Bible Commentaries

Amos 1:6 — 13:19- :), they seized on all the cities and villages of the low country and south of Judah. to deliver them up to Edom—Judah's bitterest foe; as slaves (Jeremiah 13:19- :; compare Joel 3:1; Joel 3:3; Joel 3:6). GROTIUS refers it to the fact (Isaiah 16:4) that on Sennacherib's invasion of Judah, many fled for refuge to neighboring countries; the Philistines, instead of hospitably sheltering the refugees, sold them, as if captives in war, to their enemies, the Idumeans.

Micah 5:5 — 5. this man—in Hebrew simply "This." The One just mentioned; He and He alone. Emphatical for Messiah (compare :-). the peace—the fountainhead of peace between God and man, between Israel and Israel's justly offended God (Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 9:6; Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 2:17; Colossians 1:20), and, as the consequence, the fountain of "peace on earth," where heretofore all is strife (Micah 4:3; Hosea 2:18; Zechariah 9:10; Luke 2:14). the Assyrian—Being Israel's most powerful

Nahum 3:4 — 4. Because of the multitude of the whoredoms—This assigns the reason for Nineveh's destruction. of the well-favoured harlot—As Assyria was not a worshipper of the true God, "whoredoms" cannot mean, as in the case of Israel, apostasy to the worship of

Haggai 2:23 — 23. take thee—under My protection and to promote thee and thy people to honor ( :-). a signet— (Song of Solomon 8:6; Jeremiah 22:24). A ring with a seal on it; the legal representative of the owner; generally of precious stones and gold, c., and much valued. Being worn on the finger, it was an object of constant regard. In all which points of view the theocratic people, and their

Zechariah 11:12 — Messiah's ministry. He speaks as their "servant," which He was to them in order to fulfil the Father's will ( :-). if not, forbear—They withheld that which He sought as His only reward, their love; yet He will not force them, but leave His cause with God (Isaiah 49:4; Isaiah 49:5). Compare the type Jacob cheated of his wages by Laban, but leaving his cause in the hands of God (Genesis 31:41; Genesis 31:42). So . . . thirty pieces of silver—thirty shekels. They not only refused Him His due, but added insult to

Zechariah 11:8 — Jerusalem, when all authority within the city was at an end [HENDERSON]. loathed them—literally, "was straitened" as to them; instead of being enlarged towards them in love (2 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 6:12). The same Hebrew as in Numbers 21:4, Margin. No room was left by them for the grace of God, as His favors were rejected [CALVIN]. The mutual distaste that existed between the holy Messiah and the guilty Jews is implied.

Zechariah 3:4 — 4. those that stood before him—the ministering angels (compare the phrase in 1 Kings 10:8; Daniel 1:5). Take away the filthy garments—In Zechariah 3:9 it is "remove the iniquity of that land"; therefore Joshua represents the land. from him—literally, "from

Malachi 3:8 — paid by the Levites to the priests (Malachi 3:7- :): a second tenth paid by the people for the entertainment of the Levites, and their own families, at the tabernacle (Deuteronomy 12:18): another tithe every third year for the poor, c. (Deuteronomy 14:28 Deuteronomy 14:29). offerings—the first-fruits, not less than one-sixtieth part of the corn, wine, and oil (Deuteronomy 18:4; Nehemiah 13:10; Nehemiah 13:12). The priests had this perquisite also, the tenth of the tithes which were the Levites perquisite.

Matthew 12:4 — 4. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?—No example could be more apposite than this. The man after God's own heart, of whom

Matthew 12:40 — 40. For as Jonas was—"a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation" (Luke 11:30). For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly— (Luke 11:30- :). so shall the Son of man be three days and three

Acts 9:1 — disbelief, of sudden conversion at the bottom of this?) The word "slaughter" here points to cruelties not yet recorded, but the particulars of which are supplied by himself nearly thirty years afterwards: "And I persecuted this way unto the death" (Acts 22:4) "and when they were put to death, I gave my voice [vote] against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to [did my utmost to make them] blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange [foreign]

Romans 5:3 — 3, 4. we glory in tribulation also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience—Patience is the quiet endurance of what we cannot but wish removed, whether it be the withholding of promised good ( :-), or the continued experience of positive ill (as here). There

1 Corinthians 12:3 — 3. The negative and positive criteria of inspiration by the Spirit—the rejection or confession of Jesus as Lord [ALFORD] (1 John 4:2; 1 John 5:1). Paul gives a test of truth against the Gentiles; John, against the false prophets. by the Spirit—rather, as Greek, "IN the Spirit"; that being the power pervading him, and the element in which he speaks [ALFORD], (Matthew 16:17; John

1 Corinthians 15:3 — atonement is, in Paul's view, of primary importance. which I . . . received—from Christ Himself by special revelation (compare Acts 8:37- :). died for our sins—that is, to atone FOR them; for taking away our sins (Acts 8:37- :; compare Galatians 1:4): "gave Himself for our sins" (Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Titus 2:14). The "for" here does not, as in some passages, imply vicarious substitution, but "in behalf of" (Hebrews 5:3; 1 Peter 2:24). It does not, however, mean merely "on account of,"

1 Corinthians 9:15 — people. What to him was a duty, would be the opposite to one, for instance, to whom God had committed a family, without other means of support. I have used none of these things—none of these "powers" or rights which I might have used (1 Corinthians 9:4-6; 1 Corinthians 9:12). neither—rather, "Yet I have not written." so done unto me—literally, "in my case": as is done in the case of a soldier, a planter, a shepherd, a ploughman, and a sacrificing priest (1 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Corinthians 9:10;

2 Corinthians 1:20 — it ("Amen"). As "yea" is His word, so "Amen" is His oath, which makes our assurance of the fulfilment doubly sure. Compare "two immutable things (namely, His word and His oath) in which it was impossible for God to lie" (Hebrews 6:18; Revelation 3:14). The whole range of Old Testament and New Testament promises are secure in their fulfilment for us in Christ. unto the glory of God by us—Greek, "for glory unto God by us" (compare 2 Corinthians 4:15), that is, by our ministerial labors; by us His

2 Corinthians 3:2 — Corinthians 9:2- :). "Ye are known to be my converts by general knowledge: then ye are known more particularly by your reflecting my doctrine in your Christian life." The handwriting is first "known," then the Epistle is "read" [GROTIUS] (2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Corinthians 14:25). There is not so powerful a sermon in the world, as a consistent Christian life. The eye of the world takes in more than the ear. Christians' lives are the only religious books the world reads. IGNATIUS [Epistle to the Ephesians,

Galatians 2:7 — me—Greek, "I was entrusted with." gospel of the uncircumcision—that is, of the Gentiles, who were to be converted without circumcision being required. circumcision . . . unto Peter—Peter had originally opened the door to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48; Acts 15:7). But in the ultimate apportionment of the spheres of labor, the Jews were assigned to him (compare Acts 15:7- :). So Paul on the other hand wrote to the Hebrews (compare also Colossians 4:11), though his main work was among the Gentiles.

Galatians 4:12 — the Gospel among you, and when I made myself as you are, namely, living as a Gentile, not as a Jew. You at that time did me no wrong; "ye did not despise my temptation in the flesh" ( :-): nay, you "received me as an angel of God." Then in Galatians 4:16, he asks, "Have I then, since that time, become your enemy by telling you the truth?"

Galatians 5:24 — 24. The oldest manuscripts read, "They that are of Christ Jesus"; they that belong to Christ Jesus; being "led by (His) Spirit" ( :-). have crucified the flesh—They nailed it to the cross once for all when they became Christ's, on believing and being