Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 9:2 — 2. That—rather, "For." the Lord appeared—This appearance was, like the former one at Gibeon, most probably made in a supernatural vision, and on the night immediately following the dedication of the temple ( :-). The strain of it corresponds to this view, for it consists of direct answers to his solemn inaugural prayer (1 Kings 9:3; 1 Kings 8:29; 1 Kings 9:4; 1 Kings 9:5; 1 Kings 8:25; 1 Kings 8:26; 1 Kings 9:6-9; 1 Kings 8:33-46; see also 1 Kings 8:33-11.8.46- :).

2 Kings 16:7 — 7-9. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser—In spite of the assurance given him by Isaiah by two signs, the one immediate, the other remote (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:4), that the confederate kings would not prevail against him, Ahaz sought aid from the Assyrian monarch, to purchase which he sent the treasures of the palace and temple. Tiglath-pileser marched against Damascus, slew Rezin the king, and carried

2 Chronicles 17:4 — 4. and not after the doings of Israel—He observed with scrupulous fidelity, and employed his royal influence to support the divine institutions as enacted by Moses, abhorring that spurious and unlawful calf-worship that now formed the established religion

2 Chronicles 29:4 — 4, 5. the east street—the court of the priests, which fronted the eastern gate of the temple. Assembling the priests and Levites there, he enjoined them to set about the immediate purification of the temple. It does not appear that the order referred

Nehemiah 4:4 — 4, 5. Hear, O our God; for we are despised—The imprecations invoked here may seem harsh, cruel, and vindictive; but it must be remembered that Nehemiah and his friends regarded those Samaritan leaders as enemies to the cause of God and His people, and

Job 24:20 — 20. The womb—The very mother that bare him, and who is the last to "forget" the child that sucked her ( :-), shall dismiss him from her memory (Job 18:17; Proverbs 10:7). The worm shall suck, that is, "feed sweetly" on him as a delicate morsel (Proverbs 10:7- :). wickedness—that is, the wicked; abstract for concrete (as Proverbs 10:7- :). as a tree—utterly (Proverbs 10:7- :); UMBREIT better, "as a staff." A broken staff is the emblem of irreparable ruin (Isaiah 14:5; Hosea 4:12).

Job 30:8 — 8. fools—that is, the impious and abandoned (1 Samuel 25:25). base—nameless, low-born rabble. viler than, c.—rather, they were driven or beaten out of the land. The Horites in Mount Seir (Genesis 14:6 with which compare Genesis 36:20 Genesis 36:21; Deuteronomy 2:12; Deuteronomy 2:22) were probably the aborigines, driven out by the tribe to which Job's ancestors belonged; their name means troglodytæ, or "dwellers in caves." To these Job alludes

Psalms 105:25 — 25. turned their heart—God controls men's free acts (compare :-). "When Saul had turned his back to go from (God's prophet) Samuel, God turned (Margin) him another heart" (see Exodus 1:8, c.). Whatever evil the wicked man plots against God's people, God holds bound even his heart, so as not to lay a single plan except what God permits. Thus Isaiah (Isaiah 43:17) says it was God who brought forth the army of Pharaoh to pursue Israel to their own destruction (Exodus 4:21 Exodus 7:3).

Psalms 106:28 — 28-30. sacrifices of the dead—that is, of lifeless idols, contrasted with "the living God" (Jeremiah 10:3-10; compare Psalms 115:4-7; 1 Corinthians 12:2). On the words, joined themselves to Baal-peor—see Numbers 25:2; Numbers 25:3; Numbers 25:5. Baal-peor—that is, the possessor of Peor, the mountain on which Chemosh, the idol of Moab, was worshipped, and at the foot of which

Psalms 131:2 — 2. Surely, c.—The form is that of an oath or strongest assertion. Submission is denoted by the figure of a weaned child. As the child weaned by his mother from the breast, so I still the motions of pride in me (Matthew 18:3 Matthew 18:4; Isaiah 11:8; Isaiah 28:9). Hebrew children were often not weaned till three years old. soul—may be taken for desire, which gives a more definite sense, though one included in the idea conveyed by the usual meaning, myself.

Psalms 22:14 — 14, 15. Utter exhaustion and hopeless weakness, in these circumstances of pressing danger, are set forth by the most expressive figures; the solidity of the body is destroyed, and it becomes like water; the bones are parted; the heart, the very seat of

Psalms 23:4 — 4. In the darkest and most trying hour God is near. the valley of the shadow of death—is a ravine overhung by high precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to inspire dread to the timid, and afford a covert to beasts of prey.

Psalms 74:9 — 9. signs—of God's presence, as altar, ark, c. (compare Psalms 74:4 2 Chronicles 36:18; 2 Chronicles 36:19; Daniel 5:2). no more any prophet— (Isaiah 3:2; Jeremiah 40:1; Jeremiah 43:6). how long—this is to last. Jeremiah's prophecy (Jeremiah 43:6- :), if published, may not have been generally known or understood.

Proverbs 31:10 — climes. In Hebrew the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order (compare Introduction to Poetical Books). Who . . . woman—The question implies that such are rare, though not entirely wanting (compare Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs 19:14). virtuous—literally, "of strength," that is, moral courage (compare Proverbs 12:4; Ruth 3:11). her price, &c.—(compare Proverbs 3:15).

Ecclesiastes 7:14 — 14. consider—resumed from :-. "Consider," that is, regard it as "the work of God"; for "God has made (Hebrew, for 'set') this (adversity) also as well as the other (prosperity)." "Adversity" is one of the things which "God has made crooked," and which

Judges 10:4 — 4. he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts—This is a characteristic trait of Eastern manners in those early times; and the grant of a village to each of his thirty sons was a striking proof of his extensive possessions. His having thirty sons

Judges 17:5 — 5. the man Micah had an house of gods—Hebrew, "a house of God"—a domestic chapel, a private religious establishment of his own. an ephod—(see on :-). teraphim—tutelary gods of the household (see Genesis 31:19 and see on Genesis 31:19- :). consecrated one of his sons who became his priest—The assumption of the priestly office by any one out of the family of Aaron was a direct violation of the divine law (Numbers 3:10; Numbers 16:17; Deuteronomy 21:5; Hebrews 5:4).

Judges 20:4 — 4-7. the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said—The injured husband gave a brief and unvarnished recital of the tragic outrage, from which it appears that force was used, which he could not resist. His testimony was doubtless

Judges 8:2 — 2, 3. he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you?—His mild and truly modest answer breathes the spirit of a great as well as good man, who was calm, collected, and self-possessed in the midst of most exciting scenes. It succeeded in throwing oil on the troubled waters ( :-), and no wonder, for in the height of generous self-denial, it ascribes to his querulous brethren a greater share of merit and glory than belonged to himself (1 Corinthians 13:4; Philippians 2:3).

1 Samuel 13:2 — his tactics to attack the Philistine garrisons in the country by different detachments, rather than by risking a general engagement; and his first operations were directed to rid his native territory of Benjamin of these enemies. 1 Samuel 13:3; 1 Samuel 13:4. HE CALLS THE HEBREWS TO GILGAL AGAINST THE PHILISTINES.