Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 12:13 — 13-16. Howbeit there were not made . . . bowls, c.—When the repairs of the temple had been completed, the surplus was appropriated to the purchase of the temple furniture. The integrity of the overseers of the work being undoubted, no account was exacted of the way in which they applied the money given to them, while other moneys levied at the temple were left to the disposal of the priests as the law directed (Leviticus 5:16 Numbers 5:8).

Ecclesiastes 5:18 — 18. Returns to the sentiment (Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:13; Ecclesiastes 3:22); translate: "Behold the good which I have seen, and which is becoming" (in a man). which God giveth—namely, both the good of his labor and his life. his portion—legitimately. It is God's gift that makes it so when regarded as such. Such a one will use, not abuse, earthly things (Ecclesiastes 3:22- :). Opposed to the anxious life of the covetous (Ecclesiastes 5:10; Ecclesiastes 5:17).

Ecclesiastes 5:19 — 19. As :- refers to the "laboring" man ( :-), so Ecclesiastes 5:19 to the "rich" man, who gets wealth not by "oppression" (Ecclesiastes 5:8), but by "God's gift." He is distinguished also from the "rich" man (Ecclesiastes 6:2) in having received by God's gift not only "wealth," but also "power to eat thereof," which that one has not. to take his portion—limits him to the lawful use of wealth, not keeping back from God His portion while enjoying his own.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 — 2. Proving that it is not a sensual enjoyment of earthly goods which is meant in Ecclesiastes 3:13; Ecclesiastes 5:18. A thankful use of these is right, but frequent feasting Solomon had found dangerous to piety in his own case. So Job's fear (Ecclesiastes 1:4; Ecclesiastes 1:5). The house of feasting often shuts out thoughts of God and eternity. The sight of the dead in the "house of mourning" causes "the living" to think of their own "end."

Ecclesiastes 7:26 — 26. "I find" that, of all my sinful follies, none has been so ruinous a snare in seducing me from God as idolatrous women (1 Kings 11:3; 1 Kings 11:4; Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 5:4; Proverbs 22:14). As "God's favor is better than life," she who seduces from God is "more bitter than death." whoso pleaseth God—as Joseph (Genesis 39:2; Genesis 39:3; Genesis 39:9). It is God's grace alone that keeps any from falling.

Isaiah 65:5 — 5. (Matthew 9:11; Luke 5:30; Luke 18:11; Judges 1:19). Applicable to the hypocritical self-justifiers of our Lord's time. smoke—alluding to the smoke of their self-righteous sacrifices; the fire of God's wrath was kindled at the sight, and exhibited itself in the smoke that breathed forth from His nostrils; in Hebrew the nose is the seat of anger; and the nostrils distended in wrath, as it were, breathe forth smoke [ROSENMULLER] (Psalms 18:8).

Jeremiah 11:14 — 14. There is a climax of guilt which admits of no further intercessory prayer ( :-, in the Chaldee version, "leave off praying"; Jeremiah 7:16; 1 Samuel 16:1; 1 Samuel 15:35; 1 John 5:16). Our mind should be at one with God in all that He is doing, even in the rejection of the reprobate. for their trouble—on account of their trouble. Other manuscripts read, "in the time of their trouble;" a gloss from 1 John 5:16- :.

Jeremiah 23:20 — 20. in . . . latter days—that is, "the year of their visitation" ( :-). Primarily the meaning is: the Jews will not "consider" now God's warnings ( :-); but when the prophecies shall be fulfilled in their Babylonish exile, they will consider and see, by bitter experience, their sinful folly. The ultimate scope of the prophecy is: the Jews, in their final dispersion, shall at last "consider" their sin and turn to Messiah "perfectly" (Hosea 3:5; Zechariah 12:5; Zechariah 12:10-14; Luke 13:35).

Lamentations 2:6 — 6. tabernacle—rather, "He hath violently taken away His hedge (the hedge of the place sacred to Him, Psalms 80:12; Psalms 89:40; Isaiah 5:5), as that of a garden" [MAURER]. CALVIN supports English Version, "His tabernacle (that is, temple) as (one would take away the temporary cottage or booth) of a garden." Isaiah 1:8 accords with this (Job 27:18). places of . . . assembly—the temple and synagogues (Psalms 74:7; Psalms 74:8). solemn feasts— (Psalms 74:8- :). Zain.

Hosea 13:12 — 12. bound up . . . hid—Treasures, meant to be kept, are bound up and hidden; that is, do not flatter yourselves, because of the delay, that I have forgotten your sin. Nay (Hosea 9:9), Ephraim's iniquity is kept as it were safely sealed up, until the due time comes for bringing it forth for punishment (Deuteronomy 32:34; Job 14:17; Job 21:19; compare Romans 2:5). Opposed to "blotting out the handwriting against" the sinner (Romans 2:5- :).

Hosea 5:9 — 9, 10. Israel is referred to in Hosea 5:9, Judah in Hosea 5:9- :. the day of rebuke—the day when I shall chastise him. among the tribes of Israel have I made known—proving that the scene of Hosea's labor was among the ten tribes. that which shall surely be—namely, the coming judgment here foretold. It is no longer a conditional decree, leaving a hope of pardon on repentance; it is absolute, for Ephraim is hopelessly impenitent.

Amos 6:5 — 5. chant—literally, "mark distinct sounds and tones." viol—the lyre, or lute. invent . . . instruments . . . like David—They fancy they equal David in musical skill (1 Chronicles 23:5; Nehemiah 12:36). They defend their luxurious passion for music by his example: forgetting that he pursued this study when at peace and free from danger, and that for the praise of God; but they pursue for their own self-gratification, and that when God is angry and ruin is imminent.

Mark 5:10 — 10. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country—The entreaty, it will be observed, was made by one spirit, but in behalf of many—"he besought Him not to send them, &c."—just as in Mark 5:9, "he answered we are many." But what do they mean by entreating so earnestly not to be ordered out of the country? Their next petition (Mark 5:12) will make that clear enough.

Luke 1:59 — 59. eighth day—The law ( :-) was observed, even though the eighth day after birth should be a sabbath (John 7:23; and see Philippians 3:5). called him—literally, "were calling"—that is, (as we should say) "were for calling." The naming of children at baptism has its origin in the Jewish custom at circumcision (Genesis 21:3; Genesis 21:4); and the names of Abram and Sarai were changed at its first performance (Genesis 17:5; Genesis 17:15).

Ephesians 5:17 — of fact ( :-), but knowing with understanding. the will of the Lord—as to how each opportunity is to be used. The Lord's will, ultimately, is our "sanctification" ( :-); and that "in every thing," meantime, we should "give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18; compare above, Ephesians 5:10).

1 Timothy 6:17 — 17. Resuming the subject from above, 1 Timothy 6:5; 1 Timothy 6:10. The immortality of God, alone rich in glory, and of His people through Him, is opposed to the lust of money (compare 1 Timothy 6:10- :). From speaking of the desire to be rich, he here passes to those who are rich: (1) What ought to

Titus 2:8 — 8. speech—discourse in public and private ministrations. he that is of the contrary part—the adversary (Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:25), whether he be heathen or Jew. may be ashamed—put to confusion by the power of truth and innocence (compare Titus 2:5; Titus 2:10; 1 Timothy 5:14; 1 Timothy 6:1). no evil thing—in our acts, or demeanor. of you—So one of the oldest manuscripts. Other very old manuscripts read, "of US," Christians.

Hebrews 3:5 — 5. faithful in all his house—that is in all GOD'S house ( :-). servant—not here the Greek for "slave," but "a ministering attendant"; marking the high office of Moses towards God, though inferior to Christ, a kind of steward. for a testimony of, c.—in order that he might in his typical institutions give "testimony" to Israel "of the things" of the Gospel "which were to be spoken afterwards" by Christ (Hebrews 8:5 Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 9:23; Hebrews 10:1).

1 Peter 1:22 — purified . . . in obeying the truth—Greek, "in your (or 'the') obedience of (that is, 'to') the truth (the Gospel way of salvation)," that is, in the fact of your believing. Faith purifies the heart as giving it the only pure motive, love to God (Acts 15:9; Romans 1:5, "obedience to the faith"). through the Spirit—omitted in the oldest manuscripts. The Holy Spirit is the purifier by bestowing the obedience of faith (1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 12:3). unto—with a view to: the proper result of the

1 John 4:13 — 13. Hereby—"Herein." The token vouchsafed to us of God's dwelling (Greek, "abide") in us, though we see Him not, is this, that He hath given us "of His Spirit" (1 John 3:24). Where the Spirit of God is, there God is. ONE Spirit dwells in the Church: each believer receives a measure "of" that Spirit in the proportion God thinks fit. Love is His first-fruit (Galatians 5:22). In Jesus alone the Spirit dwelt without measure (Galatians 5:22- :).