Bible Commentaries

Job 28:4 — 4. Three hardships in mining: 1. "A stream (flood) breaks out at the side of the stranger"; namely, the miner, a strange newcomer into places heretofore unexplored; his surprise at the sudden stream breaking out beside him is expressed (English Version,

Job 31:26 — Sabaoth." The sun, moon, and stars, the brightest objects in nature, and seen everywhere, were supposed to be visible representatives of the invisible God. They had no temples, but were worshipped on high places and roofs of houses (Ezekiel 8:16 Deuteronomy 4:19; 2 Kings 23:5; 2 Kings 23:11). The Hebrew here for "sun" is light. Probably light was worshipped as the emanation from God, before its embodiments, the sun, c. This worship prevailed in Chaldea wherefore Job's exemption from the idolatry of his neighbors

Psalms 106:19 — 19-23. From indirect setting God at naught, they pass to direct. made—though prohibited in Exodus 20:4; Exodus 20:5 to make a likeness, even of the true God. calf—called so in contempt. They would have made an ox or bull, but their idol turned out but a calf; an imitation of the divine symbols, the cherubim; or of the sacred bull of Egyptian idolatry.

Psalms 2 overview — PSALM 2 :-. The number and authorship of this Psalm are stated (Acts 4:25; Acts 13:33). Though the warlike events of David's reign may have suggested its imagery, the scenes depicted and the subjects presented can only find a fulfilment in the history and character of Jesus Christ, to which, as above cited and in Hebrews

Song of Solomon 8:3 — 3, 4. The "left and right hand," c., occurred only once actually ( :-), and here optatively. Only at His first manifestation did the Church palpably embrace Him at His second coming there shall be again sensible communion with Him. The rest in :-, which

Isaiah 28:1 — 1. crown of pride—Hebrew for "proud crown of the drunkards," c. [HORSLEY], namely, Samaria, the capital of Ephraim, or Israel. "Drunkards," literally (Isaiah 28:7 Isaiah 28:8; Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 5:22; Amos 4:1; Amos 6:1-6) and metaphorically, like drunkards, rushing on to their own destruction. beauty . . . flower—"whose glorious beauty or ornament is a fading flower." Carrying on the image of "drunkards"; it was the custom at feasts to wreathe the brow

Isaiah 63:16 — 16. thou . . . father—of Israel, by right not merely of creation, but also of electing adoption (Isaiah 64:8; Deuteronomy 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10). though Abraham . . . Israel—It had been the besetting temptation of the Jews to rest on the mere privilege of their descent from faithful Abraham and Jacob (Matthew 3:9; John 8:39; John 4:12); now at last

Isaiah 7:20 — 72:8- :) [G. V. SMITH]. GESENIUS translates, "With a razor hired in the parts beyond the river." head . . . feet—the whole body, including the most honored parts. To cut the "beard" is the greatest indignity to an Easterner (Isaiah 50:6; 2 Samuel 10:4; 2 Samuel 10:5; Ezekiel 5:1). Ezekiel 5:1- :. THE COMING DESOLATE STATE OF THE LAND OWING TO THE ASSYRIANS AND EGYPTIANS.

Isaiah 8:14 — 14. sanctuary—inviolable asylum, like the altar of the temple (1 Kings 1:50; 1 Kings 2:28; Ezekiel 11:16; compare Proverbs 18:10); namely, to those who fear and trust in Him. but . . . offence—that is, a rock over which they should fall to their hurt;

Jeremiah 21 overview — CHAPTER 21 :-. ZEDEKIAH CONSULTS JEREMIAH WHAT IS TO BE THE EVENT OF THE WAR: GOD'S ANSWER. Written probably when, after having repulsed the Egyptians who brought succors to the Jews (Jeremiah 37:5-8; 2 Kings 24:7), the Chaldees were a second time advancing against Jerusalem, but were not yet closely besieging it (Jeremiah 21:4; Jeremiah 21:13) [ROSENMULLER]. This chapter probably ought to be placed between the thirty-seventh and thirty-eight chapters; since

Jeremiah 39:3 — it was into the latter (the north side) that the Chaldeans forced an entry and took up their position opposite the gate of the "middle" wall, between the lower and upper city. Zedekiah fled in the opposite, that is, the south direction (Jeremiah 39:4). Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo—proper names formed from those of the idols, Nergal and Nebo (2 Kings 17:30; Isaiah 46:1). Rab-saris—meaning "chief of the eunuchs." Rab-mag—chief of the magi; brought with the expedition in order that its issue might

Jeremiah 51:1 — 1. in the midst of them that rise . . . against me—literally, "in the heart" of them. Compare Psalms 46:2, "the midst of the sea," Margin; Psalms 46:2- :, "the heart of the seas"; Margin; Psalms 46:2- :. In the center of the Chaldeans. "Against Me," because they persecute My people. The cabalistic mode of interpreting Hebrew words (by taking the letters

Ezekiel 1:4 — 4. whirlwind—emblematic of God's judgments (Jeremiah 23:19; Jeremiah 25:32). out of the north—that is, from Chaldea, whose hostile forces would invade Judea from a northerly direction. The prophet conceives himself in the temple. fire infolding itself—laying hold

Ezekiel 14:6 — proselytes in the land). As ye have been the advisers of others (see :-, "the stranger that sojourneth in Israel") to idolatry, so bestow at least as much pains in turning them to the truth; the surest proof of repentance. But the parallelism to Ezekiel 14:3; Ezekiel 14:4 favors English Version. Their sin was twofold: (1) "In their heart" or inner man; (2) "Put before their face," that is, exhibited outwardly. So their repentance is generally expressed by "repent," and is then divided into: (1) "Turn yourselves

Ezekiel 23:4 — 4. Aholah—that is, "Her tent" (put for worship, as the first worship of God in Israel was in a tent or tabernacle), as contrasted with Aholibah, that is, "My tent in her." The Beth-el worship of Samaria was of her own devising, not of God's appointment;

Ezekiel 25:3 — of the insolent exultation of Ammon over Jerusalem. They triumphed especially over the fall of the "sanctuary," as the triumph of heathenism over the rival claims of Jehovah. In Jehoshaphat's time, when the eighty-third Psalm was written (Psalms 83:4; Psalms 83:7; Psalms 83:8; Psalms 83:12, "Ammon . . . holpen the children of Lot," who were, therefore, the leaders of the unholy conspiracy, "Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession"), we see the same profane spirit. Now at last their

Ezekiel 35:10 — 10. So far from being allowed to enter on Israel's vacated inheritance, as Edom hoped (Ezekiel 36:5; Psalms 83:4; Psalms 83:12; Obadiah 1:13), it shall be that he shall be deprived of his own; and whereas Israel's humiliation was temporary, Edom's shall be perpetual. Lord was there— (Ezekiel 48:35; Psalms 48:1; Psalms 48:3; Psalms 132:13; Psalms 132:14). Jehovah

Ezekiel 5:1 — than the Egyptian afflictions foreshadowed in the former, for their guilt was greater than that of their forefathers. thine head—as representative of the Jews. The whole hair being shaven off was significant of severe and humiliating (2 Samuel 10:4; 2 Samuel 10:5) treatment. Especially in the case of a priest; for priests (2 Samuel 10:5- :) were forbidden "to make baldness on their head," their hair being the token of consecration; hereby it was intimated that the ceremonial must give place to

Hosea 4:17 — "sorrows," "pains," implying the pain which idolatry brings on its votaries. let him alone—Leave him to himself. Let him reap the fruits of his own perverse choice; his case is desperate; say nothing to him (compare 1 Corinthians 6:17- :). Here Hosea 4:15 shows the address is to Judah, to avoid the contagion of Israel's bad example. He is bent on his own ruin; leave him to his fate, lest, instead of saving him, thou fall thyself (Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 50:8; Jeremiah 51:6; Jeremiah 51:45; 2 Corinthians

Hosea 6:2 — Isaiah 17:6; Luke 13:32; Luke 13:33); antitypically the language is so framed as to refer in its full accuracy only to Messiah, the ideal Israel (Luke 13:33- :; compare Matthew 2:15; Hosea 11:1), raised on the third day (John 2:19; 1 Corinthians 15:4; compare Isaiah 53:10). "He shall prolong His days." Compare the similar use of Israel's political resurrection as the type of the general resurrection of which "Christ is the first-fruits" (Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Daniel 12:2). live in his