Bible Commentaries

Song of Solomon 8:2 — 2. Her desire to bring Him into her home circle (John 1:41). who would instruct me—rather, "thou wouldest instruct me," namely, how I might best please thee (Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 11:3; Isaiah 50:4; Luke 12:12; John 14:26; John 16:13). spiced wine—seasoned with aromatic perfumes. Jesus Christ ought to have

Isaiah 29:21 — condemnations might be practiced with more impunity than on the rich; compare :-, "the meek . . . the poor." him that reproveth—rather, "pleadeth"; one who has a suit at issue. gate—the place of concourse in a city, where courts of justice were held (Ruth 4:11; Proverbs 31:23; Amos 5:10; Amos 5:12). just—one who has a just cause; or, Jesus Christ, "the Just One" [HORSLEY]. for a thing of naught—rather, "through falsehood," "by a decision that is null in justice" [BARNES]. Compare as to Christ, Proverbs

Isaiah 42:21 — 21. his righteousness—not His people's, but His own; Isaiah 42:24 shows that they had no righteousness (Isaiah 45:24; Isaiah 59:16). God is well pleased with His Son ("in whom My soul delighteth," Isaiah 42:1), "who fulfils all righteousness" (Isaiah 42:1- :) for them, and with them for His sake (compare Isaiah

Isaiah 44:8 — descendant of Abraham, in whose person "the ancient people" was first formally "appointed." The deliverance of the Jews, by Cyrus, is mentioned afterwards only as an earnest of that greater mercy [HORSLEY]. no God—Hebrew, tsur, "rock" (Deuteronomy 32:4); that is, a stronghold to take refuge in, and a solid foundation to build on.

Isaiah 66:4 — 4. delusions— ( :-), answering to "their own ways" ( :-; so Proverbs 1:31). However, the Hebrew means rather "vexations," "calamities," which also the parallelism to "fears" requires; "choose their calamities" means, "choose the calamities which they

Jeremiah 2:31 — darkness—literally, "darkness of Jehovah," the strongest Hebrew term for "darkness; the densest darkness"; compare "land of the shadow of death" (Jeremiah 2:6). We are lords—that is, We are our own masters. We will worship what gods we like (Psalms 12:4; Psalms 82:6). But it is better to translate from a different Hebrew root: "We ramble at large," without restraint pursuing our idolatrous lusts.

Jeremiah 2:34 — 34. Also—not only art thou polluted with idolatry, but also with the guilt of shedding innocent blood [MAURER]. ROSENMULLER not so well translates, "even in thy skirts," c. that is, there is no part of thee (not even thy skirts) that is not stained with innocent

Jeremiah 42:2 — 2. Jeremiah—He probably was one of the number carried off from Mizpah, and dwelt with Johanan (Jeremiah 41:16). Hence the expression is, "came near" (Jeremiah 41:16- :), not "sent." Let . . . supplication be accepted—literally, "fall" (see on Jeremiah 41:16- :; Jeremiah 37:20). pray for us— (Genesis 20:7; Isaiah 37:4; James 5:16). thy God— (James 5:16-

Ezekiel 26 overview — CHAPTER 26 :-. THE JUDGMENT ON TYRE THROUGH NEBUCHADNEZZAR (TWENTY-SIXTH THROUGH TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTERS). In the twenty-sixth chapter, Ezekiel sets forth:—(1) Tyre's sin; (2) its doom; (3) the instruments executing it; (4) the effects produced on other nations by her downfall. In the twenty-seventh chapter, a lamentation over the fall of such earthly splendor. In the twenty-eighth chapter, an elegy addressed to the king, on the humiliation of his sacrilegious pride.

Daniel 11:37 — 37. Neither . . . regard . . . the desire of women—(Compare Ezekiel 24:16; Ezekiel 24:18). The wife, as the desire of man's eyes, is the symbol of the tenderest relations (2 Samuel 1:26). Antiochus would set at naught even their entreaties that he should cease from his attack on Jehovah's worship [POLANUS]. MAURER refers

Daniel 6:1 — inscriptions at Persepolis, as Darheush, that is, "Lord-King," a name applied to many of the Medo-Persian kings in common. Three of that name occur: Darius Hystaspes, 521 B.C., in whose reign the decree was carried into effect for rebuilding the temple (Ezra 4:5; Haggai 1:1); Darius Codomanus, 336 B.C., whom Alexander overcame, called "the Persian" (Haggai 1:1- :), an expression used after the rule of Macedon was set up; and Darius Cyaxares II, between Astyages and Cyrus [AELigSCHYLUS, The Persians, 762,

Hosea 6:1 — repentance, and without which men would not seek, but hate and flee from God. Though our wound be severe, it is not past hope of recovery; there is room for grace, and a hope of pardon. He hath smitten us, but not so badly that He cannot heal us (Psalms 130:4).

Amos 5:5 — Gilgal, galoh, yigleh: "Gilgal (the place of rolling) shall rolling be rolled away." Beth-el shall come to naught—Beth-el (that is, the "house of God"), called because of its vain idols Beth-aven (that is, "the house of vanity," or "naught," Hosea 4:15; Hosea 10:5; Hosea 10:8), shall indeed "come to naught."

Micah 1:2 — God be witness against you—namely, that none of you can say, when the time of your punishment shall come, that you were not forewarned. The punishment denounced is stated in Micah 1:3, c. from his holy temple—that is, heaven (1 Kings 8:30 Psalms 11:4; Jonah 2:7; compare Jonah 2:7- :).

Habakkuk 3:10 — lifted . . . hands on high—namely, its billows lifted on high by the tempest. Personification. As men signify by voice or gesture of hand that they will do what they are commanded, so these parts of nature testified their obedience to God's will (Exodus 14:22; Joshua 3:16; Psalms 77:17; Psalms 77:18; Psalms 114:4).

Zephaniah 1:5 — heaven—Saba: whence, in contrast to Sabeanism, Jehovah is called Lord of Sabaoth. upon the housetops—which were flat (2 Kings 23:5; 2 Kings 23:6; 2 Kings 23:12; Jeremiah 19:13; Jeremiah 32:29). swear by the Lord—rather, "swear to JEHOVAH" (2 Chronicles 15:14); solemnly dedicating themselves to Him (compare Isaiah 48:1; Hosea 4:15). and—"and yet (with strange inconsistency, 1 Kings 18:21; Ezekiel 20:39; Matthew 6:24) swear by Malcham," that is, "their king" [MAURER]: the same as Molech (see on Matthew

Zechariah 8:19 — taken (Jeremiah 39:2; Jeremiah 52:6; Jeremiah 52:7). It was therefore made a fast day. fifth . . . seventh—(See on Zechariah 7:3; Zechariah 7:3- :). tenth—On the tenth month and tenth day, in the ninth year of Zedekiah, the siege began (Jeremiah 52:4). therefore love the truth—or, "only love." English Version is better. God's blessing covenanted to Israel is not made to depend on Israel's goodness: but Israel's goodness should follow as the consequence of God's gracious promises (Zechariah 8:16; Zechariah

Malachi 3:2 — 2. (Malachi 4:1; Revelation 6:16; Revelation 6:17). The Messiah would come, not, as they expected, to flatter the theocratic nation's prejudices, but to subject their principles to the fiery test of His heart-searching truth (Revelation 6:17- :), and to destroy Jerusalem

Matthew 1:18 — Holy Ghost—It was, of course, the fact only that was discovered; the explanation of the fact here given is the Evangelist's own. That the Holy Ghost is a living conscious Person is plainly implied here, and is elsewhere clearly taught (Acts 5:3; Acts 5:4, c.): and that, in the unity of the Godhead, He is distinct both from the Father and the Son, is taught with equal distinctness (Matthew 28:19 2 Corinthians 13:14). On the miraculous conception of our Lord, see on 2 Corinthians 13:14- :.

Luke 15:22 — rekindled the filial, and swallowed up all servile feeling [TRENCH] (on the word "Father," see on :-), but because the father's heart is made to appear too full to listen, at that moment, to more in this strain. the best robe—Compare Zechariah 3:4 Zechariah 3:5, "Take away the filthy garments from him; behold I have clothed thee with change of raiment; and they clothed him with garments" (Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 3:18). a ring—(Compare Genesis 41:42; James 2:2). shoes—Slaves went barefoot.