Bible Commentaries

Job 16:16 — death—that is, darkening through many tears ( :-). Job here refers to Zophar's implied charge ( :-). Nearly the same words occur as to Jesus Christ ( :-). So Job 16:10 above answers to the description of Jesus Christ (Psalms 22:13; Isaiah 50:6; Job 16:4; Psalms 22:7). He alone realized what Job aspired after, namely, outward righteousness of acts and inward purity of devotion. Jesus Christ as the representative man is typified in some degree in every servant of God in the Old Testament.

Job 17:5 — 5. The Hebrew for "flattery" is "smoothness"; then it came to mean a prey divided by lot, because a smooth stone was used in casting the lots (Deuteronomy 18:8), "a portion" (Genesis 14:24). Therefore translate, "He that delivers up his friend as a prey (which the conduct of my friends implies that they would do), even the eyes," c. [NOYES] (Job 11:20). Job says this as to the sinner's children, retorting upon their reproach as to the

Job 30:3 — translate, rather, "dried up," emaciated with hunger. Job describes the rudest race of Bedouins of the desert [UMBREIT]. fleeing—So the Septuagint. Better, as Syriac, Arabic, and Vulgate, "gnawers of the wilderness." What they gnaw follows in Job 30:4. in former time—literally, the "yesternight of desolation and waste" (the most utter desolation; Ezekiel 6:14); that is, those deserts frightful as night to man, and even there from time immemorial. I think both ideas are in the words darkness [GESENIUS]

Job 33:4 — 4. The Spirit of God hath made me—as He did thee: latter clause of :- (Genesis 2:7). Therefore thou needest not fear me, as thou wouldest God (Job 33:7; Job 9:34). On the other hand, "the breath of the Almighty hath inspired me" (as Job 32:8); not as

Psalms 106:24 — 24-27. The sin of refusing to invade Canaan, "the pleasant land" (Jeremiah 3:19; Ezekiel 20:6; Daniel 8:9), "the land of beauty," was punished by the destruction of that generation (Numbers 14:28), and the threat of dispersion (Deuteronomy 4:25; Deuteronomy

Psalms 123:2 — observance of the hands of the latter. The servants of God should look (1) to His directing hand, to appoint them their work; (2) to His supplying hand ( :-), to give them their portion in due season; (3) to His protecting hand, to right them when wronged; (4) to His correcting hand (Isaiah 9:13; 1 Peter 5:6; compare Genesis 16:6); (5) to His rewarding hand.

Psalms 51:10 — 10. Create—a work of almighty power. in me—literally, "to me," or, "for me"; bestow as a gift, a heart free from taint of sin (Psalms 24:4; Psalms 73:1). renew—implies that he had possessed it; the essential principle of a new nature had not been lost, but its influence interrupted (Psalms 73:1- :); for Psalms 51:11 shows that he had not lost God's presence and Spirit (Psalms 51:11-

Ecclesiastes 1:15 — 15. Investigation ( :-) into human ways is vain labor, for they are hopelessly "crooked" and "cannot be made straight" by it ( :-). God, the chief good, alone can do this (Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 45:2). wanting— (Isaiah 45:2- :). numbered—so as to make a complete number; so equivalent to "supplied" [MAURER]. Or, rather, man's state is utterly wanting; and that which is wholly defective cannot be numbered or calculated. The investigator thinks

Ecclesiastes 7:29 — that given in Holy Writ ( :-). Among man's "inventions" was the one especially referred to in Ecclesiastes 7:26, the bitter fruits of which Solomon experienced, the breaking of God's primeval marriage law, joining one man to "one" woman (Matthew 19:4 Matthew 19:5; Matthew 19:6). "Man" is singular, namely, Adam; "they," plural, Adam, Eve, and their posterity.

Song of Solomon 4:10 — increased force. An Amoebean pastoral character pervades the Song, like the classic Amoebean idylls and eclogues. wine—The love of His saints is a more reviving cordial to Him than wine; for example, at the feast in Simon's house (Luke 7:36; Luke 7:47; John 4:32; compare Zechariah 10:7). smell of . . . ointments than all spices—answering to her praise (Zechariah 10:7- :) with increased force. Fragrant, as being fruits of His Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22).

Isaiah 1:2 — "Adonai" than "Jehovah." children— (Isaiah 8:20- :). rebelled—as sons (Isaiah 8:20- :) and as subjects, God being king in the theocracy (Isaiah 8:20- :). "Brought up," literally, "elevated," namely, to peculiar privileges (Jeremiah 2:6-8; Romans 9:4; Romans 9:5).

Isaiah 22 overview — CHAPTER 22 :-. PROPHECY AS TO AN ATTACK ON JERUSALEM. That by Sennacherib, in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah; :-, the preparations for defense and securing of water exactly answer to those in 2 Chronicles 32:4; 2 Chronicles 32:5; 2 Chronicles 32:30. "Shebna," too (2 Chronicles 32:30- :), was scribe at this time (2 Chronicles 32:30- :) [MAURER]. The language of Isaiah 22:12-14, as to the infidelity and consequent utter ruin of the Jews, seems rather to foreshadow

Isaiah 33:14 — 14. sinners in Zion—false professors of religion among the elect people ( :-). hypocrites—rather, "the profane"; "the abandoned" [HORSLEY]. who, c.—If Jehovah's wrath could thus consume such a host in one night, who could abide it, if continued for

Isaiah 4:3 — 3. left in Zion—equivalent to the "escaped of Israel" ( :-). shall be called—shall be (Isaiah 9:6). holy— (Isaiah 52:1; Isaiah 60:21; Revelation 21:27). written—in the book of life, antitypically (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 17:8). Primarily, in the register kept of Israel's families and tribes. living—not "blotted out" from the registry, as dead; but written there as among the "escaped of Israel" (Daniel 12:1; Ezekiel 13:9). To the elect

Isaiah 4:4 — 4. When—that is, After. washed— ( :-). filth—moral ( :-). daughters of Zion—same as in Isaiah 3:16. purged—purified by judgments; destroying the ungodly, correcting and refining the godly. blood— (Isaiah 3:16- :). spirit—Whatever God does in

Isaiah 40:22 — circle—applicable to the globular form of the earth, above which, and the vault of sky around it, He sits. For "upon" translate "above." as grasshoppers—or locusts in His sight (Numbers 13:33), as He looks down from on high (Psalms 33:13; Psalms 33:14; Psalms 113:4-6). curtain—referring to the awning which the Orientals draw over the open court in the center of their houses as a shelter in rain or hot weather.

Isaiah 42:9 — fulfilled, are here adduced as proof that they ought to trust in Him alone as God; namely, the predictions as to Israel's restoration from Babylon. new—namely, predictions as to Messiah, who is to bring all nations to the worship of Jehovah (Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 42:4; Isaiah 42:6). spring forth—The same image from plants just beginning to germinate occurs in Isaiah 43:19; Isaiah 58:8. Before there is the slightest indication to enable a sagacious observer to infer the coming event, God foretells

Isaiah 50:6 — 6. smiters—with scourges and with the open hand (Isaiah 52:14; Mark 14:65). Literally fulfilled (Matthew 27:26; Matthew 26:27; Luke 18:33). To "pluck the hair" is the highest insult that can be offered an Oriental (2 Samuel 10:4; Lamentations 3:30). "I gave" implies the voluntary nature of His sufferings; His

Isaiah 51:11 — exodus (Isaiah 11:11-16; Isaiah 27:12; Isaiah 27:13). singing—image from the custom of singing on a journey when a caravan is passing along the extended plains in the East. everlasting joy— (Isaiah 27:13- :). sorrow . . . flee away— (Revelation 21:4).

Isaiah 9:18 — 18-21. Third strophe. burneth—maketh consumption, not only spreading rapidly, but also consuming like fire: sin is its own punishment. briers . . . thorns—emblem of the wicked; especially those of low rank (Isaiah 27:4; 2 Samuel 23:6). forest—from the humble shrubbery the flame spreads to the vast forest; it reaches the high, as well as the low. mount up like . . . smoke—rather. "They (the thickets of the forest) shall lift themselves proudly aloft [the Hebrew