Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 17:5 — 5. all Judah brought . . . presents—This was customary with the people generally at the beginning of a reign (1 Samuel 10:27), and with the nobles and high functionaries yearly afterwards. They were given in the form of voluntary offerings, to avoid the odious idea of a tax or tribute.

Psalms 138:3 — 3-5. That promise, as an answer to his prayers in distress, revived and strengthened his faith; and, as the basis of other revelations of the Messiah, it will be the occasion of praise by all who hear and receive it (Psalms 68:29; Psalms 68:31; Isaiah 4:3).

Psalms 42:11 — 11. This brings on a renewed self-chiding, and excites hopes of relief. health—or help. of my countenance—(compare Psalms 42:5) who cheers me, driving away clouds of sorrow from my face. my God—It is He of whose existence and favor my foes would have me doubt.

Psalms 45:6 — 6. No lawful construction can be devised to change the sense here given and sustained by the ancient versions, and above all by Paul ( :-). Of the perpetuity of this government, compare 2 Samuel 7:13; Psalms 10:16; Psalms 72:5; Psalms 89:4; Psalms 110:4; Isaiah 9:7.

Psalms 52:9 — 9. hast done—that is, what the context supplies, "preserved me" (compare :-). wait . . . name—hope in Thy perfections, manifested for my good (Psalms 5:11; Psalms 20:1). for it is good—that is, Thy name, and the whole method or result of its manifestation (Psalms 54:6; Psalms 69:16).

Psalms 65:5 — 5. terrible things—that is, by the manifestation of justice and wrath to enemies, accompanying that of mercy to His people (Psalms 63:9-11; Psalms 64:7-9). the confidence—object of it. of all . . . earth—the whole world; that is, deservedly such, whether men think so or not.

Psalms 87:7 — 7. As in a great procession of those thus written up, or registered, seeking Zion (Isaiah 2:3; Jeremiah 50:5), "the singers" and "players," or pipers, shall precede. all my springs—So each shall say, "All my sources of spiritual joy are in Thee" (Psalms 46:4; Psalms 84:6).

Psalms 9:3 — 3-5. When . . . are turned back—It is the result of God's power alone. He, as a righteous Judge ( :-), vindicates His people. He rebukes by acts as well as words (Psalms 6:1; Psalms 18:15), and so effectually as to destroy the names of nations as well as persons.

Proverbs 1:7 — 7. The fear of the Lord—the principle of true piety (compare Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 14:26; Proverbs 14:27; Job 28:28; Psalms 34:11; Psalms 111:10; Acts 9:31). beginning—first part, foundation. fools—the stupid and indifferent to God's character and government; hence the wicked.

Ecclesiastes 10:17 — 17. son of nobles—not merely in blood, but in virtue, the true nobility (Song of Solomon 7:1; Isaiah 32:5; Isaiah 32:8). in due season— (Isaiah 32:8- :), not until duty has first been attended to. for strength—to refresh the body, not for revelry (included in "drunkenness").

Isaiah 11:5 — 5. righteousness . . . girdle— (Revelation 1:13; Revelation 19:11). The antitypical High Priest (Revelation 19:11- :). The girdle secures firmly the rest of the garments (1 Peter 1:13). So "truth" gives firm consistency to the whole character (1 Peter 1:13- :). In Isaiah 59:17, "righteousness" is His breastplate.

Isaiah 3:8 — 8. Reason given by the prophet, why all shrink from the government. eyes of his glory—to provoke His "glorious" Majesty before His "eyes" (compare Isaiah 49:5; Habakkuk 1:13). The Syriac and LOWTH, by a slight change of the Hebrew, translate, "the cloud of His glory," the Shekinah.

Jeremiah 24:5 — 5. acknowledge—regard with favor, like as thou lookest on the good figs favorably. for their good—Their removal to Babylon saved them from the calamities which befell the rest of the nation and led them to repentance there: so God bettered their condition ( :-). Daniel and Ezekiel were among these captives.

Jeremiah 46:5 — 5. (See on :-). The language of astonishment, that an army so well equipped should be driven back in "dismay." The prophet sees this in prophetic vision. fled apace—literally, "fled a flight," that is, flee precipitately. look not back—They do not even dare to look back at their pursuers.

Jeremiah 8:17 — 17. I—Jehovah. cockatrices—basilisks (Isaiah 11:8), that is, enemies whose destructive power no means, by persuasion or otherwise, can counteract. Serpent-charmers in the East entice serpents by music, and by a particular pressure on the neck render them incapable of darting (Psalms 58:4; Psalms 58:5).

Lamentations 3:26 — 26. quietly wait—literally, "be in silence." Compare Lamentations 3:28; Psalms 39:2; Psalms 39:9, that is, to be patiently quiet under afflictions, resting in the will of God (Psalms 37:7). So Aaron (Leviticus 10:2; Leviticus 10:3); and Job (Job 40:4; Job 40:5).

Lamentations 3:30 — 30. Messiah, the Antitype, fulfilled this; His practice agreeing with His precept (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 5:39). Many take patiently afflictions from God, but when man wrongs them, they take it impatiently. The godly bear resignedly the latter, like the former, as sent by God (Psalms 17:13). Caph.

Ezekiel 28:15 — 15. perfect—prosperous [GROTIUS], and having no defect. So Hiram was a sample of the Tyrian monarch in his early days of wisdom and prosperity (1 Kings 5:7, &c.). till iniquity . . . in thee—Like the primeval man thou hast fallen by abusing God's gifts, and so hast provoked God's wrath.

Ezekiel 44:4 — 4-6. Directions as to the priests. Their acts of desecration are attributed to "the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 44:6; Ezekiel 44:7), as the sins of the priesthood and of the people acted and reacted on one another; "like people, like priest" (Jeremiah 5:31; Hosea 4:9).

Hosea 14:4 — 4. God's gracious reply to their self-condemning prayer. backsliding—apostasy: not merely occasional backslidings. God can heal the most desperate sinfulness [CALVIN]. freely—with a gratuitous, unmerited, and abundant love ( :-). So as to the spiritual Israel (John 15:16; Romans 3:24; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10).