Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 7:17 — composing a sort of crown or garland. Seven of these were wound in festoons on one capital, and over and underneath them were fringes, one hundred in a row. Two rows of pomegranates strung on chains ( :-) ran round the capital ( :-; compare 2 Chronicles 4:12; 2 Chronicles 4:13; Jeremiah 52:23), which, itself, was of a bowl-like or globular form (Jeremiah 52:23- :). These rows were designed to form a binding to the ornamental work—to keep it from falling asunder; and they were so placed as to be above

2 Kings 13:7 — must unavoidably be taken up with the grain; at the same time the straw is shattered to pieces. Hence it is a most significant figure, frequently employed by Orientals to describe a state of national suffering, little short of extermination (Isaiah 21:10; Micah 4:12; Jeremiah 51:33). The figure originated in a barbarous war custom, which Hazael literally followed (Amos 1:3; Amos 1:4; compare 2 Samuel 18:31; Judges 8:7). Judges 8:7- :. JOASH SUCCEEDS HIM.

1 Chronicles 18:4 — 4-8. And David took from him a thousand chariots—(See on :-). In 2 Samuel 8:4 David is said to have taken seven hundred horsemen, whereas here it is said that he took seven thousand. This great discrepancy in the text of the two narratives seems to have

Psalms 119:87 — almost nothing of me on earth"; or, "They have almost destroyed and prostrated me on the earth" [MAURER]. I forsook not—Whatever else I am forsaken of, I forsake not Thy precepts, and so am not mistaken of Thee (Psalms 39:5; Psalms 39:13; 2 Corinthians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 4:9), and the injuries and insults of the wicked increase the need for it. But, however they act regardless of God's law, the pious, adhering to its teaching, receive quickening grace, and are sustained steadfast. LAMED. (Psalms

Psalms 27:1-14 — una oración por el socorro y la dirección divinos. 1. luz—figura común de confortamiento. fortaleza—que da la seguridad contra la violencia. Las interrogaciones dan mayor claridad a las negaciones implícitas. 2. comer mis carnes—( Job 19:22; Salmo 14:4). La alusión a las fieras ilustra la rapacidad de los enemigos. tropezaron—“Ellos” es enfático; no yo, sino ellos cayeron. 3. En los mayores peligros. 4, 5. El secreto de su confianza es su deleite en la comunión con Dios (Salmo 16:11; Salmo 23:6),

Leviticus 4:27 — 27-34. if any one of the common people sin through ignorance—In this case the expiatory offering appointed was a female kid, or a ewe-lamb without blemish; and the ceremonies were exactly the same as those observed in the case of the offending ruler [ :-].

Ecclesiastes 1:8 — changeless cycle. The eye and ear are two of the taskmasters for which man toils. But these are never "satisfied" (Ecclesiastes 6:7 Proverbs 27:20). Nor can they be so hereafter, for there will be nothing "new." Not so the chief good, Jesus Christ (John 4:13; John 4:14; Revelation 21:5).

Ecclesiastes 2:8 — 8. (1 Kings 10:27; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 2 Chronicles 9:20). peculiar treasure of kings and . . . provinces—contributed by them, as tributary to him (1 Kings 4:21; 1 Kings 4:24); a poor substitute for the wisdom whose "gain is better than fine gold" (Proverbs 3:14; Proverbs 3:15). singers—so David (Proverbs 3:15- :). musical instruments . . . of all sorts—introduced at banquets (Isaiah 5:12; Amos 6:5; Amos

Isaiah 4:5 — 5. create—The "new creation" needs as much God's creative omnipotence, as the material creation (2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 2:10). So it shall be in the case of the Holy Jerusalem to come (Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 65:18). upon—The pillar of cloud stood over the tabernacle, as symbol of God's favor and presence (Exodus 13:21; Exodus 13:22; Psalms 91:1). Both on

Isaiah 53:11 — 11. Jehovah is still speaking. see of the travail—He shall see such blessed fruits resulting from His sufferings as amply to repay Him for them (Isaiah 49:4; Isaiah 49:5; Isaiah 50:5; Isaiah 50:9). The "satisfaction," in seeing the full fruit of His travail of soul in the conversion of Israel and the world, is to be realized in the last days (Isaiah 50:9- :). his knowledge—rather, the knowledge (experimentally)

Isaiah 56:7 — 2:5). accepted— (1 Peter 2:5- :). altar— (1 Peter 2:5- :), spiritually, the Cross of Christ, which sanctifies our sacrifices of prayer and praise. house . . . for all people—or rather, "peoples." No longer restricted to one favored people (Malachi 1:11; John 4:21; John 4:23; 1 Timothy 2:8). To be fully realized at the second coming (1 Timothy 2:8- :). No longer literal, but spiritual sacrifice, namely, "prayer" shall be offered (Psalms 141:2; Psalms 51:17; Malachi 1:11; Matthew 21:13).

Jeremiah 15:4 — 4. cause . . . to be removed— (Deuteronomy 28:25; Ezekiel 23:46). Rather, "I will give them up to vexation," I will cause them to wander so as nowhere to have repose [CALVIN]; (2 Chronicles 29:8, "trouble;" Margin, "commotion"). because of Manasseh—He was

Jeremiah 17:26 — 26. plain mountains . . . south— (Joshua 15:1-4). The southern border had extended to the river of Egypt, but was now much curtailed by Egyptian invasions (2 Chronicles 35:20; 2 Chronicles 36:3; 2 Chronicles 36:4). The Hebrew for "south" means dry; the arid desert south of Judea is meant. The enumeration

Ezekiel 1:5 — nature, and thereby suited to counteract the Babylonish spirit of the times, which loved to manifest itself in gigantic, grotesque forms" [HENGSTENBERG]. living creatures—So the Greek ought to have been translated in the parallel passage, Revelation 4:6, not as English Version, "beasts"; for one of the "four" is a man, and man cannot be termed "beast." Revelation 4:6- : shows that it is the cherubim that are meant. likeness of a man—Man, the noblest of the four, is the ideal model after which they

Ezekiel 7:19 — 19. cast . . . silver in . . . streets—just retribution; they had abused their silver and gold by converting them into idols, "the stumbling-block of their iniquity" (Ezekiel 14:3; Ezekiel 14:4, that is, an occasion of sinning); so these silver and gold idols, so far from "being able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath" (see Proverbs 11:4), shall, in despair, be cast by them into the streets as a prey to the foe,

Daniel 7:10 — 10. thousand . . . ministered unto him—so at the giving of the law (Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17; Hebrews 12:22; Judges 1:14). ten . . . thousand before him—image from the Sanhedrim, in which the father of the consistory sat with his assessors on each side, in the form of a semicircle, and the people standing before him. judgment was set—The judges sat (Revelation 20:4).

Malachi 4:6 — disobedient to the wisdom of the just," implying that the reconciliation to be effected was that between the unbelieving disobedient children and the believing ancestors, Jacob, Levi, "Moses," and "Elijah" (just mentioned) (compare Malachi 1:2; Malachi 2:4; Malachi 2:6; Malachi 3:3; Malachi 3:4). The threat here is that, if this restoration were not effected, Messiah's coming would prove "a curse" to the "earth," not a blessing. It proved so to guilty Jerusalem and the "earth," that is, the land of Judea

Matthew 4:13 — 13. And leaving Nazareth—The prevalent opinion is that this refers to a first visit to Nazareth after His baptism, whose details are given by Luke ( :-, c.) a second visit being that detailed by our Evangelist (Matthew 13:54-58), and by Mark (Mark 6:1-6). But to us there seem all but insuperable difficulties in the supposition of two visits to Nazareth after His baptism; and on the grounds stated in Luke 4:16, c., we think that the one only visit to Nazareth is that recorded by

Deuteronomy 4:7 — so great—Here he represents their privileges and their duty in such significant and comprehensive terms, as were peculiarly calculated to arrest their attention and engage their interest. The former, their national advantages, are described (Deuteronomy 4:7; Deuteronomy 4:8), and they were twofold: 1. God's readiness to hear and aid them at all times; and 2. the excellence of that religion in which they were instructed, set forth in the "statutes and judgments so righteous" which the law of Moses contained.

Luke 2:20 — 20. glorifying and praising God, c.—The latter word, used of the song of the angels ( :-), and in Luke 19:37 Luke 24:53, leads us to suppose that theirs was a song too, probably some canticle from the Psalter—meet vehicle for the swelling emotions of their simple hearts at what "they had heard and seen." Luke 24:53- :. CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. Here only recorded,