Bible Commentaries

Ezra 4:4 — 4, 5. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, c.—Exasperated by this repulse, the Samaritans endeavored by every means to molest the workmen as well as obstruct the progress of the building and, though they could not alter

Ezra 9:5 — 5-15. I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God—The burden of his prayer, which was dictated by a deep sense of the emergency, was that he was overwhelmed at the flagrant enormity of this sin, and the bold impiety of continuing

Job 33:8 — 8. thy words— (Job 10:7; Job 16:17; Job 23:11; Job 23:12; Job 27:5; Job 27:6; Job 29:14). In Job 9:30; Job 13:23, Job had acknowledged sin; but the general spirit of his words was to maintain himself to be "clean," and to charge God with injustice. He went too far on the opposite side in opposing the friends' false

Song of Solomon 4:8 — 8. Invitation to her to leave the border mountains (the highest worldly elevation) between the hostile lands north of Palestine and the Promised Land (Psalms 45:10; Philippians 3:13). Amana—south of Anti-Libanus; the river Abana, or Amana, was near Damascus (Philippians 3:13- :). Shenir—The whole mountain was called Hermon; the part held by the Sidonians was called Sirion; the part held by the Amorites,

Song of Solomon 8:8 — Gentile Church ( :-). "We," that is, the Hebrew Church, which heretofore admitted Gentiles to communion, only by becoming Judaic proselytes. Now first idolatrous Gentiles are admitted directly ( :-). Generally, the saint's anxiety for other souls (Mark 5:19; John 4:28; John 4:29). no breasts—neither faith nor love as yet (see on John 4:29- :), which "come by hearing" of Him who first loved us. Not yet fit to be His bride, and mother of a spiritual offspring. what shall we do—the chief question in

Isaiah 14:9 — thee—that is, "at thee"; towards thee; explained by "to meet thee at thy coming" [MAURER]. chief ones—literally, "goats"; so rams, leaders of the flock; princes ( :-). The idea of wickedness on a gigantic scale is included (Ezekiel 34:17; Matthew 25:32; Matthew 25:33). MAGEE derives "Rephaim" (English Version, "the dead") from a Hebrew root, "to resolve into first elements"; so "the deceased" (Matthew 25:33- :) "ghosts" (Matthew 25:33- :). These being magnified by the imagination of the living into

Isaiah 18:4 — . . consider—I will calmly look on and not interpose, while all seems to promise success to the enemy; when figuratively, "the sun's heat" and "the night dews" ripen their "harvest"; but "before" it reaches its maturity I will destroy it (Isaiah 18:5; Ecclesiastes 8:11; Ecclesiastes 8:12). like a clear heat—rather, "at the time of the clear (serene) heat" [MAURER]. upon herbs—answering to "harvest" in the parallel clause. MAURER translates, "in the sunlight" (Job 31:26; Job 37:21; Habakkuk 3:4). like

Isaiah 19:11 — he was admitted into the sacred order, and was called a priest. The priests are, therefore, meant by the expression, "son of the wise, and of ancient kings"; this was their favorite boast (HERODOTUS, 2.141; compare Amos 7:14; Acts 23:6; Philippians 3:5). "Pharaoh" was the common name of all the kings: Sethos, probably, is here meant.

Isaiah 28:15 — 15. said—virtually, in your conduct, if not in words. covenant—There may be a tacit reference to their confidence in their "covenant" with the Assyrians in the early part of Hezekiah's prosperous reign, before he ceased to pay tribute to them, as if

Isaiah 30:33 — burn, but buried their dead, but the heathen Assyrians are to be burnt as a mark of ignominy. In the latter sense Tophet is the receptacle "prepared for the devil (antitype to the king, Jeremiah 7:31- :) and his angels," and unbelieving men (Matthew 5:22; Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43; Mark 9:44).

Isaiah 42:10 — for by a new manifestation of God's grace, to express which no hymn for former mercies would be appropriate. The new song shall be sung when the Lord shall reign in Jerusalem, and all "nations shall flow unto it" (Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 26:1; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3). ye that go down to the sea—whose conversion will be the means of diffusing the Gospel to distant lands. all . . . therein—all the living creatures that fill the sea (Revelation 14:3- :) [MAURER]. Or, all sailors and voyagers

Isaiah 43:23 — sacrifices—offered any way; whereas the Hebrew for "holocaust," or "burnt offering," denotes that which ascends as an offering consumed by fire. I have not caused thee to serve—that is, to render the the service of a slave (Matthew 11:30; Romans 8:15; 1 John 4:18; 1 John 5:3). offering—bloodless (Leviticus 2:1; Leviticus 2:2). wearied—antithetical to Isaiah 43:22, "Thou hast been weary of Me." Though God in the law required such offerings, yet not so as to "weary" the worshipper, or to exact them

Isaiah 49:5 — 5. The reason why He was confident that His work would be accepted and rewarded, namely, because He is "glorious in the eyes of Jehovah," c. to bring Jacob again to him— (Matthew 15:24 Acts 3:26). Though Israel be not gathered—metaphor from a scattered

Isaiah 51:16 — Messiah, its ideal and representative Head, through whom the elect remnant is to be restored. put my words in thy mouth—true of Israel, the depository of true religion, but fully realized only in Israel's Head and antitype, Messiah (Isaiah 49:2; Isaiah 50:4; Isaiah 50:5; Isaiah 59:21; Deuteronomy 18:18; John 3:34). covered . . . in . . . shadow of . . . hand—protected thee (see on John 3:34- :). plant—rather, "fix" as a tabernacle; so it ought to be rendered (John 3:34- :). The "new creation," now

Isaiah 57:11 — remembered Me." laid it to . . . heart—rather, "nor hast Me at heart"; hast no regard for Me; and that, because I have been long silent and have not punished thee. Literally, "Have I not held My peace, and that for long? and so thou fearest Me not" (Psalms 50:21; Ecclesiastes 8:11). It would be better openly to renounce God, than to "flatter Him" with lies of false professions (Psalms 78:36) [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU]. However, Isaiah 51:12; Isaiah 51:13 favors English Version of the whole verse; God's "silent" long-suffering,

Isaiah 65:3 — 3. continually—answering to "all the day" (Isaiah 65:2). God was continually inviting them, and they continually offending Him (Deuteronomy 32:21). to my face—They made no attempt to hide their sin (Isaiah 3:9). Compare "before Me" (Isaiah 3:9- :). in gardens—(See on Isaiah 3:9- :; Isaiah 66:17; Leviticus

Jeremiah 1:13 — under"; so boiling by reason of the flame under it kept brisk by blowing. An Oriental symbol of a raging war. toward—rather, "from the north." Literally, "from the face of the region situated towards the north" (compare Jeremiah 1:14; Jeremiah 1:15) [MAURER]. The pot in the north rested on one side, its mouth being about to pour forth its contents southwards, namely, on Judea. Babylon, though east of Judea, was regarded by the Hebrews as north, because they appropriated the term "east" to Arabia-Deserta,

Jeremiah 2:3 — 3. holiness unto the Lord—that is, was consecrated to the service of Jehovah (Exodus 19:5; Exodus 19:6). They thus answered to the motto on their high priest's breastplate, "Holiness to the Lord" (Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 14:21). first-fruits of his increase—that is, of Jehovah's produce. As the first-fruits of the

Jeremiah 21:12 — sense is mainly proverbial, for "with promptness" (Psalms 90:14; Psalms 143:8). MAURER translates, "every morning." lest my fury . . . like fire—Already it was kindled, and the decree of God gone forth against the city (Jeremiah 21:4; Jeremiah 21:5), but the king and his house may yet be preserved by repentance and reformation. God urges to righteousness, not as if they can thereby escape punishment wholly, but as the condition of a mitigation of it.

Jeremiah 6:29 — "snort," referring to the sound of the bellows blown hard. lead—employed to separate the baser metal from the silver, as quicksilver is now used. In other words, the utmost pains have been used to purify Israel in the furnace of affliction, but in vain (Jeremiah 5:3; 1 Peter 1:7). consumed of the fire—In the Chetib, or Hebrew text, the "consumed" is supplied out of the previous "burned." Translating as ROSENMULLER, "pant," this will be inadmissible; and the Keri (Hebrew Margin) division of the Hebrew words