trust and obey to enter into our rest (inheritance). "Tinas ["Some"] is generally explained as implying a warning that not all the readers are certain to receive what God promises (cf. . . ., Hebrews 3:12; also Hebrews 4:13; Hebrews 4:1; Hebrews 4:11 . . .)." [Note: Ellingworth, p. 250.]

Hebrews 6:2 — other subjects either. "Washings" evidently refers to the doctrine of spiritual cleansing. The Greek word translated "washings" is baptismos that refers to Jewish ceremonial washings whenever it occurs in the New Testament (Mark 7:4; Mark 7:8; Hebrews 9:10). A different Greek word (baptisma) describes Christian baptism. This means the writer here referred not to baptism but to spiritual cleansing. The "laying on of hands" in Judaism was part of the sacrificial ritual

Revelation 2:10-11 — 4. Promise 2:10b-11 The citizens of Smyrna had a reputation for being faithful to the emperor because of their previous acts of fidelity to him. The crown of life is probably the fullness of eternal life as a reward (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Thessalonians