Bible Commentaries

Genesis 15:11 — "The birds of prey are unclean (Leviticus 11:13-19; Deuteronomy 14:12-18) and represent foreign nations (Ezekiel 17:3; Ezekiel 17:7; Zechariah 5:9), most probably Egypt. . . . Thus Abram driving off the birds of prey from the dismembered

Exodus 20:3 — The first commandment 20:3 "The Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches follow Augustine in making Exodus 20:2-6 the first commandment, and then dividing Exodus 20:17, on covetousness, into two. Modern Judaism makes Exodus 20:2 the first commandment

Psalms 74:10-17 — 3. An appeal for divine help 74:10-17 The psalmist pleaded for God to help His people and to subdue their enemy. The Lord’s reputation fell with the sanctuary in the eyes of Israel’s neighbors. Ancient Near Easterners regarded a god’s

Isaiah 42:1 — "The hen (behold) in ch. xli. 29 is now followed by a second hen [in Isaiah 42:1]. With the former, Jehovah pronounced sentence upon the idolaters and their idols; with the latter, He introduces His ’servant.’" [Note: Delitzsch,

Jeremiah 6:20 — Even though the Judeans still worshipped God formally, their sacrifices made no impression on Him (cf. Isaiah 1:11-14; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6-8). It was their true attitudes and actions that He saw. "Sheba" was a famous southwest Arabia (possibly

Ezekiel 1:4 — Ezekiel saw within the opened heavens a great cloud blown toward him by the north wind with lightning flashing from it almost constantly (cf. 1 Kings 19:11-13; Job 38:1; Job 40:6; Psalms 29:3-5). Israel’s enemies had invaded from the north, so

Ezekiel 20:7-9 — The Lord had told the Israelites to abandon the detestable, defiling gods of Egypt because He was their God, but they rebelled against Him and refused to do so (cf. Exodus 5:19-21; Exodus 6:9; Leviticus 17:7; Leviticus 18:3; Leviticus 26:30; Deuteronomy

Ezekiel 43:17 — The second tier was 14 cubits (23 feet 4 inches) square. It too had a curb around its upper edge that formed a gutter, and that curb was half a cubit high (10 inches, cf. Ezekiel 43:13). There were to be steps up to the altar from the east. Formerly

Ezekiel 44:19-20 — When the priests went into the outer court they would first have to change their clothes in the rooms designated for that purpose (Ezekiel 42:1-14) so they would not transmit what was holy to what was common (cf. Leviticus 6:11). Contact with holy things

Numbers 14:10-12 — Nevertheless the congregation violently rejected their pleas to trust and obey God (Numbers 14:10). God Himself prevented the people from stoning Caleb and Joshua by manifesting Himself (Numbers 14:10). ". . . the majesty of God flashed out before

Numbers 9:1-14 — The Passover at Sinai and instructions for a supplementary Passover 9:1-14 On the first anniversary of the Passover in Egypt, just after the Israelites had dedicated the tabernacle, they observed this feast as God had commanded (Numbers 9:5). Most of

Zechariah 9:11 — As for the Israelites (Zion), the Lord promised to set free those of them whom their enemies would hold prisoner. He pictured this as taking them out of a dry cistern where they were captives, like Joseph and Jeremiah (Genesis 37:24; Jeremiah 38:6-9). "God’s

Deuteronomy 15:19-23 — The sanctification of first-born cattle 15:19-23 Moses had finished what he had to say about provisions for the needy (the Levites, aliens, orphans, widows, the poor, and slaves; Deuteronomy 14:22 to Deuteronomy 15:18). Here his thoughts turned back

Luke 8:22-25 — 1. The stilling of a storm 8:22-25 (cf. Matthew 8:18, 23-27; Mark 4:35-41) This story pictures Jesus in complete control of Himself and His environment. Its climax is not the stilling of the storm but the disciples’ question about Jesus’

John 14:8 — The Eleven regarded Jesus very highly. Notwithstanding they did not yet realize that He was such an accurate and full revelation of God the Father that to see Jesus was to see the Father. Philip asked for a clear revelation of the Father that would

John 6:16-21 — 2. The fifth sign: walking on the water 6:16-21 (cf. Matthew 14:24-33; Mark 6:47-52) John probably included this incident for a number of reasons. It accounts for the return of Jesus and His disciples to the western shore of Galilee where Jesus gave

Galatians 3:5 — Question 4: What accounts for the miracles you witnessed (cf. Acts 14:3; Acts 14:8-10)? God did not perform them because the Galatians did something special to earn them. He gave them freely in response to their believing the gospel. Paul knew, of course,

Judges 4 overview — C. The third apostasy chs. 4-5 Chapters 4 and 5 are complementary versions of the victory God gave Israel over the Canaanites, first in prose and then in poetry (cf. Exodus 14-15). [Note: Block, Judges . . ., p. 177.] They are two witnesses to God’s greatness and goodness.

Revelation 13:12 — The second beast will represent the first beast by acting as his prophet (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; cf. Exodus 7:1). Compare the ministries of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 4:16; Exodus 7:9), and the Lord and Elijah (1 Kings 17:1). He will be his

1 Samuel 14:24-35 — Saul’s selfishness 14:24-35 Saul’s improper view of his role as Israel’s king comes through clearly in 1 Samuel 14:24. The Philistines were not Saul’s enemies as much as God’s enemies. This was holy war (cf. Judges 16:28),