Bible Commentaries

Isaiah 61:8 — iniquity [HORSLEY]. So in Job 5:6. Hating, as I do, the rapine, combined with iniquity, perpetrated on My people by their enemies, I will vindicate Israel. direct . . . work in truth—rather, "I will give them the reward of their work" (compare Isaiah 40:10, Margin; Isaiah 49:4, Margin; Isaiah 62:11, Margin) in faithfulness.

Jeremiah 12:4 — 4. land mourn—personification (Jeremiah 14:2; Jeremiah 23:10). for the wickedness— (Jeremiah 23:10- :). beasts— (Jeremiah 23:10- :). He shall not see our last end—Jehovah knows not what is about to happen to us (Jeremiah 23:10- :) [ROSENMULLER]. So

Jeremiah 29:8 — deceived." Not mere credulity misleads men, but their own perverse "love of darkness rather than light." It was not priests who originated priestcraft, but the people's own morbid appetite to be deceived; for example, Aaron and the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-4). So the Jews caused or made the prophets to tell them encouraging dreams (Jeremiah 23:25; Jeremiah 23:26; Ecclesiastes 5:7; Zechariah 10:2; John 3:19-21).

Jeremiah 39:4 — 4. the king's garden—The "gate" to it from the upper, city above was appropriated to the kings alone; stairs" led down from Mount Zion and the palace to the king's garden below ( :-). two walls—Zedekiah might have held the upper city longer, but want of provisions drove him to flee by the double wall south of Zion, towards the plains of Jericho (Jeremiah 39:5), in order to escape beyond Jordan to Arabia-Deserta. He broke an opening in the wall to get out (Ezekiel 12:12).

Jeremiah 50:4 — 4. Fulfilled only in part when some few of the ten tribes of "Israel" joined Judah in a "covenant" with God, at the restoration of Judah to its land (Nehemiah 9:38; Nehemiah 10:29). The full event is yet to come (Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 1:11; Zechariah 12:10). weeping—with joy at their restoration beyond all hope; and with sorrow at the remembrance of their sins and sufferings (Ezra 3:12; Ezra 3:13; Psalms 126:5; Psalms 126:6). seek . . . Lord— (Psalms 126:6- :).

Lamentations 1:20 — 20. bowels . . . troubled— (Job 30:27; Isaiah 16:11; Jeremiah 4:19; Jeremiah 31:20). Extreme mental distress affects the bowels and the whole internal frame. heart . . . turned— (Jeremiah 31:20- :); is agitated or fluttered. abroad . . . sword . . . at home . . . as death— (Deuteronomy 32:25; Ezekiel 7:15).

Ezekiel 2:2 — 2. spirit entered . . . when he spake—The divine word is ever accompanied by the Spirit (Genesis 1:2; Genesis 1:3). set . . . upon . . . feet—He had been "upon his face" (Genesis 1:3- :). Humiliation on our part is followed by exaltation on God's part (Ezekiel 3:23; Ezekiel 3:24; Job 22:29; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). "On the feet" was the fitting attitude when he was called on to walk and work for God (Ephesians 5:8; Ephesians 6:15). that I heard—rather, "then I heard."

Ezekiel 4:14 — 14. Ezekiel, as a priest, had been accustomed to the strictest abstinence from everything legally impure. Peter felt the same scruple at a similar command ( :-; compare Isaiah 65:4). Positive precepts, being dependent on a particular command can be set

Ezekiel 8:2 — the remnant to be spared. The "brightness . . . upward" betokens His unapproachable majesty (John 1:18- :). For Hebrew, eesh, "fire," the Septuagint, &c., read ish, "a man." colour of amber—the glitter of chasmal [FAIRBAIRN], (see on Ezekiel 1:4, "polished brass").

Daniel 2:38 — for God, to be taken from them by the Son of man, who will exercise it for God, restoring in His person to man the lost inheritance (Genesis 2:20- :). Thou art . . . head of gold—alluding to the riches of Babylon, hence called "the golden city" (Isaiah 14:4; Jeremiah 51:7; Revelation 18:16).

Daniel 4:37 — judgment—that is, are true and just (Revelation 15:3; Revelation 16:7). God has not dealt unjustly or too severely with me; whatever I have suffered, I deserved it all. It is a mark of true contrition to condemn one's self, and justify God (Psalms 51:4). those that walk in pride . . . abase—exemplified in me. He condemns himself before the whole world, in order to glorify God.

Hosea 11:10 — 10. he shall roar like a lion—by awful judgments on their foes (Isaiah 31:4; Jeremiah 25:26-30; Joel 3:16), calling His dispersed "children" from the various lands of their dispersion. shall tremble—shall flock in eager agitation of haste. from the west— (Joel 3:16- :). Literally, "the sea." Probably the Mediterranean, including

Hosea 14:6 — fruitless, therefore the fruitful, peace-bearing, fragrant, ever green olive is added. smell as Lebanon—which exhaled from it the fragrance of odoriferous trees and flowers. So Israel's name shall be in good savor with all (Genesis 27:27; Song of Solomon 4:11).

Hosea 2:3 — 3. set her as in the day . . . born— (Ezekiel 16:4; Ezekiel 23:25; Ezekiel 23:26; Ezekiel 23:28; Ezekiel 23:29). The day of her political "birth" was when God delivered her from the bondage of Egypt, and set up the theocracy. make her as a wilderness— (Jeremiah 6:8; Zephaniah 2:13). Translate, "make her as the wilderness," namely, that in which she passed forty years on her way to her goodly possession of Canaan. With this agrees the mention of "thirst" (compare Jeremiah 2:6).

Hosea 6:8 — in the regicidal conspiracy of Pekah against Pekahiah (2 Kings 15:25). See on Hosea 6:1. Many homicides were there, for there were beyond Jordan more cities of refuge, in proportion to the extent of territory, than on this side of Jordan (Numbers 35:14; Deuteronomy 4:41-43; Joshua 20:8). Ramoth-gilead was one.

Hosea 8:1 — 1. Set the trumpet, c.—to give warning of the approach of the enemy: "To thy palate (that is, 'mouth,' Job 31:30, Margin) the trumpet" the abruptness of expression indicates the suddenness of the attack. So Job 31:30- :. as . . . eagle—the Assyrian (Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 48:40; Habakkuk 1:8). against . . . house of . . . Lord—not the temple, but Israel viewed as the family of God (Hosea 9:15; Numbers 12:7; Zechariah 9:8; Hebrews 3:2; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 4:17).

Joel 1:12 — 12. pomegranate—a tree straight in the stem growing twenty feet high; the fruit is of the size of an orange, with blood-red colored pulp. palm tree—The dates of Palestine were famous. The palm is the symbol of Judea on coins under the Roman emperor Vespasian. It often grows a hundred feet high. apple tree—The Hebrew is generic, including the orange, lemon, and pear tree. joy is withered away—such as is felt in the harvest and the vintage seasons (Psalms 4:7; Isaiah 9:3).

Amos 3:4 — 4. The same idea as in :-. Where a corrupt nation is, there God's instruments of punishment are sure also to be. The lion roars loudly only when he has prey in sight. Will a young lion cry out . . . if he—the "lion," not the "young lion." have taken nothing?—The young lion just weaned lies silent, until the old lion brings the prey near; then the scent rouses him. So, the prophet would not speak against Israel, if God did not reveal to him Israel's sins as requiring punishment.

Jonah 2:7 — 7. soul fainted . . . I remembered the Lord—beautifully exemplifying the triumph of spirit over flesh, of faith over sense (Psalms 73:26; Psalms 42:6). For a time troubles shut out hope; but faith revived when Jonah "remembered the Lord," what a gracious God He is, and how now He still preserves his life and consciousness in his dark prison-house. into thine holy temple—the temple at Jerusalem

Nahum 1:4 — 4. rebuketh the sea—as Jesus did (Matthew 8:26), proving Himself God (compare Isaiah 50:2). Bashan languisheth—through drought; ordinarily it was a region famed for its rich pasturage (compare Joel 1:10). flower of Lebanon—its bloom; all that blooms