Bible Commentaries

Genesis 14 overview — 4. Abram’s military victory ch. 14 Sometime later a powerful coalition of kings from Mesopotamia invaded Canaan and, in the process, took Lot captive. Abram retaliated with a surprise attack at night and recovered Lot and the possessions those kings

Genesis 32:13-21 — brother. "As the narrative unfolds, however, it was not Jacob’s plan that succeeded but his prayer. When he met with Esau, he found that Esau had had a change of heart. Running to meet Jacob, Esau embraced and kissed him and wept (Genesis 33:4). All of Jacob’s plans and schemes had come to naught. In spite of them all, God had prepared Jacob’s way." [Note: Sailhamer, "Genesis," p. 209.] Jacob’s ability to give Esau 580 animals proves that God had made him

Genesis 37:18-24 — The extreme measures Joseph’s brothers considered to silence him have led some commentators to conclude that it was not just personal hatred springing from jealousy that motivated them (cf. Cain, Genesis 4:9). They may have wanted to alter the will of God as revealed in Joseph’s dreams as well. "The brothers’ hate is therefore a rebellion against the matter contained in the dreams, against the divine power itself, standing behind them,

Genesis 49:22-26 — opposition. Judah received the leadership of the tribes, but Joseph obtained the double portion of the birthright (cf. 1 Chronicles 5:2). Jacob’s names for God in this blessing are noteworthy: "the Mighty One of Jacob" (cf. Isaiah 1:24; et al.), "the Shepherd" (Genesis 48:15), and "the Stone of Israel" (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4; Deuteronomy 32:18, et al.). "Blessing is one of the key words of Genesis . . . occurring some eighty-eight times in the book.

2 Kings 15:8-12 — saw the end of the Northern Kingdom proper. In the last twenty years six rulers were to follow each other, but only one was to die naturally. Anarchy, rivalry and regicide led to terminal bloodshed which fulfilled Hosea’s prophecies (2 Kings 1:4)." [Note: Wiseman, p. 252.]

2 Kings 16:1-4 — Ahaz’s assessment 16:1-4 Pekah’s seventeenth year (2 Kings 16:1) was 735 B.C. Ahaz did not follow David’s example of godliness (2 Kings 16:2). Rather he followed the kings of Israel and those of his pagan neighbors and went so far as offering at least one of his

Ezra 3:7-9 — had departed for Babylon in 605 B.C. Extensive foundation repair work was necessary because the temple stood on a hilltop and because Babylonian destruction had been extensive. Under the Mosaic Law, Levites began their service at age 25 (Numbers 8:24). The Mosaic Law did not allow them to carry the tabernacle until they were 30 (Numbers 4:3). David had allowed Levites to begin some service at age 20 (1 Chronicles 23:24; 1 Chronicles 23:27). Zerubbabel and Jeshua also allowed them to begin working

Psalms 112:2-9 — enjoy 112:2-9 There are five blessings that normally come to the righteous. First, the righteous person (living under the Mosaic Covenant) receives physical and material prosperity (Psalms 112:2-3). Second, he obtains light in his darkness (Psalms 112:4). Third, goodness comes to him for his generosity and justice (Psalms 112:5). Fourth, he enjoys stability and confidence (Psalms 112:6-8). Fifth, he gets strength and honor from the Lord because he gives to the poor (Psalms 112:9). "In a way this

Psalms 26:11-12 — God to redeem him from his trouble. "Redeem" (Heb. padah) means to ransom or purchase out of trouble. This word often refers to the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt in the Old Testament (e.g., Deuteronomy 7:8; 2 Samuel 7:23; Micah 6:4). David felt he was on solid footing in his request, and looked forward to praising God publicly for saving him from his accusers. The people of God can appeal confidently for vindication from the false accusations of spiritual enemies because they

Psalms 53:6 — would one day restore His people and cause them to rejoice. Because of other revelation, we know that when Jesus Christ comes back to reign He will reestablish Israel as His favored nation and will punish her enemies (cf. Psalms 2; Isaiah 27:12; Isaiah 43:5-7; Jeremiah 12:15; Ezekiel 20:34-38; Ezekiel 20:42; Ezekiel 28:25-26; Daniel 7:13-14; Hosea 12:9; Joel 3:1-2; Amos 9:14-15; Micah 4:6; Zephaniah 3:20; Zechariah 10:10). [Note: See John F. Walvoord, Israel in Prophecy, pp. 115-31.] It is foolish

Psalms 82:8 — will judge at various times in the future. For the Christian, this will take place at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). For Tribulation saints and Old Testament saints it will be just after He returns at His second coming (Revelation 20:4; Revelation 20:6; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2). For all unbelievers it will be at the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

Lamentations 4 overview — IV. THE ANGER OF YAHWEH (THE FOURTH LAMENT) CH. 4 The fourth lament is similar to the second one, in that: they both describe God’s judgment of Jerusalem and Judah. "The lamentation over the terrible calamity that has befallen Jerusalem is distinguished in this poem from the lamentations

Numbers 12:4-9 — God’s common method of communicating with His prophets was by giving them visions and dreams (Numbers 12:6). [Note: See Richard L. Ruble, "The Doctrine of Dreams," Bibliotheca Sacra 125:500 (October-December 1968):360-64. For more information on the structure of God’s words here, see J. S. Kselman, "A Note on Numbers xii 6-8," Vetus Testamentum 26:4 (October 1976):500-504.] Moses was a specially privileged prophet, however, with whom God spoke directly

Numbers 15:1-16 — offerings. This offering expressed gratitude for the grapes of the land. The priests poured drink offerings out; they did not drink them. The Apostle Paul spoke of his life as a drink offering poured out as a sacrifice to God (Philippians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:6).

Deuteronomy 32:1-4 — Moses was saying it would be a life-giving blessing to the Israelites. Rain and dew were major sources of blessing in the Promised Land, and their absence created serious problems for the inhabitants. The description of God as the Rock (Deuteronomy 32:4; Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 32:18; Deuteronomy 32:30-31) occurs first here in Scripture, but it appears many times later. This metaphor pictures God as a reliable refuge for His people on whom they could build and who had been solidly faithful to

Joshua 15:13-19 — spiritual characteristics of his sibling. Some translators and commentators believed Othniel was Caleb’s nephew, but this seems unlikely. "Acsah’s request for the springs is reminiscent of Rebekah’s meeting with Isaac (Genesis 24:61-67) in which she also (1) approaches riding on an animal; (2) descends; (3) makes a request; and (4) receives the desired result from the person whom she approaches. Both accounts involve an inheritance of the blessing that God had promised to Abraham.

Revelation 18:19 — Throwing dust on one’s head symbolized great grief in the Old Testament (cf. Joshua 7:6; 1 Samuel 4:12; 2 Samuel 1:2; 2 Samuel 13:19; 2 Samuel 15:32; Job 2:12; Lamentations 2:10). People earlier behaved similarly over Tyre’s demise (Ezekiel 27:30). These sea people also echo the laments and repeat the behavior of the kings (Revelation 18:10)

Revelation 19:6 — for the fact that He reigns, after destroying Babylon. In this proleptic statement they look forward to what is about to happen, namely, Jesus Christ’s return to earth and the beginning of His eternal reign. [Note: Beckwith, p. 726; Robertson, 6:449; Ladd, p. 246.] Here He receives the title "the Lord our God, the Almighty." This praise is appropriately great since Messiah’s earthly reign is the climax of history. Thus John heard a voice that sounded like multitudes of people,

Revelation 21:10 — John entered a fresh state of prophetic ecstasy and saw a new vision (cf. Revelation 1:10; Revelation 4:1; Revelation 17:3). The angel took him to a high vantage point from which he could see the New Jerusalem (lit. city of peace) descending out of heaven from God (cf. Revelation 21:2; Ezekiel 40:2). John received a fresh revelation that expanded something

Revelation 3:8 — 2. Commendation 3:8 The Philadelphia Christians had received an "open door" to opportunity for spiritual blessing, perhaps opportunity for evangelism (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3). This opportunity would continue because they had a little "power" (spiritual power) though they were evidently few. Since there is no article before "little" in the Greek text, it is possible to understand their "little