Bible Commentaries

Exodus 1:15-22 — Plan B consisted of ordering the Hebrew midwives to kill all the male Hebrew babies at birth. Albriight confirmed that these women’s names were Semitic. [Note: W. F. Albright, "Northwest-Semitic Names in a List of Egyptian Slaves from the

Exodus 32:30-35 — Moses’ second intercession 32:30-35 To make atonement (Exodus 32:30) means to obtain a covering for sin. We see Moses’ great love for the Israelites as their mediator in his willingness to die for them (cf. Romans 9:3). Being blotted out

Exodus 33:7-11 — The tent referred to here cannot be the tabernacle since the Israelites had not yet built it. It must have been a smaller tent used as a meeting place for Moses, the people, and God over which the pillar of cloud stood. This tent served some of the

Song of Solomon 1:3 — His "oils" (Song of Solomon 1:3) were evidently the lotions he wore. Since the name of a person represented his character (cf. 2 Samuel 7:9), she meant his character, his whole person, was also as pleasing as oil to her and to other people. Her attraction was not due to physical factors alone. "Maidens" (Heb. ’alma) refers to young unmarried women of marriageable age (cf. Genesis 24:43; Exodus 2:8; Isaiah 7:14).

Isaiah 6:4 — The praise of one and then another of the seraphim was so powerful that it shook the heavenly temple to its foundations. Isaiah also saw smoke billowing throughout the space, suggestive of God’s power to consume (cf. Isaiah 33:14; Exodus 19:18; Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 10:26-31; Hebrews 12:29; Revelation 9:2), and of prayer (Revelation 8:4). It evidently arose from the altar of incense (Isaiah 6:6).

Ezekiel 37:24-25 — God’s servant David would rule over the Jews and be their king (Ezekiel 34:24; 2 Samuel 7:13; 2 Samuel 7:16; Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5). They would have only one king who would shepherd them so that they would follow the Lord faithfully (cf. Exodus

Daniel 9:18-19 — Daniel appealed repeatedly to God to hear and answer his prayer, not because the Israelites deserved it, but because God is compassionate (cf. Exodus 32:12-14). It is interesting that Daniel did not tell God what to do. Instead he asked God to hear, to see, and to act. This is a humble approach that does not dictate to God but leaves the answering up to Him. This magnificent prayer builds to an emotional, positive, logical climax in Daniel 9:19.

Numbers 24:20 — This oracle deals with the Amalekites who lived in southern Canaan and the Sinai peninsula and were implacable foes of Israel (cf. Exodus 17:8-16; Numbers 14:43-45; Judges 6:3; Judges 6:33; et al.). Saul and David both defeated the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:20; 1 Samuel 30:17), but this nation finally suffered complete destruction in King Hezekiah’s time in fulfillment of this prophecy (1 Chronicles 4:43).

Numbers 28:1-31 — Commands regarding offerings chs. 28-29 Another step in preparing to enter Canaan involved setting forth in an organized fashion all the sacrifices that God required the priests to offer for the whole nation during a year. These offerings maintained

Micah 2:9 — The rich Israelites also exacted payment from the dependent women of Israel so they could no longer afford to live in their own houses (cf. Matthew 23:14; Mark 12:40). Their conduct affected the children since these children would have to live out their lives in a foreign land as exiles (cf. Exodus 22:21; Psalms 146:9). The splendid heritage of the Israelites was the land Yahweh had given them (cf. Jeremiah 3:19).

Haggai 2:5 — The Lord reiterated the promise He had made to the Israelites when they left Egypt in the Exodus. His Spirit would stay in their midst, so they did not need to fear (cf. Exodus 19:4-6; Exodus 33:14). The returnees could identify with their forefathers

Mark 1:29-31 — 2. The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law 1:29-31 (cf. Matthew 8:14-15; Luke 4:38-39) This incident, which happened immediately after the previous one, displays a different aspect of Jesus’ authority, His power over physical sickness. In Jesus

Mark 3:1-2 — This event happened on a different Sabbath than the one just described in Mark 2:23-28 (cf. Luke 6:6). The location of the synagogue is unimportant. The Pharisees continued to watch Jesus to accuse Him (Mark 2:23; Mark 3:6). Rather than honestly evaluating His claims, most of them looked for an opportunity to discredit Him. Here they found an opportunity to charge Him with a capital offense in Israel, namely, Sabbath violation (Exodus 31:14-17).

Mark 3:13 — The exact location of this incident is uncertain. It was probably somewhere in Galilee since this whole section describes Jesus’ ministry there (Mark 1:14 to Mark 6:6 a). Jesus first called His disciples to join Him. Then from that larger group

John 17:17 — "To sanctify" (Gr. hagiazo) means to set apart for God’s service (cf. Exodus 28:41; Jeremiah 1:5). Jesus is the perfect example of a sanctified person. He devoted Himself completely and consistently to God’s will for Him. Sanctification

John 7:38 — Some commentators believed that the end of Jesus’ statement did not occur at the end of this verse but after "Me." [Note: E.g., Brown, 1:321.] They saw Jesus saying, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me, and drink he who believes

John 8:41 — The Jews rejected Jesus’ claim that they were not genuine children of Abraham. Their reference to fornication may have been a slur on Jesus’ physical paternity. Who was He with His questionable pedigree to deny their ancestry? They then claimed that on the spiritual level God was their father (Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 14:1-2). They apparently believed that Jesus surely could not deny that, though He disputed their connection to Abraham.

Hebrews 10:26-27 — "The word ’we’ cannot refer to any other group of people than his readers and himself [cf. Hebrews 2:1]." [Note: Marshall, pp. 141-42.] Willful sin in the context of Hebrews is deliberate apostasy, turning away from God (Hebrews

Revelation 1:17 — This revelation of Jesus Christ in His unveiled glory took all the strength out of John. He could not stand in the presence of such a One. Paul had a similar experience on the Damascus road (Acts 9:4; cf. Job 42:5-6; Isaiah 6:5; Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel

1 Samuel 2:18-21 — 2. Hannah’s godly influence on Samuel and its effect 2:18-21 In the previous paragraphs two statements about the main characters described them and framed the paragraph: they did not regard the Lord, and they despised the Lord’s offerings