Bible Commentaries

Job 23:10 — 10. But—correcting himself for the wish that his cause should be known before God. The omniscient One already knoweth the way in me (my inward principles: His outward way or course of acts is mentioned in Job 23:11. So in me, Job 4:21); though for some inscrutable cause He as yet hides Himself (Job 23:8; Job 23:9). when—let Him only but try my cause, I shall, &c.

Job 24:4 — 4. Literally, they push the poor out of their road in meeting them. Figuratively, they take advantage of them by force and injustice (alluding to the charge of Eliphaz, Job 22:8; 1 Samuel 8:3). poor—in spirit and in circumstances (Matthew 5:3). hide—from the injustice of their oppressors, who have robbed them of their all and driven them into unfrequented places (Job 20:19; Job 30:3-6; Proverbs 28:28).

Job 32:13 — 13. This has been so ordered, "lest you should" pride yourselves on having overcome him by your "wisdom" ( :-, the great aim of the Book of Job); and that you may see, "God alone can thrust him down," that is, confute him, "not man." So Elihu grounds his confutation, not on the maxims of sages, as the friends did, but on his special commission from God (Job 32:8; Job 33:4; Job 33:6).

Job 41:13 — 13. discover—rather, "uncover the surface" of his garment (skin, :-): strip off the hard outer coat with which the inner skin is covered. with—rather, "within his double jaws"; literally, "bridle"; hence that into which the bridle is put, the double row of teeth; but "bridle" is used to imply that none dare put his hand in to insert a bridle where in other animals it is placed (Job 41:4; Job 39:10).

Job 42:14 — 14. Names significant of his restored prosperity (Genesis 4:25; Genesis 5:29). Jemima—"daylight," after his "night" of calamity; but MAURER, "a dove." Kezia—"cassia," an aromatic herb (Psalms 45:8), instead of his offensive breath and ulcers. Keren-happuch—"horn of stibium," a paint with which females dyed their eyelids; in contrast to his "horn defiled in the dust" (Psalms 45:8- :). The names also imply the beauty of his daughters.

Psalms 16:4 — 4. He expresses his abhorrence of those who seek other sources of happiness or objects of worship, and, by characterizing their rites by drink offerings of blood, clearly denotes idolaters. The word for "sorrows" is by some rendered "idols"; but, though a similar word to that for idols, it is not the same. In selecting such a term, there may be an allusion, by the author, to the sorrows produced by idolatrous practices.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 — 10. Whatsoever—namely, in the service of God. This and last verse plainly are the language of Solomon, not of a skeptic, as HOLDEN would explain it. hand, c.— ( :-, Margin 1 Samuel 10:7, Margin). thy might—diligence (Deuteronomy 6:5; Jeremiah 48:10, Margin). no work . . . in the grave— (John 9:4; Revelation 14:13). "The soul's play-day is Satan's work-day; the idler the man the busier the tempter" [SOUTH].

Song of Solomon 1:10 — 10. rows of jewels— ( :-). OLERIUS says, Persian ladies wear two or three rows of pearls round the head, beginning on the forehead and descending down to the cheeks and under the chin, so that their faces seem to be set in pearls ( :-). The comparison of the horses ( :-) implies the vital energy of the bride; this verse, her superadded graces (Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 4:9; 1 Timothy 2:9; 2 Peter 1:5).

Isaiah 26:1 — 1. strong city—Jerusalem, strong in Jehovah's protection: type of the new Jerusalem ( :-), contrasted with the overthrow of the ungodly foe (Isaiah 26:4-7; Isaiah 26:12-14; Revelation 22:2; Revelation 22:10-12, c.). salvation . . . walls— (Isaiah 60:18 Jeremiah 3:23; Zechariah 2:5). MAURER translates, "Jehovah makes His help serve as walls" (Isaiah 33:20; Isaiah 33:21, &c.). bulwarks—the trench with the antemural earthworks exterior to the wall.

Isaiah 57:4 — 4. sport yourselves—make a mock (Isaiah 66:5). Are ye aware of the glory of Him whom you mock, by mocking His servants ("the righteous," Isaiah 57:1)? (2 Chronicles 36:16). make . . . wide mouth— (Psalms 22:7; Psalms 22:13; Psalms 35:21; Lamentations 2:16). children of transgression, &c.—not merely children of transgressors, and a seed of false parents, but of transgression and falsehood itself, utterly unfaithful to God.

Jeremiah 19:7 — 7. make void the counsel—defeat their plans for repelling the enemy (2 Chronicles 32:1-4; Isaiah 19:3; Isaiah 22:9; Isaiah 22:11). Or their schemes of getting help by having recourse to idols [CALVIN]. in this place—The valley of Hinnom was to be the place of the Chaldean encampment; the very place where they looked for help from idols was to be the scene of their own slaughter.

Jeremiah 24:1 — 1. Lord showed me— Amos 7:1; Amos 7:4; Amos 7:7; Amos 8:1, contains the same formula, with the addition of "thus" prefixed. carried . . . captive Jeconiah— (Jeremiah 22:24; 2 Kings 24:12; 2 Chronicles 36:10). carpenters, &c.—One thousand artisans were carried to Babylon, both to work for the king there, and to deprive Jerusalem of their services in the event of a future siege (2 Kings 24:16).

Jeremiah 33:18 — 18. Messiah's literal priesthood (Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 7:21; Hebrews 7:24-28), and His followers' spiritual priesthood and sacrifices (Jeremiah 33:11; Romans 12:1; Romans 15:16; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6), shall never cease, according to the covenant with Levi, broken by the priests, but fulfilled by Messiah (Numbers 25:12; Numbers 25:13; Malachi 2:4; Malachi 2:5; Malachi 2:8).

Jeremiah 49:16 — 16. terribleness—the terror which thou didst inspire into others. deceived thee—rendered thee proudly confident, as if none would dare to assail thee. dwellest in . . . rock—Petra, the chief of Idumea, was cut in the rocks; its ruins are very remarkable. The whole south of Idumea abounds in cave dwellings and rocks. though . . . nest . . . eagle— (Job 39:27; Obadiah 1:3; Obadiah 1:4). The eagle builds its nest in the highest craggy eyry.

Lamentations 2:18 — 18. wall— ( :-). Personified. "Their heart," that is, the Jews'; while their heart is lifted up to the Lord in prayer, their speech is addressed to the "wall" (the part being put for the whole city). let tears, &c.— (Jeremiah 14:17). The wall is called on to weep for its own ruin and that of the city. Compare the similar personification (Lamentations 1:4). apple—the pupil of the eye (Psalms 17:8). Koph.

Lamentations 2:4 — 4. ( :-). stood with . . . right hand—He took His stand so as to use His right hand as an adversary. HENDERSON makes the image to be that of an archer steadying his right hand to take aim. Not only did He withdraw His help, but also took arms against Israel. all . . . pleasant to . . . eye— (Ezekiel 24:25). All that were conspicuous for youth, beauty, and rank. in . . . tabernacle—the dwellings of Jerusalem. He.

Ezekiel 19:4 — 4. The nations—Egypt, in the case of Jehoahaz, who probably provoked Pharaoh by trying to avenge the death of his father by assailing the bordering cities of Egypt (2 Kings 23:29; 2 Kings 23:30). in their pit—image from the pitfalls used for catching wild beasts (Jeremiah 22:11; Jeremiah 22:12). chains—or hooks, which were fastened in the noses of wild beasts (see on Jeremiah 22:12- :).

Ezekiel 2:6 — 6. briers—not as the Margin and GESENIUS, "rebels," which would not correspond so well to "thorns." The Hebrew is from a root meaning "to sting" as nettles do. The wicked are often so called (2 Samuel 23:6; Song of Solomon 2:2; Isaiah 9:18). scorpions—a reptile about six inches long with a deadly sting at the end of the tail. be not afraid— (Luke 12:4; 1 Peter 3:14).

Ezekiel 20:16 — 16. The special reason is stated by Moses (Numbers 13:32; Numbers 13:33; Numbers 14:4) to be that they, through fear arising from the false report of the spies, wished to return to Egypt; the general reasons are stated here which lay at the root of their rejection of God's grace; namely, contempt of God and His laws, and love of idols. their heart—The fault lay in it (Psalms 78:37).

Ezekiel 25:4 — 4. men of . . . east—literally, "children of the East," the nomad tribes of Arabia-Deserta, east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea. palaces—their nomadic encampments or folds, surrounded with mud walls, are so called in irony. Where thy "palaces" once stood, there shall their very different "palaces" stand. Fulfilled after the ravaging of their region by Nebuchadnezzar, shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem (compare Ezekiel 21:22; Jeremiah 49:1-28).