Bible Commentaries

Jeremiah 12 overview — THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER. He ventures to expostulate with Jehovah as to the prosperity of the wicked, who had plotted against his life (Jeremiah 12:1-4); in reply he is told that he will have worse to endure, and that from his own relatives (Jeremiah 12:5; Jeremiah 12:6). The heaviest judgments, however, would be inflicted on the faithless people (Jeremiah 12:6- :); and then on the nations co-operating with the Chaldeans against Judah, with, however, a promise of mercy on repentance (Jeremiah 12:6- :).

Jeremiah 12:9 — neighboring nations, birds of prey like herself (for she had sinfully assimilated herself to them), were ready to pounce upon her. assemble . . . beasts of . . . field—The Chaldeans are told to gather the surrounding heathen peoples as allies against Judah (Isaiah 56:9; Ezekiel 34:5).

Jeremiah 25:10 — land shall be so desolated that even in the houses left standing there shall be no inhabitant; a terrible stillness shall prevail; no sound of the hand-mill (two circular stones, one above the other, for grinding corn, worked by two women, Exodus 11:5; Matthew 24:41; in daily use in every house, and therefore forbidden to be taken in pledge, Matthew 24:41- :); no night-light, so universal in the East that the poorest house has it, burning all night. candle—lamp (Job 21:17; Job 18:6).

Jeremiah 30:5 — 5. We have heard . . . trembling—God introduces the Jews speaking that which they will be reduced to at last in spite of their stubbornness. Threat and promise are combined: the former briefly; namely, the misery of the Jews in the Babylonian captivity

Jeremiah 47:5 — 5. Baldness . . . cut thyself—Palestine is represented as a female who has torn off her hair and cut her flesh, the heathenish ( :-) token of mourning ( :-). their valley—the long strip of low plain occupied by the Philistines along the Mediterranean,

Ezekiel 11:6 — (Ezekiel 7:24- :), and eat it by unrighteous oppression; therefore God will make it a caldron in a different sense, one not wherein they may be safe in their guilt, but "out of the midst of" which they shall be "brought forth" (Jeremiah 34:4; Jeremiah 34:5).

Ezekiel 14:4 — "I will answer," literally, reflexively, "I will Myself (or for Myself) answer him." according to . . . idols—thus, "answering a fool according to his folly"; making the sinner's sin his punishment; retributive justice (Proverbs 1:31; Proverbs 26:5).

Ezekiel 26:14 — 14. He concludes in nearly the same words as he began (Ezekiel 26:4; Ezekiel 26:5). built no more—fulfilled as to the mainland Tyre, under Nebuchadnezzar. The insular Tyre recovered partly, after seventy years (Isaiah 23:17; Isaiah 23:18), but again suffered under Alexander, then under Antigonus, then under the Saracens at the beginning

Daniel 6:9 — business as a ruler of the empire, he finds time to pray thrice a day. Daniel's three companions ( :-), are not alluded to here, nor any other Jew who conscientiously may have disregarded the edict, as the conspirators aimed at Daniel alone (Daniel 6:5).

Hosea 1:7 — is only incidentally mentioned to form a contrast to Israel. by the Lord their God—more emphatic than "by Myself"; by that Jehovah (Me) whom they worship as their God, whereas ye despise Him. not . . . by bow—on which ye Israelites rely (Hosea 1:5, "the bow of Israel"); Jeroboam II was famous as a warrior (2 Kings 14:25). Yet it was not by their warlike power Jehovah would save Judah (1 Samuel 17:47; Psalms 20:7). The deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib (Psalms 20:7- :), and the restoration

Hosea 13:6 — 6. Image from cattle, waxing wanton in abundant pasture (compare Hosea 2:5; Hosea 2:8; Deuteronomy 32:13-15). In proportion as I fed them to the full, they were so satiated that "their heart was exalted"; a sad contrast to the time when, by God's blessing, Ephraim truly "exalted himself in Israel" (Hosea 13:1). therefore

Hosea 5:5 — 5. the pride of Israel—wherewith they reject the warnings of God's prophets ( :-), and prefer their idols to God (Hosea 7:10; Jeremiah 13:17). testify to his face—openly to his face he shall be convicted of the pride which is so palpable in him. Or,

Joel 1:5 — 5. Awake—out of your ordinary state of drunken stupor, to realize the cutting off from you of your favorite drink. Even the drunkards (from a Hebrew root, "any strong drink") shall be forced to "howl," though usually laughing in the midst of the greatest

Amos 1:8 — subdued by David and it, as well as Ashdod, was taken by Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6). Gath perhaps had lost its position as one of the five primary cities before Amos uttered this prophecy, whence arose his omission of it. So Zephaniah 2:4; Zephaniah 2:5. Compare Jeremiah 47:4; Ezekiel 25:16. Subsequently to the subjugation of the Philistines by Uzziah, and then by Hezekiah, they were reduced by Psammetichus of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar, the Persians, Alexander, and lastly the Asmoneans.

Micah 2:11 — the soul, and unsubstantial as the wind) and falsehood, do lie, saying (that which ye like to hear), I will prophesy," c., even such a one, however false his prophecies, since he flatters your wishes, shall be your prophet (compare Micah 2:6 Jeremiah 5:31). prophesy . . . of wine—that is, of an abundant supply of wine.

Zechariah 8:7 — countries west of Jerusalem. The dispersion under Nebuchadnezzar was only to the east, namely, to Babylonia. The restoration, including a spiritual return to God ( :-), here foretold, must therefore be still future (Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 43:5; Isaiah 43:6; Ezekiel 37:21; Amos 9:14; Amos 9:15; also Zechariah 13:9; Jeremiah 30:22; Jeremiah 31:1; Jeremiah 31:33).

Matthew 23:13 — 13. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men—Here they are charged with shutting heaven against men: in Luke 11:52 they are charged with what was worse, taking away the key—"the key of knowledge"—which means, not the key to open knowledge, but knowledge as the only key to open heaven. A right knowledge of God's revealed word is eternal life, as our Lord says (John

Matthew 27:5 — 5. And he cast down the pieces of silver—The sarcastic, diabolical reply which he had got, in place of the sympathy which perhaps he expected, would deepen his remorse into an agony. in the temple—the temple proper, commonly called "the sanctuary,"

Matthew 6:19 — 19. Lay not up for ourselves treasures upon earth—hoard not. where moth—a "clothes-moth." Eastern treasures, consisting partly in costly dresses stored up ( :-), were liable to be consumed by moths (Job 13:28; Isaiah 50:9; Isaiah 51:8). In James 5:2 there is an evident reference to our Lord's words here. and rust—any "eating into" or "consuming"; here, probably, "wear and tear." doth corrupt—cause to disappear. By this reference to moth and rust our Lord would

Mark 6:36 — 36. Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat—John tells us (John 6:5; John 6:6) that "Jesus said to Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? (And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do)." The subject may have been introduced by some remark of the disciples; but the precise order