Bible Commentaries

Isaiah 45:2 — 2. crooked . . . straight— (Isaiah 40:4), rather, "maketh mountains plain" [LOWTH], that is, clear out of thy way all opposing persons and things. The Keri reads as in Isaiah 45:13, "make straight" (Margin). gates of brass— (Isaiah 45:13- :). HERODOTUS (1.179) says, Babylon had a hundred massive gates, twenty-five on each of the four sides of the city, all, as well as their posts, of brass. bars of iron—with which the gates were fastened.

Isaiah 46:4 — 4. old age—As "your"—"you"—"you," are not in the Hebrew, the sentiment is more general than English Version, though of course it includes the Jews from the infancy to the more advanced age of their history ( :-). I am he—that is, the same (Psalms 102:27; John 8:24; Hebrews 13:8). I will bear . . . carry—Not only do I not need to be borne and carried Myself, as the idols (Isaiah 46:1).

Isaiah 46:8 — 8. show yourselves men—Renounce the childishness of idolatry as shown in what precedes (1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 4:14). In order to be manly we must be godly; for man was made "in the image of God," and only rises to his true dignity when joined to God; virtue is derived from the Latin vir, "a man." bring . . . to mind—rather, "lay it to heart." transgressors—addressed to the idolaters among the Jews.

Isaiah 51:20 — 20. head of all . . . streets— (Lamentations 2:19; Lamentations 4:1). wild bull—rather, "oryx" [JEROME], or gazelle [GESENIUS], or wild goat [BOCHART]; commonly in the East taken in a net, of a wide sweep, into which the beasts were hunted together. The streets of cities in the East often have gates, which are closed at night; a person wishing to escape would be stopped by them and caught, as a wild animal in a net.

Isaiah 55:10 — 10. The hearts of men, once barren of spirituality, shall be made, by the outpouring of the Spirit under Messiah, to bear fruits of righteousness (Isaiah 5:6; Deuteronomy 32:2; 2 Samuel 23:4; Psalms 72:6). snow—which covers plants from frost in winter; and, when melted in spring, waters the earth. returneth not—void; as in Isaiah 55:11; it returns not in the same shape, or without "accomplishing" the desired end. bud—germinate.

Isaiah 57:3 — 3. But . . . ye—In contrast to "the righteous" and their end, he announces to the unbelieving Jews their doom. sons of the sorceress—that is, ye that are addicted to sorcery: this was connected with the worship of false gods (2 Kings 21:6). No insult is greater to an Oriental than any slur cast on his mother (1 Samuel 20:30; Job 30:8). seed of the adulterer—Spiritual adultery is meant: idolatry and apostasy (Matthew 16:4).

Isaiah 58:5 — 5. for a man to afflict his soul—The pain felt by abstinence is not the end to be sought, as if it were meritorious; it is of value only in so far as it leads us to amend our ways (Isaiah 58:6; Isaiah 58:7). bow . . . head . . . sackcloth—to affect the outward tokens, so as to "appear to men to fast" (Matthew 6:17; Matthew 6:18; 1 Kings 21:27; Esther 4:3).

Isaiah 60:21 — 21. all righteous— (Isaiah 4:3; Isaiah 52:1; Revelation 21:27). inherit . . . land— (Isaiah 49:8; Isaiah 54:3; Isaiah 65:9; Psalms 37:11; Psalms 37:22; Matthew 5:5). branch of my planting— (Isaiah 61:3; Psalms 92:13; Matthew 15:13). work of my hands—the converted Israelites (Isaiah 29:23; Isaiah 45:11). that I may be glorified—the final end of all God's gracious dealings (Isaiah 49:3; Isaiah 61:3).

Isaiah 66:15 — 15. (Isaiah 9:5; Psalms 50:3; Habakkuk 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Peter 3:7). chariots . . . whirlwind— (Jeremiah 4:13). render—as the Hebrew elsewhere (Job 9:13; Psalms 78:38) means to "allay" or "stay wrath." MAURER translates it so here: He stays His anger with nothing but fury," c. nothing short of pouring out all His fiery fury will satisfy His wrath. fury—"burning heat" [LOWTH], to which the parallel, "flames of fire," answers.

Jeremiah 21:7 — 7. the people, and such—rather, explanatory, "the people," namely, "such as are left." seek their life—content with nothing short of their death; not content with plundering and enslaving them. smite with . . . sword—This was the fate of Zedekiah's sons and many of the Jewish nobles. Zedekiah himself, though not put to a violent death, died of grief. Compare as to the accurate fulfilment, Jeremiah 34:4; Ezekiel 12:13; 2 Kings 25:6; 2 Kings 25:7.

Jeremiah 33:9 — 9. it—the city. a name . . . a praise— (Jeremiah 13:11; Isaiah 62:7). them—the inhabitants of Jerusalem. they shall fear . . . for all the goodness— (Psalms 130:4). The Gentiles shall be led to "fear" God by the proofs of His power displayed in behalf of the Jews; the ungodly among them shall "tremble" for fear of God's judgments on them; the penitent shall reverentially fear and be converted to Him (Psalms 102:15; Isaiah 60:3).

Jeremiah 39:18 — 18. life . . . for a prey—(See on Jeremiah 39:2; Jeremiah 39:2- :; Jeremiah 39:4). put . . . trust in me— (Jeremiah 38:7-9). Trust in God was the root of his fearlessness of the wrath of men, in his humanity to the prophet (1 Chronicles 5:20; Psalms 37:40). The "life" he thus risked was to be his reward, being spared beyond all hope, when the lives of his enemies should be forfeited ("for a prey").

Jeremiah 4:15 — 15. For . . . from Dan—The connection is: There is danger in delay; for the voice of a messenger announces the approach of the Chaldean enemy from Dan, the northern frontier of Palestine ( :-; compare Jeremiah 4:6; Jeremiah 1:14). Mount Ephraim—which borders closely on Judah; so that the foe is coming nearer and nearer. Dan and Beth-el in Ephraim were the two places where Jeroboam set up the idolatrous calves (Jeremiah 1:14- :); just retribution.

Jeremiah 7:4 — 4. The Jews falsely thought that because their temple had been chosen by Jehovah as His peculiar dwelling, it could never be destroyed. Men think that ceremonial observances will supersede the need of holiness (Isaiah 48:2; Micah 3:11). The triple repetition of "the temple of Jehovah" expresses the intense confidence of the Jews (see Jeremiah 22:29; Isaiah 6:3). these—the temple buildings which the prophet points to with his finger (Isaiah 6:3- :).

Ezekiel 24:4 — 4. pieces thereof—those which properly belong to it, as its own. every good piece . . . choice bones—that is, the most distinguished of the people. The "choice bones" in the pot have flesh adhering to them. The bones under the pot ( :-) are those having no flesh and used as fuel, answering to the poorest who suffer first, and are put out of pain sooner than the rich who endure what answers to the slower process of boiling.

Ezekiel 37:9 — 9. wind—rather, the spirit of life or life-breath (Margin). For it is distinct from "the four winds" from which it is summoned. from the four winds—implying that Israel is to be gathered from the four quarters of the earth (Isaiah 43:5; Isaiah 43:6; Jeremiah 31:8), even as they were "scattered into all the winds" (Ezekiel 5:10; Ezekiel 12:14; Ezekiel 17:21; compare Revelation 7:1; Revelation 7:4).

Ezekiel 41:4 — 4. thereof—of the holy of holies. before the temple—that is, before, or in front of the most holy place (so "temple" is used in 1 Kings 6:3). The angel went in and measured it, while Ezekiel stood in front, in the only part of the temple accessible to him. The dimensions of the two apartments are the same as in Solomon's temple, since being fixed originally by God, they are regarded as finally determined.

Daniel 2:28 — 28. God—in contrast to "the wise men," c. (Daniel 2:27). revealeth secrets— (Amos 3:7 Amos 4:13). Compare Genesis 41:45, Zaphnath-paaneah, "revealer of secrets," the title given to Joseph. the latter days—literally, "in the after days" (Genesis 41:45- :); "hereafter" (Genesis 41:45- :). It refers to the whole future, including the Messianic days, which is the final dispensation (Genesis 41:45- :). visions of thy head—conceptions formed in the brain.

Hosea 10:1 — 1. empty—stripped of its fruits [CALVIN], ( :-); compelled to pay tribute to Pul ( :-). MAURER translates, "A widespreading vine"; so the Septuagint. Compare Genesis 49:22; Psalms 80:9-11; Ezekiel 17:6. bringeth forth fruit unto himself—not unto ME. according to . . . multitude of . . . fruit . . . increased . . . altars—In proportion to the abundance of their prosperity, which called for fruit unto God (compare Romans 6:22), was the abundance of their idolatry (Hosea 8:4; Hosea 8:11).

Micah 3:4 — 4. Then—at the time of judgment, which Micah takes for granted, so certain is it (compare Micah 2:3). they cry . . . but he will not hear—just as those oppressed by them had formerly cried, and they would not hear. Their prayer shall be rejected, because it is the mere cry of nature for deliverance from pain, not that of repentance for deliverance from sin. ill in their doings—Men cannot expect to do ill and fare well.