Bible Commentaries

Hosea 14:3 — 3. Three besetting sins of Israel are here renounced, trust in Assyria, application to Egypt for its cavalry (forbidden, Deuteronomy 17:16; compare Hosea 7:11; Hosea 11:5; Hosea 12:1; 2 Kings 17:4; Psalms 33:17; Isaiah 30:2; Isaiah 30:16; Isaiah 31:1), and idolatry. fatherless—descriptive of the destitute state of Israel, when severed from God, their true Father. We shall henceforth trust in none but Thee, the only Father of the fatherless,

Hosea 5:12 — 12. as a moth—consuming a garment (Job 13:28; Psalms 39:11; Isaiah 50:9). Judah . . . rottenness—Ephraim, or the ten tribes, are as a garment eaten by the moth; Judah as the body itself consumed by rottenness (Proverbs 12:4). Perhaps alluding to the superiority of the latter in having the house of David, and the temple, the religious center of the nation [GROTIUS]. As in Hosea 5:13; Hosea 5:14, the violence of the calamity is prefigured by the "wound" which "a lion" inflicts,

Amos 1:2 — mountain promontory north of Israel, in Asher, abounding in rich pastures, olives, and vines. The name is the symbol of fertility. When Carmel itself "withers," how utter the desolation! (Song of Solomon 7:5; Isaiah 33:9; Isaiah 35:2; Jeremiah 50:19; Nahum 1:4).

Amos 6:8 — 8. the excellency of Jacob— (Psalms 47:4). The sanctuary which was the great glory of the covenant-people [VATABLUS], (Ezekiel 24:21). The priesthood, and kingdom, and dignity, conferred on them by God. These, saith God, are of no account in My eyes towards averting punishment [CALVIN]. hate

Habakkuk 2:9 — his family, to which it is destined to be fatal. The very same "evil covetousness" that was the cause of Jehoiakim's being given up to the Chaldean oppressor ( :-) shall be the cause of the Chaldean's own destruction. set his nest on high— (Numbers 24:21; Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 1:4). The image is from an eagle (Job 39:27). The royal citadel is meant. The Chaldean built high towers, like the Babel founders, to "be delivered from the power of evil" (Job 39:27- :).

Zephaniah 1:12 — ungodly is hardening: they become stupidly secure (compare Psalms 55:19; Amos 6:1). Lord will not do good . . . evil—They deny that God regards human affairs, or renders good to the good; or evil to the evil, but that all things go haphazard (Psalms 10:4; Malachi 2:17).

Zechariah 6:8 — 8. north . . . quieted . . . my spirit—that is, caused My anger to rest ( :-, Margin; Ecclesiastes 10:4; Ezekiel 5:13; Ezekiel 16:42). Babylon alone of the four great world kingdoms had in Zechariah's time been finally punished; therefore, in its case alone does God now say His anger is satisfied; the others had as yet to expiate their sin; the fourth

Matthew 13:52 — 52. Then said he unto them, Therefore—or as we should say, "Well, then." every scribe—or Christian teacher: here so called from that well-known class among the Jews. (See Matthew 23:34). which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven—himself taught in the mysteries of the Gospel which he has to teach to others. is like unto a man that is an householder which bringeth forth—"turneth" or "dealeth out." out of his treasure—his store

Luke 10:19 — by any means hurt you," show that the glorious power of faith to "overcome the world" and "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one," by the communication and maintenance of which to His people He makes them innocuous, is what is meant (1 John 5:4; Ephesians 6:16).

John 12:34 — 34. We have heard out of the law—the scriptures of the Old Testament (referring to such places as Psalms 89:28; Psalms 89:29; Psalms 110:4; Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:13; Daniel 7:14). that Christ—the Christ "endureth for ever." and how sayest thou, The

John 14:4 — 4-7. whither I go ye know . . . Thomas saith, Lord, we know not whither thou guest . . . Jesus saith, I am the way, c.—By saying this, He meant rather to draw out their inquiries and reply to them. Christ is "THE WAY" to the Father—"no man cometh unto

John 16:33 — deadly opposition to those who "are not of the world, but chosen out of the world." So that the "peace" promised was far from an unruffled one. I have overcome the world—not only before you, but for you, that ye may be able to do the same (1 John 5:4; 1 John 5:5).

Acts 12:4 — 4. delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers—that is, to four parties of four each, corresponding to the four Roman watches; two watching in prison and two at the gates, and each party being on duty for the space of one watch. intending after Easter—rather,

Acts 16:4 — 4, 5. And as they went through the cities, they delivered . . . the decrees . . . And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily—not the churches, but the number of their members, by this visit and the written evidence

Acts 19:4 — 4. Then said Paul, John . . . baptized with the baptism of repentance—water unto repentance. saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him—that is, who should baptize with the Holy Ghost. The point of contrast is

Acts 9:4 — 4-6. he fell to the earth—and his companions with him ( :-), who "saw the light" ( :-). and heard a voice saying unto him—"in the Hebrew tongue" ( :-). Saul, Saul—a reduplication full of tenderness [DE WETTE]. Though his name was soon changed into

1 Corinthians 10:6 — 6. were—Greek, "came to pass as." our examples—samples to us of what will befall us, if we also with all our privileges walk carelessly. lust—the fountain of all the four other offenses enumerated, and therefore put first (James 1:14; James 1:15; compare Psalms 106:14). A particular case of lust was that after flesh, when they pined for the fish, leeks, c., of Egypt, which they had left (Numbers 11:4 Numbers 11:33; Numbers 11:34). These are included in the "evil things," not that

1 Corinthians 9:12 — hindrance to its progress by giving a handle for the imputation of self-seeking, if we received support from our flock. The less of incumbrance and expense caused to the Church, and the more of work done, the better for the cause of the Gospel (2 Timothy 2:4).

2 Corinthians 4:11 — preservation amidst so many exposures to "death," by which Stephen and James were cut off, as a standing miracle (2 Corinthians 5:15- :). delivered unto—not by chance; by the ordering of Providence, who shows "the excellency of His power" (2 Corinthians 4:7), in delivering unto DEATH His living saints, that He may manifest LIFE also in their dying flesh. "Flesh," the very element of decay (not merely their "body"), is by Him made to manifest life.

2 Corinthians 5:4 — 4. For—resuming :-. being burdened: not for that—rather, "in that we desire not to have ourselves unclothed (of our present body), but clothed upon (with our heavenly body). that mortality, c.—rather, "that what is mortal (our mortal part) may be swallowed