Bible Commentaries

Ecclesiastes 11:3 — 3. clouds—answering to "evil" (Ecclesiastes 11:2), meaning, When the times of evil are fully ripe, evil must come; and speculations about it beforehand, so as to prevent one sowing seed of liberality, are vain (Ecclesiastes 11:4). tree—Once the storm uproots it, it lies either northward or southward, according as it fell. So man's character is unchangeable, whether for hell or heaven, once that death overtakes him (Revelation 22:11; Revelation 22:14; Revelation 22:15). Now

Ecclesiastes 12:3 — 3. keepers of the house—namely, the hands and arms which protected the body, as guards do a palace (Genesis 49:24; Job 4:19; 2 Corinthians 5:1), are now palsied. strong men . . . bow— (Judges 16:25; Judges 16:30). Like supporting pillars, the feet and knees (Judges 16:30- :); the strongest members (Judges 16:30- :). grinders—the molar teeth. cease—are

Song of Solomon 1:15 — 15. fair—He discerns beauty in her, who had said, "I am black" ( :-), because of the everlasting covenant (Psalms 45:11; Isaiah 62:5; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 1:5). doves' eyes—large and beautiful in the doves of Syria. The prominent features of her beauty (Matthew 10:16), gentleness, innocence, and constant love, emblem of the Holy Ghost, who changes us to His own likeness (Genesis 8:10; Genesis 8:11; Matthew 3:16). The opposite kind of eyes (Psalms 101:5; Matthew 20:15; 2 Peter 2:14).

Song of Solomon 3:5 — 5. So :-; but there it was for the non-interruption of her own fellowship with Jesus Christ that she was anxious; here it is for the not grieving of the Holy Ghost, on the part of the daughters of Jerusalem. Jealously avoid levity, heedlessness, and offenses which would mar the gracious work begun in others (Matthew 18:7; Acts 2:42; Acts 2:43; Ephesians 4:30). CANTICLE III.— (Song of Solomon 3:6-5) —THE BRIDEGROOM WITH THE BRIDE. Historically, the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth.

Isaiah 1:3 — 3. ( :-). crib—the stall where it is fed (Proverbs 14:4). Spiritually the word and ordinances. Israel—The whole nation, Judah as well as Israel, in the restricted sense. God regards His covenant-people in their designed unity. not know—namely, his Owner, as the parallelism requires; that is, not recognize

Isaiah 1:7 — 7. Judah had not in Uzziah's reign recovered from the ravages of the Syrians in Joash's reign ( :-), and of Israel in Amaziah's reign (2 Chronicles 25:13; 2 Chronicles 25:23, c.). Compare Isaiah's contemporary (Amos 4:6-11), where, as here (Isaiah 1:9 Isaiah 1:10), Israel is compared to "Sodom and Gomorrah," because of the judgments on it by "fire." in your presence—before your eyes: without your being able to prevent them. desolate, &c.—literally, "there

Isaiah 19:4 — 4. cruel lord—"Sargon," in Hebrew it is lords; but plural is often used to express greatness, where, one alone is meant ( :-). The parallel word "king" (singular) proves it. NEWTON makes the general reference to be to Nebuchadnezzar, and a particular

Isaiah 26:7 — 7. uprightness—rather, "is direct," that is, is directed by God to a prosperous issue, however many be their afflictions in the meantime (as in the case of the Jewish exiles); the context requires this sense (Psalms 34:19; Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 11:5), [MAURER]: thus "way" means God's dealings with the righteous (Proverbs 11:5- :). most upright— (Proverbs 11:5- :). dost weigh— (1 Samuel 2:3; Proverbs 5:21). Rather, "thou dost make plain and level" [MAURER], removing

Isaiah 28:4 — 4. Rather, "the fading flower, their glorious beauty ( :-), which is on the head of the fat (fertile) valley, shall be as the early fig" [G. V. SMITH]. Figs usually ripened in August; but earlier ones (Hebrew bikkurah, Spanish bokkore) in June, and were

Isaiah 34:10 — 10. It—The burning pitch, c. (Isaiah 34:9). smoke . . . for ever— (Revelation 14:11 Revelation 18:18). generation to generation— (Malachi 1:4). none . . . pass through—Edom's original offense was: they would not let Israel pass through their land in peace to Canaan: God recompenses them

Isaiah 41:17 — their affliction. The language is so constructed as only very partially to apply to the local and temporary event of the restoration from Babylon; but fully to be realized in the waters of life and of the Spirit, under the Gospel (Isaiah 30:25; Isaiah 44:3; John 7:37-39; John 4:14). God wrought no miracles that we read of, in any wilderness, during the return from Babylon. faileth—rather, "is rigid" or parched [HORSLEY].

Isaiah 43:10 — 10. Ye—the Jews, to whom I have given predictions, verified by the event; and in delivering whom I have so often manifested My power (see Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 43:4; Isaiah 44:8). and my servant—that is, the whole Jewish people (Isaiah 41:8). believe—trust in. formed—before I existed none of the false gods were formed. "Formed" applies to the idols, not to God. Revelation 1:11 uses the same language to prove the Godhead of Jesus, as Isaiah here to prove the Godhead of Jehovah.

Isaiah 51:5 — 5. righteousness . . . near—that is, faithful fulfilment of the promised deliverance, answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause (Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 56:1; Romans 10:8; Romans 10:9). Ye follow after "righteousness"; seek it therefore, from Me, and you will not have far to go for it (Romans 10:9- :). arms—put for Himself; I by My might. judge— (Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 2:4; Psalms 98:9). isles,

Isaiah 52:4 — 4. My people—Jacob and his sons. went down—Judea was an elevated country compared with Egypt. sojourn—They went there to stay only till the famine in Canaan should have ceased. Assyrian—Sennacherib. Remember how I delivered you from Egypt and the

Isaiah 55:12 — 12. go out—from the various countries in which ye (the Jews) are scattered, to your own land ( :-). led—by Messiah, your "Leader" (Isaiah 55:4; Isaiah 52:12; Micah 2:12; Micah 2:13). mountains . . . trees, c.—images justly used to express the seeming sympathy of nature with the joy of God's people. For, when sin is removed, the natural world shall be delivered from "vanity," and be renewed, so as to be in unison with the regenerated moral world (Isaiah 44:23 Psalms 98:8; Romans 8:19-22).

Isaiah 55:13 — 13. thorn—emblem of the wicked (2 Samuel 23:6; Micah 7:4). fir tree—the godly (Isaiah 60:13; Psalms 92:12). Compare as to the change wrought, Psalms 92:12- :. brier—emblem of uncultivation (Isaiah 5:6). myrtle—Hebrew, Hedes, from which comes Hedassah, the original name of Esther. Type of the Christian

Isaiah 56:11 — 11. greedy—literally, "strong" (that is, insatiable) in appetite (Ezekiel 34:2; Ezekiel 34:3; Micah 3:11). cannot understand—unable to comprehend the wants of the people, spiritually: so Micah 3:11- :, "cannot bark." look to . . . own way—that is, their own selfish interests; not to the spiritual welfare of the people (Jeremiah

Isaiah 57:14 — 14. shall say—The nominative is, "He that trusteth in Me" ( :-). The believing remnant shall have every obstacle to their return cleared out of the way, at the coming restoration of Israel, the antitype to the return from Babylon (Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 40:3;

Isaiah 60:18 — of "destruction" when victorious foes burst through them (Isaiah 26:2- :); henceforth to be not only the scene of praises, but "Praise" itself; the "gates," as the place of public concourse, were the scene of thanksgivings (2 Chronicles 31:2; Psalms 9:14; Psalms 24:7; Psalms 100:4). "Judah," the favored tribe, means "praise."

Isaiah 7:4 — 4. Take heed, c.—that is, See that thou be quiet (not seeking Assyrian aid in a fit of panic). tails—mere ends of firebrands, almost consumed themselves (about soon to fall before the Assyrians, Isaiah 7:8), therefore harmless. smoking—as about to go out not blazing. son of Remaliah—Pekah, a usurper (2 Kings 15:25). The Easterners express contempt by designating one, not by his own name, but by his father's, especially when the father is but little known (1 Samuel 20:27; 1 Samuel 20:31).