Bible Commentaries

Exodus 20:1 — 1. And God spake all these words—The Divine Being Himself was the speaker (Deuteronomy 5:12; Deuteronomy 5:32; Deuteronomy 5:33), in tones so loud as to be heard—so distinct as to be intelligible by the whole multitude standing in the valleys below, amid the most appalling phenomena of agitated nature. Had He been simply addressing rational

1 Kings 4:6 — 6. Ahishar was over the household—steward or chamberlain of the palace. Adoniram—or Adoram (2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 12:18), or Hadoram (2 Chronicles 10:18), was over the tribute—not the collection of money or goods, but the levy of compulsory laborers (compare 1 Kings 5:13; 1 Kings 5:14). 1 Kings 5:14- :. HIS TWELVE OFFICERS.

Job 36:27 — 27, 28. The marvellous formation of rain (so Job 5:9; Job 5:10). maketh small—Rather, "He draweth (up) to Him, He attracts (from the earth below) the drops of water; they (the drops of water) pour down rain, (which is) His vapor." "Vapor" is in apposition with "rain," marking the way in which rain is

Psalms 110:3 — 3. Thy people . . . willing—literally, "Thy people (are) free will offerings"; for such is the proper rendering of the word "willing," which is a plural noun, and not an adjective (compare Exodus 25:2; Psalms 54:6), also a similar form (Judges 5:2-9). in the day of thy power—Thy people freely offer themselves (Judges 5:2-7.5.9- :) in Thy service, enlisting under Thy banner. in the beauties of holiness—either as in Judges 5:2-7.5.9- :, the loveliness

Ecclesiastes 1:5 — 5. (Psalms 19:5; Psalms 19:6). "Panting" as the Hebrew for "hasteth"; metaphor, from a runner (Psalms 19:5, "a strong man") in a "race." It applies rather to the rising sun, which seems laboriously to mount up to the meridian, than to the setting sun; the accents too favor MAURER, "And (that too, returning) to his place, where panting he riseth."

Song of Solomon 5:15 — 15. pillars—strength and steadfastness. Contrast man's "legs" ( :-). Allusion to the temple (1 Kings 5:8; 1 Kings 5:9; 1 Kings 7:21), the "cedars" of "Lebanon" (1 Kings 7:21- :). Jesus Christ's "legs" were not broken on the cross, though the thieves' were;

Song of Solomon 7:6 — 6. Nearer advance of the daughters to the Church (Acts 2:47; Acts 5:13, end). Love to her is the first token of love to Him (Acts 5:13- :, end). delights—fascinating charms to them and to the King (Song of Solomon 7:5; Isaiah 62:4, Hephzi-bah). Hereafter, too (Zephaniah 3:17; Malachi 3:12; Revelation 21:9).

Isaiah 11:10 — 10. root—rather, "shoot from the root" (compare Note, see on :-; Isaiah 53:2; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16). stand—permanently and prominently, as a banner lifted up to be the rallying point of an army or people (Isaiah 5:26; John 12:32). the people—peoples, answering to "the Gentiles" in the parallel member. to

Matthew 6:4 — 4. That thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly—The word "Himself" appears to be an unauthorized addition to the text, which the sense no doubt suggested. (See 1 Timothy 5:25; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 4:5). Prayer (Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:6).

Mark 16:6 — 6. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted—a stronger word than "Fear not" in Matthew (Matthew 28:5). Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified!—"the Nazarene, the Crucified." he is risen; he is not here—(See on Matthew 28:5- :). behold the place where they laid him—(See on Matthew 28:5- :).

1 Corinthians 3:10 — . given unto me—Paul puts this first, to guard against seeming to want humility, in pronouncing himself "a WISE master builder," in the clause following [CHRYSOSTOM]. The "grace" is that "given" to him in common with all Christians (1 Corinthians 3:5), only proportioned to the work which God had for him to do [ALFORD]. wise—that is, skilful. His skill is shown in his laying a foundation. The unskilful builder lays none (1 Corinthians 3:5- :). Christ is the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:5- :). another—who

1 Corinthians 7:22 — 22. the Lord's freeman— ( :-) —rather, "freedman." Though a slave externally, spiritually made free by the Lord: from sin, :-; from the law, Romans 8:2; from "circumcision," 1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 5:1. Christ's servant— (Galatians 5:1- :). Love makes Christ's service perfect freedom (Matthew 11:29; Matthew 11:30; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16).

Ephesians 5:2 — us—Greek, "given Himself up (namely, to death, Ephesians 4:1- :) for us," that is, in our behalf: not here vicarious substitution, though that is indirectly implied, "in our stead." The offerer, and the offering that He offered, were one and the same (John 15:13; Romans 5:8). offering and a sacrifice—"Offering" expresses generally His presenting Himself to the Father, as the Representative undertaking the cause of the whole of our lost race (Romans 5:8- :), including His life of obedience; though not excluding

Ephesians 6:1 — 1. obey—stronger than the expression as to wives, "submitting," or "being subject" (Ephesians 5:21). Obedience is more unreasoning and implicit; submission is the willing subjection of an inferior in point of order to one who has a right to command. in the Lord—Both parents and children being Christians "in the Lord," expresses the element in

1 Timothy 5:17 — 17. The transition from the widow presbyteresses (1 Timothy 5:9) to the presbyters here, is natural. rule well—literally, "preside well," with wisdom, ability, and loving faithfulness, over the flock assigned to them. be counted worthy of double honour—that is, the honor which is expressed by gifts (1 Timothy

1 Timothy 5:20 — 20. Them that sin—whether presbyters or laymen. rebuke before all—publicly before the Church (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; Ephesians 5:11). Not until this "rebuke" was disregarded was the offender to be excommunicated. others . . . fear—that other members of the Church may have a wholesome fear of offending (Deuteronomy 13:11; Acts 5:11).

James 5:7 — 7. Be patient therefore—as judgment is so near (James 5:1; James 5:3), ye may well afford to be "patient" after the example of the unresisting Just one (James 5:6). brethren—contrasted with the "rich" oppressors, James 5:6- :. unto the coming of the Lord—Christ, when the trial of your patience shall

1 John 5:5 — 5. Who—"Who" else "but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God:" "the Christ" (1 John 5:1)? Confirming, by a triumphant question defying all contradiction, as an undeniable fact, 1 John 5:4, that the victory which overcomes the world is faith.

Revelation 3:1 — History, 4.26]; he also wrote a commentary on the Apocalypse [EUSEBIUS, Ecclesiastical History, 4.26; JEROME, On Illustrious Men, 24]. he that hath the seven Spirits of God—that is, He who hath all the fulness of the Spirit (Revelation 1:4; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 5:6, with which compare Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 4:10, proving His Godhead). This attribute implies His infinite power by the Spirit to convict of sin and of a hollow profession. and the seven stars— (Revelation 1:16; Revelation 1:20). His

Revelation 7:15 — 15. Therefore—because they are so washed white; for without it they could never have entered God's holy heaven; Revelation 22:14, "Blessed are those who wash their robes (the oldest manuscripts reading), that they may have right to the tree of life, and