Abbreviations used in this Commentary.

Notes on difficult or puzzling problems.

Notes on special topics: gender, prayer, prophecy.

Genesis  [Forward to Exodus]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Verse:
    1. John Stott says the first four words of the Bible ("In the beginning God ....") tell us that the religion of the Bible is a religion of the "initiative of God." Before humans existed, God acted. Before humans seek God – are even able to seek God – God sought humans. John R.W. Stott, Basic Christianity, p. 11.

    27. See special topic Gender; male and female imagery in the Bible.

    28. God commanded man to subdue and dominate the earth and all living things.

    29, 30. Man and animals were to be vegetarians. Cf. 9:3.

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    17. How could Adam know what it meant to "die"?

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4. Wasn't the serpent right? Cf. 2:17; 3:16-17.

    6. She yielded when she looked at the fruit. We should never gaze on forbidden fruit. The battle of temptation is won at the first skirmish. The fruit appealed to the woman as (1) food for her physical desires; (2) beauty for her aesthetic desires; and (3) wisdom for her intellectual desires. Cf. the temptations of Jesus.

    9. God seeks out those who go astray.

    10. Adam hid because he was afraid. What was he afraid of? See 2:17. He said he was afraid because he was naked. Did he think that God didn't know what he had done? If so, he gave himself away by talking about nakedness, something he had never realized before.

    12. Adam not only blamed Eve ("she gave me ....") but even tried to implicate God ("the woman whom thou gavest to be with me ...."). It is so difficult to be honest where self is concerned or imperiled. We always have an excuse ready – an explanation that implicates someone else, or in some way lessens our guilt.

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. God commands Cain to "rule over" sin. (ASV)

    8. Why did Cain kill Abel? God was the one who had rejected Cain. Do we "get back at God" by hurting someone closer to him than we are?

    9. Individualism vs. responsibility for others. A tremendously profound question. Here's where capitalism ends.

    13. Cain showed no contrition. He was sorry for his punishment, not for his sin.

    15. Who else was alive except Adam and Eve?

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1-4. Aren't these verses myth?

    2. Who are the "sons of God?" Moffat translates this as "angels."

    3. The New Bible Commentary says the 120 years was the respite from judgment before the flood. (Abraham lived 175 years, 25:7).

    11. New Testament references to the flood: Mt. 24:37-39; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5.

    15. Moffat gives these dimensions: 450x75x45 feet.

    18. This is the first mention of a covenant that God will establish.

    22. Cf. Heb. 11:7. Noah was obedient even though it must have been really hard. Think of a man building a huge barge on dry land, then rounding up a menagerie and stuffing pairs of animals in the barge – what a brawling, cackling, hooting, screeching pandemonium that must have been! The men around Noah (even his brothers and sisters, for his father had other children after Noah was born; see 5:30) must have thought he was nuts.

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. Salvation by works?

    4. This sounds like a universal flood.

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    14. Noah was in the ark 1 year, 10 days. See 7:11.

    22. The promise is only for the duration of the earth – it will not last forever.

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. God gives humans meat to eat as well as produce. Cf. 1:29.

    4. See Acts 15:20, 29.

    6. He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. An argument for pacifism? Also for capital punishment.

    9. Is a covenant like a unilateral contract? God is bound to it as long as man relies on it?

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. In giving the genealogy of Japheth, this verse says his descendants "spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language." Cf. 11:1a "Now the whole world had one language and a common speech." This not necessarily an inconsistency, because chapter 11 seems to be looking far into the future, whereas 12:1 is at a particular point in time, presumably before the migration described in 10:5.

    32. See Acts 17:26.

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. Cf. Gen. 10:5.

    4. The sins here seem to be pride, ambition, egoism. Weren't they also disobeying God's command to replenish the earth (8:17)?

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4-9. God commanded and promised; Abram obeyed and praised ("called upon") God.

    4. See Heb. 11:8; see also Acts 7:1-4.

    13. Abram apparently married his half-sister. See 20:12. Abraham told the same lie (or half-truth) when he sojourned in Gerar; see Gen. 20:2, and his son Isaac lied about his wife Rebekah being his sister. Gen. 26:7-11. See notes on difficult or puzzling problems.

    19. KJV says "might have taken her" but ASV, RSV, NEB, and NIV all say "took her."

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. God is not always against the rich.

    8. Abram was a peacemaker.

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
General comments
    Abram's character:
        1. Devout – he built many altars to God and called on his name (12:7, 8; 13:4, 18) and he tithed (14:20).
        2. Obedient – he followed God's commands (12:4; 22:2, 3).
        3. Peaceful – he wanted no conflict with Lot (13:8).
        4. Humble – he offered his nephew Lot first choice of land (13:9).
        5. Generous – in addition to offering Lot first choice of land, Abram also declined a share of the spoils after battle (14:23) and insisted on paying full price for a burial field for Sarah (23:9, 16).
        6. Loyal – he rescued his nephew Lot who had been captured (14:14-16).
        7. Courageous – he battled four kings to rescue Lot (14:14-16).
        8. Intelligent – he apparently devised the strategy of dividing his men and attacking at night (14:15). Also, his refusal to take spoils of war for himself while letting his allies share in the spoils was wise (14:23-24).

    But Abram was not entirely honest (12:13-20 – having Sarai tell the Egyptians that she was his sister rather than his wife). Also, he was not perfect in faith (17:17 – he laughed when he heard the prophecy that Sarah would bear a son), although even here he obeyed immediately (17:23-27).

Verse:
    13. Abram made friends among his neighbors.

    18. This is the first mention of a "priest" in the Bible. See Heb. 7:1-17.

    20. This indicates that tithing existed before the Mosaic law. See Deut. 14:22-29.

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6. Faith = righteousness.

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
General comments
    Sarai's character:
        1. Little faith – doubed that she would have a child (16:2; 18:12).
        2. Vindictive – blames Abraham for carrying out her request for him to take Hagar (16:5) and then treats Hagar harshly (16:6; 21:10).
        3. Dishonest – denied laughing (18:15).

    But see 1 Pet. 3:6 (Sarah commended for being submissive to Abraham, obeying him and calling him her master).

Verse:
    12. KJV just says "wild man." NIV says "wild donkey of a man."

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    17. Even though Abraham laughed and doubted God, he went and obeyed immediately – see v. 23.

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. Rich, powerful Abraham saw himself as a servant (or was this just a cultural expression?).

    19. Here God says he has chosen Abraham "that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice." (RSV) See also v. 25. This verse also suggests that if Abraham does this then God will "bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." Does this mean that Abraham's blessing is conditioned on his obedience?

    25. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" (NRSV) or "... what is right?" (RSV) How can Abraham, a mere mortal, question almighty God? Isn't it because Abraham has been learning the lesson expressed in v. 19? God wants Abraham to "do justice" because He himself is just, and Abraham wants God to "do justice" because that is what he has a right to expect given God's nature. In other words, Abraham does not want to find out that God is a hypocrite, teaching one way and acting another.

    Abraham has the capability to be just because he was created in God's image. Gen. 1:27. He does not always or instinctively act justly because God's image in him was distorted by the entry of sin into the world (Gen. 3), but he still has the capacity for justice.

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. The prophet Ezekiel did not seem to think that homosexual practices were the main problem in Sodom. See Ezek. 16:49-50.

    21. Does this imply that, except for Lot's request, Zoan would have been destroyed too?

    24. NBC suggests that the destruction was caused by an eruption or earthquake in that "volcanic and sulphurous" country.

    29. God rescued Lot for Abraham's sake, not Lot's.

    30. Lot's "better choice" (13:10-11) didn't turn out so well. Why isn't incest condemned here? See notes on difficult or puzzling problems.

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. Sarah was actually Abraham's half-sister; see v. 12. Abraham told the same lie (or half-truth) when he went to Egypt; see Gen. 12:13-20, and later his son Isaac lied about his wife Rebekah being his sister. Gen. 26:7-11. See notes on difficult or puzzling problems.

    But why would Abimelech take Sarah, since she was old, too old to even have children? See 17:17 (90 years old); 18:11-12.

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1-2. The lesson is: God is faithful; He did what he promised to do even though that was beyond all human expectation.

    12. Casting out Ishmael, which seems harsh, is an example of God's sovereignty and the doctrine of election. See Rom. 9:6-9; Gal. 4:28-5:1.

    15. Ishmael must have been about 14 years old; see 17:25. The Pocket Commentary says he was 17, and a Berkeley translation note says 18, apparently figuring about 3 or 4 years until weaning (see v. 8). But if he was that old, how could his mother "cast the child under one of the shrubs" (ASV)? Perhaps he was fainting from hunger and thirst.

    17. Twice this verse notes that God heard the voice of the child, Ishmael.

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
General comments
    The way God tested Abraham's faith was to see whether he would obey a difficult command. The command was especially difficult to obey because, if obeyed, the result would be against God's former promise – that through Isaac Abraham should be multiplied as the sand of the sea, etc. Abraham resolved this apparent contradiction by blindly obeying God, believing that if God had given Isaac to a 90-year-old woman, He could also raise him from the dead after he had been sacrificed. This seems to be the great quality in Abraham, unswerving obedience when God spoke. Faith manifests itself in obedience! (See Heb. 11:17-19).

Verse:
    3. No "buts" by Abraham.

    13. Did God provide the ram (v. 8)? It didn't float down from heaven. Can we say that some of God's miracles are purely matters of timing and location? The ram "just happened" to be entangled in the thicket at that time and place.

    17-18. The older translations refer to "seed" rather than "offspring." Both words are used for singular and plural descendants; see 13:16; 17:9; Deut. 1:8. But see Gal. 3:16, making the argument that "seed" refers to Christ, since it does not say "seeds" (plural).

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6. RSV says "mighty prince." Abraham had a good reputation among his neighbors.

    9. Abraham didn't take advantage of his position. See also 14:23.

    13-16. An oral real property transaction, yet as well-witnessed as possible. Abraham didn't try to negotiate the price; he paid the full amount stated by the seller.

    17. The "deed" mentions the field, the cave, and the trees in the field and along its borders. Pretty good drafting!

Chapter 24  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    12. Abraham's servant trusted God. This speaks well for Abraham's witness to his own household.

    14. The servant believed that God was leading the whole way; that He had already picked out the girl! His job was just to discern God's choice.

    63. Note what Isaac was doing just before he met Rebekah. "He went out to the field ... to meditate ...." I wonder if he was meditating about his future with a woman he had never met, picked out for him by a servant!

Chapter 25  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    9. Ishmael must have kept in touch with his family, despite his rejection.

    26. Isaac had to wait 20 years for any sons to be born (v. 20). Was this to test his faith?

    28-34. Neither of the brothers looks good here. Jacob seems selfish and grasping, and Esau cares only for his belly. Jacob also deceives and lies (27:19-24).

    34. See Heb. 12:16-17.

Chapter 26  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. The first promise God gives after he issues commands is for his presence! See also v. 24. Isn't that the most important one? Cf. Jn. 16:32b.

    7. Isaac follows his father's example (though it was long before he was born); see Gen. 12:13-20; 20:2-12. See notes on difficult or puzzling problems.

    8. The ASV says Isaac was "sporting with" his wife; the RSV and Moffat say "fondling," and Berkeley and NIV say "caressing." He was obviously acting in a way that would be unseemly with a sister.

    34. Cf. 28:9; 36:2-3.

Chapter 27  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6-10. Was Rebekah trying to do God's work by underhanded means (25:23)? Or was she simply trying to carry out her personal favoritism by underhanded means? A note in the Berkeley translation suggests that she didn't gain anything by it, as she apparently never saw Jacob again after her had to flee.

    38. Esau surely seems in the right here. His plea is heartbreaking. See Heb. 12:17.

    39. Most translations say Esau's dwelling will be "away from" the earth's fatness or riches and "away from" the "dew of heaven," but the ASV says it will be "of" the fatness of the earth.

    46. Rebekah is very self-centered here. She just cares about herself.

Chapter 28  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. Isaac readily forgave Jacob.

    4. God gave the land, but it was yet to be inherited. Isn't this the way of salvation? It's God's gift (Eph. 2:8) but we have to work it out (Phil. 2:12). Maybe it's the difference between having title and possession.

    8-9. Esau seems to really want to please his parents.

Chapter 29  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    17. The NIV and RSV say that Leah's eyes were "weak," but a marginal reading in NIV says "tender." Moffat translates it as "dull" and Berkeley says "had no sparkle." The New Bible Commentary says this "probably indicates some eye soreness which disfigured her."

    23. Jacob deserved it! He impersonated Esau to get his father's blessing (27:19) and now his father-in-law deceives him.

    31. Was this to teach Jacob a lesson about favoritism? See. v. 30.

Chapter 30  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    15. Mandrakes were supposed to be a remedy for barrenness, which is probably why Rachel wanted them.

    37-39. The New Bible Commentary suggests that Jacob made use of a physiological principle" and implies that it really works. A note in the NIV Study Bible indicates that it was just a superstition on the part of Jacob, and that what happened with the sheep was God's intervention. See 31:9.

Chapter 31  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Chapter 32  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    10. Jacob begins his prayer by confessing his unworthiness.

Chapter 33  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4. Cf. Lk. 15:20.

    9-11. Esau declines Jacob's implied gift of flocks and herds (surely he was not offering his wives and children to Esau, which can also be implied from the text) by saying, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself." Then Jacob pressed his gift upon Esau, saying, "God has dealt graciously with me" ... "I have enough." Perhaps that can be taken as an implied rebuke to Christians today, who seem reluctant to say, "I have enough!" Of course, both Esau and Jacob were wealthy men, leaders of large clans, with all the trappings of wealth (servants, livestock, etc.), while some, but not all, Christians today are wealthy. But cf. Phil. 4:11-2 ("I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances").

Chapter 34  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
General comments
    Moffat reorganizes this chapter into two separate narratives, separated by 35:5.

Chapter 35  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    10. Jacob's name had already been changed; see 32:28.

Chapter 36  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. There seems to be a real discrepancy here; cf. 26:34; 28:9.

    24. KJV says he found "mules."

Chapter 37  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. The famous "coat of many colors" is translated as a "richly ornamented robe" in NIV. See also RSV ("long robe with sleeves"); NEB ("long, sleeved robe"); ESV ("robe of many colors").

    4. Family favoritism is a mistake. See 25:28.

    28. Did his brothers sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites, as stated in the NIV, or did the Midianites find and sell Joseph before the brothers could carry out their plan. RSV and Berkeley translations indicate clearly that the Midianites, not the brothers, sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites. Moffat finds two sources, one having the brothers selling him and the other having the Midianites taking him to Egypt.

    35. They comforted him, but they wouldn't tell him the truth.

Chapter 38  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. See 24:3-4.

    23. Moffat says, "Let her keep the pledge."

Chapter 39  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    10. He didn't weaken, nor did her court disaster.

    20. See Ps. 105:17-18. God was with Joseph, but that didn't keep harm from coming his way. The evidence of God's presence was not a "life of roses" but a godly response to the troubles of life.

22. Joseph, the master executive!

Chapter 40  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. Joseph seems to really care about people.

    8. Isn't Joseph claiming a relationship to God here?

    14-15. Joseph has a godly response to his imprisonment, but he still seeks to be released, and justifies his behavior.

Chapter 41  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. Joseph must have been in prison for more than two years.

    16. Joseph gives God the credit. ASV says, "an answer of peace;" RSV says "a favorable answer."

    33. Joseph smoothly moves from dream-interpreter to king-advisor. Did he have himself in mind for the job?

Chapter 42  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    18. The secret of Joseph's success.

Chapter 43  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    23. Interesting comment for a steward to make.

Chapter 44  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4. RSV inserts at the end of this verse, "Why have you stolen my cup?" See RSV note.

Chapter 45  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
General comments
    Joseph illustrates the work of Christ, in that his brothers tried to destroy him, but God turned this attempt into the means of their salvation. Then the brothers were all invited to come and live in the land of plenty. They, of course, could still have refused to come to Egypt, or even to accept the grain that Joseph offered, but God had made survival possible if they wanted it. Of course, in accepting it, they would have to face and acknowledge what they had done to Joseph, and live in his forgiveness.

Verse:
    5. Joseph sees God at work in his brother's evil actions.

    9. He also sees God at work in his success in Egypt. See also 50:20; Rom. 8:28.

Chapter 46  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    12b. The New Bible Commentary says these great-grandchildren must have been born in Egypt, as Perez was only four years old at this time. (?)

    26. Both Rachel and Leah died in Canaan, and did not go down to Egypt with Jacob. See 35:16-19; 49:31.

Chapter 47  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
General comments
    According to this chapter, Joseph got for Pharoah (1) all the money in Canaan and Egypt; (2) all the cattle of Egypt; (3) all the land of Egypt except the priests'; (4) all the people of Egypt; and (5) one-fifth of all the crops. Wasn't Joseph actually aiding Pharoah in oppressing the people?

Verse:
    21. The ASV says that Joseph moved all the people from the countryside into cities, perhaps for easy distribution of grain, but most other translations say that he "made slaves of them from one end of Egypt to the other" (RSV) or "reduced the people to servitude" (NIV).

Chapter 48  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5-6. The New Bible Commentary says this means they would become full-fledged tribes, with the other sons. Simeon became absorbed into Judah, so there were still 12 tribes. See Josh. 19:1-9.

    12. RSV says "removed them from his knees."

Chapter 49  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4. See 35:22.

    6b. See 34:25-29.

    7b. Simeon was absorbed in Judah. Josh. 19-1-9.

    10. This apparently refers initially to David and ultimately to the Messiah. See Ezek. 21:27.

    24. Joseph is the only one who is mentioned as related to God.

Chapter 50  [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [Books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4. Joseph had "found favor" in a tremendous way; see v. 7-9.

    14, 15. Are these verses juxtaposed? The brothers had already traveled to Canaan and back with Joseph to bury their father.

    20. Evil from others can be God's good. So don't hold it against others. See also Phil. 1:17-18 (while he is in jail, Paul's rivals preach Christ out of selfish ambition, to "stir up trouble" for him, but he rejoices anyway because Christ is being preached).

    26. But he was later moved and buried near Shechem; Ex. 13:19; Josh. 24:32.

Exodus   [Forward to Leviticus]  [Back to Genesis]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Jacob's descendants begin to multiply in Egypt, to such an extent that the new Pharoah, who did not remember Joseph, became alarmed and started to take drastic action. He ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all the male children as they were born, and when they refused to obey, he ordered all the people to throw the Hebrew male children into the river.

Verse:
    15. There must have been more than two midwives for all the Israelites.

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Moses is born, and after three months is hid in a little basket on the river. While being watched by his sister, Moses is found by Pharoah's daughter, who decides to keep him. His quick-witted sister asked Pharoah's daughter if she wanted a Hebrew nurse for the babe – and went and got her mother. So Moses' life was not only spared when Hebrew male babies were being killed, but his mother was paid out of Pharoah's treasury to care of her son! Surely God had his hand on the life of this baby!

When Moses grew up, he saw an Egyptian abusing a Hebrew, so he killed the Egyptian and hid his body. This act brought its inevitable consequences, as Moses was called a murderer by a Hebrew whom he tried to keep from beating another Hebrew, and Moses then had to flee to avoid Pharoah's wrath. He went to Midian, and there settled down with Reual, a local shepherd who had seven daughters, one of whom he gave Moses as a wife. She bore him a son. Meanwhile, God had not forgotten the plight of the Israelites in Egypt. He heard their cries for help, he knew their condition, and help was on the way from Midean!

Verse:
    7. Quick thinking – or God's miraculous provision?

    12-14. Evil does not overcome evil.

    18. Here the daughters' father is named "Reuel" but in 3:1 he is called "Jethro." NBC says that the word translated "father-in-law" in 3:1 may mean "brother-in-law," but that the more likely explanation is that Jethro is another name of Reuel.

While tending his father-in-law's sheep, Moses saw a bush that was on fire but did not seem to be consumed. When he stepped aside to see it, God confronted him – and told him his plans for bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. When God told Moses that he was to go to Pharoah, Moses objected: "Who am I that I should go to Pharoah?" God answered, "But I will be with you ...."

God promised to bring the Israelites to a "good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey." When Moses asked what his reponse should be when people queried him about who this god was who had sent him, God said, "I am who I am .... say this to the people of Israel, 'I am has sent me to you.'" Also, "The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you." God wants no mistake about his identity, as hard as it is to identify him.

God foretells that Pharoah will not let the Israelites go, and he says he will show them "wonders" until he does let them go (with Egyptian silver and gold). Moses' request of Pharoah was to be for a three-day journey into the wilderness for a sacrifice – but this was just a starter.

General comments:
Five times Moses tried to get out of his call:
    (1) Who am I, to do this? (3:11)
    (2) Who are you, to send me, or, what is your name? (3:13)
    (3) They won't believe me, or, I won't succeed. (4:1)
    (4) I am not eloquent, or, I am not equipped to do this. (4:10)
    (5) Send somebody else. (4:13)

Verse:
    4. When God called, Moses answered!

    11-12. Moses said to God, "Who am I?" but God did not answer that question. He replied, "I will be with you." In other words, it doesn't matter who I am; if God is with me, that's all that matters.

    17. God promises not only a negative benefit – freedom from Egyptian slavery – but also a positive benefit – a land flowing with milk and honey.

    22. God provides not only deliverance, but deliverance with riches!

God commissions Moses, but more as an unwilling conscript than an eager volunteer. Moses first raises the objection that the people won't believe him or that God appeared to him. To overcome that objection God gives him three miracles, demonstrating two and describing the third. Moses' rod or staff could be cast down and turn into a snake, and then turned back into a rod; Moses' hand could be turned leprous by putting it in his bosom, and healed the same way; and water poured from the Nile could be turned into blood.

Moses then objects that he is not eloquent, and God replies, "Who made man's mouth?" The Lord assured him that he would put the right words in his mouth.

But Moses still objected. "Send someone else," he begged, and God was displeased. But he placated Moses by appointing his brother Aaron to be his mouthpiece.

When God orders Moses to go back to Egypt, he tells him that he won't succeed at first because God is going to harden Pharoah's heart. Does this mean that Pharoah was so controlled by God that he had no choice? And therefore no responsibility? Or does this mean that God merely permitted Pharoah to "go the limit" in refusing Moses' – and therefore God's – requests?

    13. RSV says, "But he said, 'Oh, my Lord, send, I pray, some other person.'"

    24-26. These verses are a mystery to me. God met Moses on the way to Egypt and tried to kill him, but Moses' wife, Zipporah, apparently saved his life by circumcising his son and throwing the foreskin at Moses' feet – a grisly remedy. NBC suggests that Moses had neglected to circumcise his son, and that God punished him, possibly with a severe illness. (?)

Moses and Aaron go to Pharoah to request the three-day vacation for the Israelites so they can go into the wilderness and sacrifice to God. But this request backfires; not only does Pharoah deny the request, he also increases the Israelites' work by requiring the same number of bricks per day without providing straw – they had to scavenge straw for themselves. When the Israelite foremen were beaten for not producing their quota, they appeal to Pharoah, and when Pharoah makes it clear that this demand was laid on them because of Moses' request, they reproach Moses and Aaron for going to Pharoah. And Moses reproaches God: "Why have You done evil to this people? Why did You ever send me? You have not delivered your people at all." Moses had to learn that God's timing is not our timing, and that things may look worse before they get better, even when God is in control.

    20-21. Pharoah and the Israelites are both against Moses.

    22. Here Moses asks, "Why, Lord?" His question is answered in 6:1 – so that God's power will be revealed.

When Moses complains that God failed to deliver his people, God answers, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharoah." God said Pharoah would not merely let them go; he would drive them out. Why, then, the delay? This seemed to be in order that God could fully reveal himself to his people. He points out that He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by one Name – God Almighty – but not as the "Lord." God says that when He does compel Pharoah to drive them out, the Israelites "shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." (v. 7) This is God's plan of redemption for the Israelites, and it includes a revelation of God.

Moses, when commanded by God to go to Pharoah, again makes excuses and tried to beg off: "If the people of Israel haven't listened to me, how will Pharoah pay any attention to me, especially when I'm such a poor speaker?"

The word "redeem" is used in his chapter for the first time in the Bible, according to the New Commentary. Also, this commentary claims that God was not announcing to Moses a new name by which He was to be called; He was saying that now they should experience the aspects of God most illustratedc by this name; i.e., that fulfilled in the covenant relationship. (?)

    12. Moses is full of self-doubt. Here he says to the Lord, basically, "Who, me?" See also v. 30.

    16-20. Levi, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, had a son, Kohath, who became the father of Amram. Amram apparently married his aunt, Jochebed (v. 20), and their sons were Aaron and Moses.

God says to Moses that he will be as a god to Pharoah, and Aaron will be his prophet. God will give them miracles to use to coerce Pharoah; at the same time God will harden Pharoah's heart so that he won't let the Israelites go. Does this relieve Pharoah of responsibility, if God is making him obdurate? Or is it actually permissive, that God is allowing Pharoah to exert his stubbornness?

Moses and Aaron use two miracles, both of which are said to be duplicated by Pharoah's magicians: turning a rod into a serpent, and turning the Nile into blood. Query: If Moses had already turned all the water into blood, how could the magicians duplicate this?

The reason for all the miracles seems to be stated in v. 3-5: Pharoah will not relent under the plagues, but when the Lord "by great acts of judgment" brings out his people, then "the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord." If Pharoah had released the Israelites without waiting for miracles, he would never have acknowledged the Lord of Israel; for that matter, the Israelites probably wouldn't have either. God wanted a witness of himself.

    11. The magicians of Egypt mimic the miracles of Moses (see also v. 22, 8:7), but ultimately they could not keep up – see 8:18.

    22. If the magicians of Egypt performed the same miracle, why didn't they purify the water? See also 8:7.

Three more plagues – frogs, gnats, and flies. Pharoah's magicians were apparently able to duplicate the plague of frogs, though I would think they'd bend their efforts toward getting rid of frogs rather than producing more. But they could not bring forth gnats, although they tried. Perhaps this is to show that the world can duplicate some of the lesser efforts of God, but cannot do all that God can (but is producing gnats more difficult than producing frogs?).

Pharoah is weakening more and more, but keeps hardening his heart after each plague, and refuses to let the Israelites go.

    19. Note that the magicians of Egypt acknowledged the power of God after they failed to replicate one of Moses' miracles. But Pharoah would not even listen to his own magicians.

Three more plagues descend upon Pharoah and the Egyptians – a plague that kills all the Egyptians' cattle, a plague of boils, and a plague of hail. Problem: the first plague in this chapter killed all the livestock of the Egyptians, but the second brought sores on "man and beast" in Egypt, and the third killed all the Egyptian cattle left in the field. Query: aren't these plagues in chronological order? Or did the Egyptians take the Israelites' cattle after their own died? If so, seems as if Moses would have mentioned it.

The Lord's purpose is clearly revealed in the plague of hail: "that you may know there is none like me in all the earth." (v. 14); "but for this purpose have I let you live, to show you my power, so that my name may be declared throughout all the earth." (v. 16)

Pharoah is brought to the point of confessing his sin, and acknowledging that the Lord is in the right, but when the plague is removed, he forgets his promise to let the Israelites go.

    15-17. God says, "I couldjust as easily have killed allof you, but I have kept you alive for a purpose – to demonstrate my power and have my name declared throughout the earth." See RSV.

    19. What cattle? See v. 6.

The Lord again tells why he is sending the plagues – so that the Israelites will know that he is the Lord! Two more plagues are described in this chapter, the plague of locusts and the plague of darkness. Pharoah begins to relent, first telling Moses that the men of Israel can go and worship God but no one else, and then agreeing that all the Hebrews can go, but not take their cattle. (It's surprising that he did not confiscate their cattle after the Egyptian cattle were destroyed.) This was not enough, however. Finally, Pharoah in anger banishes Moses from his presence.

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Moses warns Pharoah of the final plague – the first-born in every Egyptian family will die. But among the Israelites not so much as a dog will growl, "that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel." (v. 7)

The Lord told Moses to tell the people to ask gold and silver of their neighbors. Would this ward off the plague? Wasn't this an invitation to later idolatry?

"The Lord hardened Pharoah's heart" – a great problem in free will vs. divine determinism. Berkeley version says, "the Lord encouraged Pharoah in his own way." Is this accurate, and if so, does it explain much?

The Passover is instituted. This, like circumcision, is to be a memorial forever (v. 14). Again the question: how then were the Jews to accept the early Christian teachings against legalisms?

The first-born of all the Egyptians were slain as the final, crushing plague. Then they drove the Israelites out, laden with gold and silver. The Pocket Bible Commentary points out the similarity between the Passover feast and the passion of Jesus. It also mentions the idea of dispensations as solving the problem of the memorials instituted "forever," but its explanation does not satisfy me completely.

To commemorate the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, God told Moses to instruct the people to consecrate all the first-born to Him. This chapter also gives further instructions on the Passover.

God led the people of Israel on their journey out of Egypt with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The land of the Philistines was avoided, although that would have been the shortest way to the land of Canaan, because the Israelites might want to return to Egypt if the Philistines declared war on them.

    17. Good illustration of free will. God recognized that his people might choose to reject the freedom He was offering them.

The Israelites cross the Red Sea. The scriptural account leaves room for natural explanations – the east wind blew all night. When the people saw the Egyptians marching after then, they were ready to quit. (v. 12) "It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness," they complained to Moses. But after this miracle, "the people feared the Lord; and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses." (v. 31)

    15. Move out!

    21. This was not an "instant" miracle. Did God use natural phenomena?

    31. Why did the people believe? Because they saw God work!

Moses and his followers sing a hymn of praise to the Lord for delivering them from the Egyptians. Moses then led the Israelites from the Red Sea into the wilderness, or desert, of Shur, and in only three days the people were moaning and grumbling at Moses. This occurred when they found that the water at Marah was too bitter to drink. So Moses cried out to God, who instructed him to cast a certain tree into the water, which made it sweet. Then God told them how to avoid diseases which had afflicted the Egyptians: if they diligently followed the Lord, keeping all his commandments, he would protect them from disease. Perhaps this is one of the sources of our idea that disease or affliction comes from sin (cf. Jn. 9:1-3).

A month and a half after leaving Egypt, the Israelites started grumbling that Moses had brought them out in the wilderness to die of starvation. So God makes miraculous provision for them – quails are brought in the evening, and "manna" in the morning. Manna is a flaky powder that covers the ground. The quails are only mentiioned specifically for one day, though it says they ate manna for 40 years. Two restrictions: only one day's supply at a time to be gathered, except on the sixth day, when a two-day supply was gathered; none was to be gathered on the seventh day. Yet of course people tried to violate both; some held manna over for the second day, and it became wormy, and some tried to gather on the Sabbath, but there was none to gather.

When the people start to moan about a lack of water, Moses cried out to the Lord, and He again made miraculous provision for the Israelites. Moses struck "the rock at Horeb" with his rod, and water gushed out.

Amalek and his warriors then attacked Israel, which was defended by Joshua and his hand-picked crew ("choose for us men"). Agian a miraculous delivery, apparently, for when Moses, overlooking the battle from the top of a hill with Aaron and Hur, held aloft the rod of God, the Israelites prevailed; when he lowered the rod, theAmalekites prevailed.

The Lord said to write down in a book that He would blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. But didn't this very act perpetuate the name of Amalek? Perhaps He meant the Amalekites as a people.

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came to the Israelites to visit with Moses' wife and two boys, who had apparently been sent to Jethro earlier by Moses, perhaps when the hardships became difficult. Jethro offers sacrifice to the Lord and rejoices when he hears all that God has done for Israel.

The next day Moses sat as judge for the people all day, and people stood around him waiting for him to settle their disputes. Jethro then made a sound administrative recommendation. He proposed that Moses appoint leaders over the people, over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and that Moses only reserve the most difficult cases for himself and let these other leaders decide the less important cases. This in effect set up a court system, and defined areas of jurisdiction.

    13-22. Leadership: not what you can do, but what you can get others to do. Organization is the key.

    23. Figure out a plan, ask God's approval, then go ahead. Don't sit around waiting for a plan to be revealed.

    26. The courts of justice are always open. Moses is the supreme court.

When the Israelites reached the wilderness, or desert, of Sinai, they camped before the mountain, and Moses conversed with God. God reiterated a premise: If the Israelites would obey his voice and keep his covenant, he would make them his own possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. When Moses reported this to the people, they caid, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do."

Then the Lord had them consecrate themselves for three days, and approach the base of the mountain (but not go up it on penalty of death), where the Lord appeared at the summit, surrounded by smoke. Moses went up to him, and was sent down with another warning for the people not to climb the mountain, and to get Aaron. The language describing this is colorful: "the Lord descended ... in fire," "the whole mountain quaked greatly," "God answered him in thunder."

The Ten Commandments are given to Moses and the people. God announces himself as "the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."

After the second commandment, prohibiting graven images, God describes himself as a "jealous God." He says that he visits the iniquity of fathers upon the third and fourth generation, whereas he just says he shows "steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." Is this illustrative of the nature of good and evil? Not equals, but evil is a corruption in the good; therefore the corruption could easily extend its effects to three or four generations, but good could not because it is always vulnerable to corruption. In this sense, God would not be punishing innocent children for what their fathers did; the children would suffer because of the nature of sin and its effects.

God repeats his prohibitions against making images of silver or gold in verses 22-23, and adds some instructions about building altars.

    13. See also Ex. 21:13 (excusable homicide); Num. 35:23 (accidental homicide); and Ex. 22:2 (justifiable homicide).

    26. Apparentely ascending steps would reveal some bare leg, whjich would not fulfil the requirement of modesty and respect. Moffat translates this, "lest you expose your limbs."

A number of ordinances or laws are given concerning acts of violence, duties to slaves, etc. The law seems harsh and blunt, but is straightforward and rational. A Hebrew slave was to be set free after six years, with his wife if he had one when he became a slave, but he could choose to remain a slave for life.

The basic criminal code of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is laid down (v. 23-25). Capital punishment is authorized for several offenses, murder (v. 12-14), assault upon parents (v. 15), kidnapping (v. 16), cursing parents (v. 17), permitting a vicious ox to kill a man (v. 29). These ordinances recognize man's responsibility for both his criminal acts and his torts. They also permit slavery, which, however, was probably more like being an indentured servant at this time.

    18. Damages for personal injuries.

    22. Punitive damages?

    23-25. The Old Testament penal code. But perhaps it was not applied literally. NBC says that even in Moses' time this was commuted to a money judgment, except in the case of murder. (Num. 35:31)

    29. Strict liability.

    33-34. Wrongful conversion of chattels.

    36. Note that the penalty was according to the knowledge of the owner. The more he knew, the more he was held accountable. Cf. v. 13-14, 28-29.

Further laws, both criminal and civil. Basically they require responsibility and recompense for fault. The law concerning burglary allows the burglar to be killed in the act, if it was at night, thus recognizing the greater danger posed by breaking in at night (v. 2-3). There is strict liability for animals grazing (v. 5) and fires (v. 6). A man is required to pay dowry for seducing an unbetrothed virgin, and must marry her unless her father refuses permission (v. 16-17).

Several crimes call for capital punishment: sorcery (v. 18), sodomy (v. 19), idolatry (v. 20). In addition, God says He will kill those who afflict widows or orphans (v. 22-24).

God reveals more of Himself: "I am compassionate" (v. 27), and requires the offering of the harvests and of eldest-born sons and oxen and sheep (v. 29-30).

Disrespect for human authority is prohibited, as well as blasphemy (v. 28).

    3b-4. The RSV and Moffatt translations put this material (about restitution) right after v. 1, which does seem to make sense. The NEB also rearranges these verses.

    5-6. Liability for negligence.

    8. Moffatt inserts "at the local sanctuary" after "God". However, apparently the Hebrew is not clear as to whether the owner of the property must appear before "God" or before the "judges." The former interpretation appears in most of the translations (ASV, RSV, NEB and ESV), but in the margin they usually say "or the judges." The NIV reverses this, translating the Hebrew word as "the judges" but including a marginal note saying "or before God."

    16. Can we draw any kind of parallel for today? When an unmarried man gets a girl pregnant, should he marry her?

    22-24. This seems to be extra strong language. Could it be that God is more disturbed at "afflicting" a widow or orphan (which could conceivably be done without breaking civil law) than at, say, stealing?

    25-27. Cf. Jas. 5:1-6.

    28. See Acts 23:5.

Further laws and injunctions. Stress is placed on honesty, especially in support of the courts (v. 1-3, 6-8). "Love your enemy" is at least implied from v. 4-5, where the commands are given to return straying animals to an enemy, and to assist an enemy who is struggling to free his animal from a heavy load.

The Sabbath is emphasized, as well as a Sabbath for the land every seven years. Various feasts are required.

In the latter part of the chapter, promises are given concerning the Lord's protecting and guiding his people, and giving them the Promised Land.

    20. NBC says this can be translated either "angel" or "messenger."

God commanded Moses, with the elders of Israel, to come up the mountain and worship him. Moses alone was to come all the way up, the elders were to come part-way, and the people were to wait below.

When Moses gave the people all the laws and instructions God had given him, the people were unanimous in agreeing to follow them (v. 3). Moses then sealed the covenant with blood sacrifices.

Chapter 25  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Moses received instructions from God for taking a voluntary offering to use in constructing an ark with a mercy seat and cherubim, a table and a lampstand, all covered with gold. The ark and the table were to be made with carrying poles, to make them portable. In the ark were to go God's commandments to the Israelites, and God told Moses that he would meet with him above the mercy seat between the two cherubim.

Chapter 26  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Instructions for constructing the tabernacle.

Chapter 27  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Instructions for constructing the tabernacle.

Chapter 28  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Aaron and his four sons – Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar – are appointed as priests of God, with detailed instructions for making their garments "for glory and for beauty."

Chapter 29  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Detailed instructions for the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. These included sacrifices, with a prominent place given to sprinkling blood. Various offerings described. God promises to "dwell among the people of Israel, and ... be their God."

Chapter 30  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

Instructions for making a small gold-plated altar to burn incense on. Each person, when a census was taken, was to give half a shekel, presumably to finance the altar and the expensive incenses they were to make.

Chapter 31  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

God appoints artists and craftsmen to make all that has been commanded. Also, a reminder is given that no work is to be done on the Sabbath, and that death is the penalty for breaking this commandment. God then gave to Moses the "two tables of the testimony."

Chapter 32  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

When Moses was delayed on the mountain with God, the Israelites persuade Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship. Aaron did so, apparently without any objection, and then later, when questioned by Moses, he lied about how it was made. ("I threw it into the fire, and there came out this calf." v. 24). Certainly questionable conduct for God's high priest!

God indicated that He was going to destroy the people for this sin, and then Moses "talked him out of it." Hard to conceive of God "repenting of the evil" He had planned to do to his people (v. 14). Moses then became enraged when he came down the mountain and found the people in immorality dancing around the calf. He smashed the tables of the law, burned up and ground up the golden calf, and then called all those on the Lord's side to him. All the tribe of Levi responded, but the passage doesn't mention any others. These then went forth throughout the camp and killed 3,000 Israelites at Moses' order. Presumably these were the ones most seriouosly involved in immoral conduct. Moses went back up the mountain to attempt to find atonement for the people, and even offered that his own life be blotted out of the book of God. God ordered him to return and lead the people; the sinners would be punished.

    24. Aaron tries to avoid his responsibility in making the calf (see v. 4) – with a whopper of a story!

    27. This sounds like random killing, but presumably the ones doing the killing are those who have allied themselves with the Lord (see v. 26) and those who are killed are those who refused to follow the Lord.

    32. Moses' love for Israel!

    35. ESV: "Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made." This seeming contradiction actually portrays the truth. Aaron made the calf (v. 4) but the people ordered or desired it (v. 1). The NIV disguises this by rendering it "because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made."

God tells Moses to go up to the land that had been promised, that He would send an angel to clear the way, but that He himself would not go with them, for He would "consume them on the way" if He did go. Moses, however, goes out to the Tent of Meeting, which was pitched outside the camp, and pursuades God to go with the Israelites. "For how shall it be known that I have found favor in thy sight, I and thy people?" Moses asks. "Is it not in thy going with us, so that we are distinct, I and thy people, from all other people that are upon the face of the earth?" (v. 16) Then Moses asks God to "show me thy glory," and God replied that no man can see his face and live, but that Moses could see God after He passed by.

Chapter 34  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Chapter summary:

The Lord tells Moses to cut two tables of stone, to replace the ones he had broken, and to come up the mountain again to meet with God. Moses does so, and stays 40 days and nights. God renews his covenant, though not in the same words. He tells Moses that He will do marvelous things for the Israelites, including driving out six tribes or nations of the land to which they were going. Some commandments are repeated, including a review of all the feasts the Israelites were to keep.

When Moses came down the mountain, his face shone, so that after he shared with all the people all that God had commanded him, Moses put a veil over his face.

    12-17. How did the Israelites obey these commands? See 2 Kings 17:7-15.

After a preliminary warning about keeping the Sabbath, Moses gives instructions for constructing the tabernacle and its accessories. The people bring voluntary gifts, not tithes, and brought more than could be used.

Chapter 36  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. Berkeley: "every one with enough ambition to report for work."

Chapter 37  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 38  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    24 et seq. According to Moffatt, they used 2800 pounds of gold, 9655 pounds of silver (96 pounds of silver for each socket or pedestal), and three tons of bronze. Berkeley says 3700 pounds of gold, 12,000 pounds of silver (116 pounds of silver for each socket), and "nearly three tons" of bronze. Those figures seem astronomical to me.

Chapter 39  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    24. Why pomegranates? What significance did they have?

Chapter 40  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    9-15. Note the strong emphasis on purity and holiness.

Leviticus   [Forward to Numbers]  [Back to Exodus]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    12. Heb. 9:22 says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. NBC notes that when flour was used it was burned on the other offerings, thus mixing blood with it.

    17. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

    18. Here and in v. 27 Moffatt translates, "shall be taboo."

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. ASV translates "guilt offering" as "trespass offering."

    15. NBC suggests that this requirement was to encourage a generous spirit, to invite others to share. See Dt. 12:12.

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    22. See Num. 6:22-26.

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6. RSV: "Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose." NIV: "Do not let your hair become unkempt."

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. This is why Jews do not eat pork.

    21. Moffatt says "jointed legs."

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    16. Some translations, such as ASV and RSV, refer to the second goat as "Azazal," but KJ and NIV say "scapegoat." Moffatt says, "Azazal the demon."

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    11. Moffatt: "For the soul of any creature lies in its blood, and I have appointed blood as your means of expiation on the altar; blood expiates by reason of the soul in it."

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. But is this possible? See Gal. 3:10-11.

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    9-10. Cf. Jas. 5:1-6.

    18. This does not mean that one can seek revenge or bear a grudge against outsiders or foreigners. See v. 34.

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
General comments
    This is the "I am the Lord" chapter. Nine times that phrase is used.
Verse:
    17 et seq. Not every offering is acceptable, and offerings are no good without acceptance.

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    22. Cf. 19:9, 10; Jas. 5:1-6.

Chapter 24  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    14. Thus, there would have to be witnesses produced in public Also, this would ensure that those who heard the blasphemy would learn the lesson.

    22. The law may have been strict in some ways, but it did not discriminate against foreigners.

Chapter 25  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6. Moffatt says, "The natural produce of the land shall serve as food for you."

    21-22. This apparently covers the jubilee year as well, for otherwise there would be no need for the sixth year's crop to bring forth fruit for three years rather than two.

Chapter 26  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 27  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Numbers   [Forward to Deuteronomy]  [Back to Leviticus]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

General comments:
    The Hebrew name of this book is "In the Wilderness," which gives a more accurate picture of its contents than "Numbers." (NBC) This book describes the Israelites' journey from Mount Sinai to the borders of Canaan.

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    39. See note in NBC, p. 167.

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. Note that the sinner had to confess and make full restitution, plus one-fifth.

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    29-32. According to NBC, Hobab probably accepted Moses' offer, since his descendants are recorded as being in Canaan at a later time. Judges 1:16; 4:11.

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. RSV: "and the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some outlying parts of the camp."

    7-9. Cf. Ex. 16.

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. For "Cushite" (ASV) Moffatt says "Ethiopian."

    3. Moffatt: "Now the man Moses was a most devout creature, the most pious of all men upon earth." Berkeley says "gentle."

    13. Moses' prayer was answered, but not for seven days (v. 15). Does God have a purpose in (sometimes) delaying answers to prayers?

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
General comments
    See Deut. 1:19-46 for a parallel account.
Verse:
    17 et seq. Why did they have to scout out the land? God had promised it to them. Maybe so they could take the land with the least loss of life?

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    17. Moses reminds God of his promises. Why? Was it really so that Moses and the people would be reminded of them, and see God's part in all that was going to happen?

    24. See Heb. 3:7-19.

    34. The people were punished one year for every day of the scouting trip. This was for their grumbling and unbelief. But the ten bad spies were immediately punished by death (v. 37). (Moffatt says by a "stroke".)

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    29-30. No discrimination in applying God's law.

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4-5. Moses committed the controversy to the Lord.

    32. But apparently not Korah's sons – see 26:11.

    46. Necessity of atonement.

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    20. Moffatt: "I am your property, I am your share in life, among the Israelites."

    29. The best part of the offerings were to be God's – not the leftovers!

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    23-24. Moffatt indicates that this was directed against both Moses and Aaron. How were Moses and Aaron "faithless" (Moffatt) at Meribah? Apparently in striking the rock with the rod, instead of speaking to it, as they were commanded to do (v. 8).

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. RSV: "we loathe this worthless food."

    9. See 2 Kings 18:4; Jn. 3:14-15.

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. Moffatt: "taking the usual fee for cursing."

    22. This doesn't seem fair in the light of v. 20.

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    9b. Moffatt: "a folk who live secure, who reckon themselves above all races."

    13. Balak misunderstood that the essence of the curse (God's sovereign will; see v. 19), not the mechanics (where it is done, etc.), is important. See also v. 27.

    27. Cf. v. 13.

Chapter 24  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. NBC says that "Agag" was probably a hereditary name for the kings of the Amalekites, like Pharoah was for the Egyptians.

    11. What is honor? See v. 13.

    15-24. For further discussion of these verses, see NBC, pp. 189-190.

    17. David fulfilled this prophecy – see 2 Sam. 8:2, 14.

Chapter 25  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 26  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    11. Moffatt says "the sons of Korah did not die out."

Chapter 27  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    13-17. After God told Moses that he was going to die, his first concern was for the children of Israel, that they might not be without a leader.

    17. See Mt. 9:36, where Jesus apparently quoted these words.

Chapter 28  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 29  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    39. Not all gifts were by the "letter of the law."

Chapter 30  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 31  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    8. Balaam apparently turned against the God he professed to serve so faithfully. See v. 16; ch. 22-24.

    17. It's hard to believe that God willed this.

    40. What happened to these 32 girls? Perhaps they served the priests.

    49. RSV: "there is not a man missing from us."

Chapter 32  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 33  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. RSV: "went out triumphantly;" Moff. "marched confidently."

Chapter 34  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 35  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    30. It took two witnesses to convict of murder.

Chapter 36  [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Deuteronomy   [Forward to Joshua]  [Back to Numbers]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    16-17. Instructions to judges.

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    31. An example of the mysterious interaction of faith and works. God begins to act, and we must begin to respond.

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    17. "Chinnereth" is the Sea of Galilee.

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. The covenant was not just history; it was always contemporaneous, always relevant.

    9b. "those who hate me" – Doesn't this indicate that those who worship false gods hate the true God?

    22. Moses did not carve the Ten Commandments in stone – God did. How? We don't know.

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. See Gen. 10:15-20 for an account of the origin of these nations.

    7-8. God's grace is revealed in the Old Testament. He did not choose Israel because of her greatness or goodness (see 9:4-6), but because of his gracious love and the faithfulness he shows to the promise made to the patriarchs.

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4-5. This helps answer the question about how God could have commanded the extermination of nations – because of their wickedness. God's grace is involved, for he gave the land to the Israelites because of his love (see 7:8), and not because of Israel's righteousness (see 9:24; 18:12).

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    12-13. This makes clear that keeping the commandments was not the only or even the first responsibility of God's people in the Old Testament. See Moff. "And now, Israel, what is the Eternal your God asking from you but to reverence the Eternal your God, always to live his life, to love him, to worship the Eternal your God with all your mind and all your heart, and to obey ...."

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    29b. See ch. 27.

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    31. This was not a case of substituting one religion for others, Gopd hates false religions for what they do to their adherents. "Every abomination" apparently included cult prostitution (23:17-18).

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. When a private prophecy or leading is directly contrary to God's written word, then the written word must prevail.

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    26. The word translated "strong drink" (ASV) or "fermented drink" (NIV) comes from the verb "to be drunk" and according to HSB was probably beer, since the Israelites did not have distilled liquors.

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4. This verse expresses God's will that "there should be no poor among you." However, see v. 11.

    11. Here, a few verses after saying that there should be no poor people among the Israelites, God predicts that there will always be poor people in the land. But note that God says this is a reason to give to them, not to withhold giving: "Therefore I command you to be openhearted toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." (NIV) Thus when Jesus told his disciples that there would always be poor people (Mt. 26:11; Mk. 14:7; Jn. 12:8), he was certainly not saying that to relieve them of their duty to be generous to the poor.

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    12. See 9:5.

    15. Does this refer to Christ? See Acts 3:22; 7:37. See also comparison between Moses and Christ, NBC, p. 214.

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    15-18. Annihilation of the peoples surrounding the Israelites was apparently (1) to punish them for wickedness, and (2) to prevent Israel from being contaminated by them.

    19b. But see 2 Kings 3:19.

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7-9. Note that sin is not purely an individual's concern; it has corporate implications. See also v. 21.

    15. Apparently there was no stigma to bigamy.

    23. Thus Christ because a curse for us. Gal. 3:13.

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    18. The Hebrew for the second thing not to be brought into the house of the Lord is the "wages of a dog." (So translated in ASV, ESV) Kenneth Bailey speculates that this has to to with hiring dogs to lick sores for medicinal purposes! See Kenneth E. Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, p. 385.

Chapter 24  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1-3. See Mt. 5:31; 19:7-9.

Chapter 25  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. See Ruth 1:11-13; Mt. 22:23-33.

Chapter 26  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 27  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 28  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 29  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    29. According to this verse, there are "secret things" that belong to God alone, but there are also "things revealed," which belong to God's people. The New Testament indicates that the secret things have to do with the end times. See Mt. 24:36 (no one knows the "day or hour" when Christ will return); Acts 1:7 (when his disciples asked Jesus, toward the end of his earthly life, if he was then going to "restore the kingdom to Israel," Jesus said it was not for them to know the "times or dates" that God the Father has set).

Chapter 30  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 31  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    16-18. Why did the Lord predict that evil was going to come upon the Israelites? He said it was because they were going to break the covenant they had agreed to and serve other gods. But note the response of the people: "have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?" (v. 17) In other words, God abandoned us and so we are suffering, but they got it backwards. They rejected the Lord and then evil followed.

Chapter 32  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    18. See special topic Gender; male and female imagery in the Bible.

Chapter 33  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    8-9. Apparently the meaning of this strange phrase ("He said of his father and mother, 'I have no regard for them.' He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children ....") is that those of the tribe of Levi were to be so dedicated to serving the Lord that, relatively speaking, they would ignore their own families. In other words, their sacred obligations in the ceremonial worship of God far outweighed all familial obligations. Cf. Lk. 14:26 ("If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.")

Chapter 34  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Joshua   [Forward to Judges]  [Back to Deuteronomy]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    13-14. Joshua was preparing to fight the Canaanite army when he was confronted with one he thought was a human soldier with a drawn sword. Joshua obviously didn't recognize him, so he asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" The sword-bearer identified himself as "commander of the army of the Lord," and said he was not on one side or the other.

    Doesn't this mean, at a minimum, that God is not a Democrat or a Republican, not on one side or the other in any human conflict? No matter how sure that we are right and our opponents are wrong, it is just not black-and-white. We can never assume that we have all the truth; i.e., that God is on our side.

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    26. This prophecy was fulfilled; see 1 Kings 16:34.

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    12. RSV: "because they have become a thing for destruction." By taking what was to be God's, Israel was to be destroyed.

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. Moff. says 3,000.

    12. See v. 3. Didn't Joshua set this ambush the night before?

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. What happened to the Gibeonites (v. 3)? See 11:19.

    14. This was their big mistake.

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    13. Moff. says "Book of Heroes."

    15. HSB points out that this verse, which is identical with 10:43, is out of place here, for if Joshua had returned to Gilgal, the kings would not have had to hide in a cave.

    21. RSV says that all the people returned "safe."

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    19. Does this imply that Israel would have accepted offers of peace?

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4. See Num. 27:1-11; 36:1-12.

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    9. According to HSB, the tribe of Simeon was absorbed into Judah and was seldom mentioned thereafter. This was prophesied in Gen. 49:5-7.

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    18. See v. 31.

    31. They had learned that the whole community suffers for the sin of the individual. See v. 17-18, 20.

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 24  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Judges   [Forward to Ruth]  [Back to Joshua]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    9. Deborah predicts that a woman, not Barak, will gain the glory for vistory over the Canaanite army under Sisera. Although Sisera was killed by a woman (Jael; see v. 21), many years later the prophet Samuel said the Lord sent Barak (not a woman) to deliver Israel from Sisera. See 1 Sam. 12:11.

    15. Apparently by sending a huge storm. See 5:20-22.

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    25. Moff. translates "Asherah" as "sacred pole."

    39. Cf. Gen. 18:23-33 (Abraham pleads for Sodom).

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. From 32,000 (see v. 3) to 300! Less than 1%.

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    23. What happened to Gideon's faith? See v. 27.

    27. Moff. says "an ornamental idol."

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    48. RSV: "bundle of brushwood."

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    16. RSV: "... and he became indignant over the misery of Israel."

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    9. In the RSV, this is not a question but an assertion.

    39. The commentaries suggest that she was actually killed, although this was against the law.

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. See Num. 6:2 ff.

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3b. Moff. "'Get her,' said Samson to his father, 'get her for me; I like her.'"

    9. According to Num. 6:6, going near a dead body was a violation of the Nazarite vow. NBC suggests that this is why he did not tell his parents.

    15. RSV says "fourth day," which makes more sense than "seventh day" (ASV).

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4-5. St. Augustine gives an allegorical interpretation to this incident. He says the foxes are the heretics, who are bound – that is, damned – and carry the "fire of damnation" behind them. "Do you think that the heretics can carry fire wherewith to burn the crops of the enemy without burning themselves? There can be no doubt that when the foxes burn the crops, they burn themselves as well. The judgment of the heretics will come from behind, but they do not see it now. They have their charms with which to cajole, and they present for all to see what lies in front. In their bound tails, however, which is the judgment of God, they carry fire behind them, for their wickedness goes before their punishment." Selected Sermons of St. Augustine, trans. & ed. by Quincy Howe, Jr., p. 122.

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. RSV: "seven fresh bowstrings".

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7.

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. RSV: "became angry with him."

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 21  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Ruth   [Forward to 1 Samuel]   [Back to Judges]  [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    11. Naomi is referring to the "levirite" marriage, under which the brother of a deceased husband marries the widow. See Deut. 25:5-6; Mt. 22:23-33.

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. See Deut. 24:19; Lev. 19:9-10. Cf. Jas. 5:1-6.

    7b. Moff.: "... without stopping for a moment." RSV says, "without resting even for a moment," but a footnote indicates that the meaning of the Hebrew text is unclear.

    22b. Moff.: "... so that the reapers may not attack you in some other field."

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 4  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    18-22. See Mt. 1:3-6.

1 Samuel   [Forward to 2 Samuel]  [Back to Ruth]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. RSV says: "and, although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the Lord had closed her womb." A footnote, however, indicates that the Hebrew is obscure.

    8. Elkanah knew why she was weeping.

    20. According to HSB, "Samuel" means "His name is God," or possibly, "Heard of God."

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    33. Moff.: "One of your family I will not cut off from my altar, I will spare him to consume his eyes with longing and to wear out his heart; but the greater part of your household shall die by the sword of men."

    35. See 1 Kings 2:27, 35.

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    13. Parental responsibility.

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    21. Moff. says "they named the child...."

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. Moff.: "(This is why the priests of Dagon, and all who enter the temple of Dagon, to this day, never step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, but leap over it.)"

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    19. Moff.: "The sons of Jeconiah, however, did not rejoice along with the men of Beth-Shemesh when they saw the ark of the Eternal, so he struck [[fifty thousand and]] seventy of them." RSV follows ASV in saying they were punished because they looked into the ark, but says only "he slew seventy men of them," with both figures in the margin.

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    11. "Then the Lord sent ... Barak ...." See Judges 4:9.

    17. NBC says that normally there was no rain from April to October, and that to have rain and thunder in wheat harvest (middle of May to the middle of June) was a miracle.

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    13. Saul's big mistake – not keeping God's commandment.

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6b. Jonathan was clearly trusting in the Lord.

    11. Moff.: "... Look at the mice creeping out of their hiding-holes!"

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
General comments
    Saul's character:
        1. He disobeyed (15:8-9)
        2. He blamed his people (15:15, 21)
        3. He set up a monument to himself (15:12)

Verse:
    21. Note that Saul blames the people (also in v. 15). See also Ex. 32:22-24.

    32b. Moff.: "'Death is a bitter thing,' said Agag." But the RSV agrees with ASV.

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4. According to NBC, Goliath was between nine and ten feet tall, his coat of mail weighed about 157 pounds, and the head of his spear weighed about 19 pounds.

    29. Moff.: "I merely asked a question."

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    13. RSV says what Michal put in the bed was "an image." Moff. says "their household god." Did David and Michal have an idol? Or did Michal get it some place else, and if so, where?

    17. Michal lies to save David's life, or maybe her own.

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. According to HSB, the first day of the lunar month was a feast day, with work suspended.

    6. David asks Jonathan to lie to his father for David's sake.

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. David lied to the priest. Is lying always wrong?

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 24  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 25  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    37-38. NBC says that Nabal suffered a stroke of paralysis and that he lingered for ten days before dying.

    43-44. That makes three wives for David. See 1 Chron. 3:1-3, which mentions six wives when he reigned in Hebron.

Chapter 26  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 27  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 28  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 29  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 30  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 31  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

2 Samuel   [Forward to 1 Kings]  [Back to 1 Samuel]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2-5. David had six wives! Plus Michal, who was taken away by Saul and given to another (1 Sam. 18:27)

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5-6. The Lord apparently disapproved of David's plan to build him a house.

    13, 16. How can this be true? Unless it applies to Christ as the universal king? See Acts 2:25-36.

    23. Isn't this the heart of Jewish faith? See Moff. translation.

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    18. Some translations (Moff., RSV, ESV) say David's sons were priests, but see ASV ("chief ministers"), NIV ("royal advisors"). Cf. 1 Chron. 18:17 – "David's sons were the chief officials in the service of the king." (RSV)

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6 et seq. David first tried to get Uriah to go home to his wife so David would have an "out." This didn't work, even when David got him drunk. So finally David thought of a new plan – which added murder to adultery.

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. How easy it is to see the sins of others and miss our own! See Mt. 7:3-5.

    10. See 13:28-29; 18:14; 1 Kings 2:25.

    11. See 2 Sam. 16:22.

    24-25. What an example of God's forgiveness!

    27. Moff.: "I have captured the fort protecting the water supply."

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    15. The love-hate paradox.

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    27. Absalom's sons may have died prematurely; see 18:18.

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    17. RSV: "they halted at the last house."

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    22. See 12:11.

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. RSV: "better that you send us help from the city."

    18. But cf. 14:27, which says that Absalom had three sons.

    21. Moff.: "a Negro slave."

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. See Josh. 9:16-18.

    19. But David had already killed Goliath with a sling shot; see 1 Sam. 17. A note in the NIV Study Bible suggests a copyist's error here, that it should read "Elhanan ... killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath." See 1 Chron. 20:5, where it says this.

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
General comments:
This chapter is virtually identical with Ps. 18.

Verse:
    21-25. Note that David makes these claims of righteousness after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband's murder! See 2 Sam. 11.

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    8b. See 1 Chron. 11:11 (800 rather than 300).

Chapter 24  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3b. Is this a hint of David's sin – pride?

1 Kings   [Forward to 2 Kings]  [Back to 2 Samuel]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6. Moff.: "Choose your own time, but never let his grey head go to the grave in peace."

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5-14. Solomon's dream prayer. Here's how Solomon arrived at his request: (1) He reflected first on the greatness of God, and what he had done in the past and his own relationship to God (v. 6-7a); (2) Then he looked at his own smallness and weakness (v. 7b); (3) Finally he considered the job that God had given him (v. 8) and here he arrived at his request. Lesson: As we grow spiritually mature, we should think hard about what we ask from God. (See also special topic Prayer.)

    5. God told Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted God to give him. Doesn't God say the same thing to us? See Jn. 14:13-14; 16:23-24. Note that the choice for Solomon is not to ask or not to ask. The choice is what to ask for. God would not have been pleased if Solomon had not asked for anything.

    9. If Solomon prayed for this in a dream (v. 5, 15), then this must have been his subconscious desire. Cf. Moses' prayer to know God and find favor in his sight (Ex. 33:13), and Paul's similar prayer (Phil. 3:8-10).

    10. Solomon's request pleased God, for it told a lot about what Solomon wanted out of life. God had given him a big job, and Solomon asked for what he needed to carry it out. Consider the different ways God could have responsed to Solomon's prayer:

        a. God could have denied, or partly answered, Solomon's specific request. But here this seems unlikely because by implication God promised to answer the request.

        b. God could have given him exactly what he asked for, and no more. For example, if Solomon had asked for money, God could have made him wealthy – but stupid. This is what I think God would have done if Solomon had made a poor choice.

        c. God could overfulfill the request. He could give him what he asked for, plus other things he didn't ask for – lesser choices. This is what God did for Solomon. Cf. Mt. 6:33.

        d. One more possibility – God could give a conditional answer. Here God gave wisdom or a "discerning heart" (NIV), plus riches and honor, and then he promised Solomon long life if he continued to be faithful.

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    25. Is there a connection between every man having a "vine" and a "fig tree" and dwelling safely? In other words, is this divine approval of private property?

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. Moff. says this was 90 feet long, 30 feet broad, and 45 feet high.

    12. Note that completion of the temple was not one of the conditions for God's blessing. God is making clear that the critical thing is not building a physical structure but a faithful life.

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. This was apparently a separate building, like a public auditorium.

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3-9. These verses make clear that Palestine, the "Promised Land," was given to Israel conditionally. The land would be theirs forever if they continue to follow and obey the Lord. But if not, the land would be taken away from them.

    11. Cf. 2 Chron. 8:2, which says that Hiram gave Solomon the cities.

    13. Moff. says that "Cabul" means "good-for-nothing."

    14. "120 talents of gold." Cf. v. 28, which mentions "420 talents of gold" from Hiram. But these verses may be referring to different shipments.

    28. See v. 14.

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. See Deut. 17:16-17, forbidding the multiplying of horses and wives.

    32. Apparently Benjamin had been assimiliated into Judah, and therefore two tribes were actually reserved for David's descendants. See 12:17, 21.

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2-3. This prophecy is fulfilled in 2 Kings 23:15-18.

    9. NBC suggests that this was to show that the land was unclean.

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    13. Apparently the boy was old enough to "be righteous," at least to some extent.

    24. ASV: "sodomites"; RSV: "male cult prostitutes."

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    8. Moff. says Asa was "his brother."

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    34. See Josh. 6:26.

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    16. See note on Old Testament miracles in HSB, p. 517.

    18. Moff.: "Have you come here to call attention to some sin of mine and have my boy killed?"

    21. Moff.: "crouched over."

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    32. Moff.: "... a trench round the altar about the space of eighteen hundred square yards."

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. According to Moff., Benhadad claimed only the silver and gold, and not the wives and children.

    33. RSV: "Now the men were watching for an omen, and they quickly took it up from him and said, 'Yes, your brother Benhadad'."

    34. RSV: "bazaars."

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    15. Apparently Naboth's sons were also put to death, that there might be no surviving heir. See 2 Kings 9:26.

Chapter 22  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

2 Kings   [Forward to 1 Chronicles]  [Back to 1 Kings]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    17. RSV says "Jehoram his brother."

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    23-24. This is a strange incident. First, it says "some boys," but then two bears injured or killed forty-two of them? They couldn't run in different directions? Second, and more important, what does this say about Elisha, the "man of God"? Some kids call him "baldhead" and he curses them in the name of the Lord? Finally, what does it say about God, who punishes dozens of children by having them mauled by bears because they called an old man names?

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. Was he worshiping the golden calves? See 1 Kings 12:28-32.

    11. Moff.: "... who used to be servant to Elijah."

    16. RSV: "'I will make this dry stream-bed full of pools'."

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    10. Elisha didn't even come out to him. Was this to test his faith?

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    11. He suspects a traitor.

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    11. Moff.: "As he spoke, the man of God's face became rigid with horror, absolute horror. Then he burst into tears."

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    13. Moff.: "Then every man of them rushed to lay his robe under Jehu's feet on the bare steps ...."

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    27. RSV & Moff.: "latrine."

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    14. Moff.: "... you are worth chariots and horsemen to Israel!"

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. RSV: "He even burned his son as an offering ...."

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    19b. RSV: "For he thought, 'Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?'"

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7. RSV: "But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money which is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly."

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 24  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    20. Moff.: "The Eternal was so wroth that he let Jerusalem and Judah go from bad to worse, till he would have no more to do with them."

Chapter 25  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

1 Chronicles   [Forward to 2 Chronicles]  [Back to 2 Kings]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 24  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 25  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 26  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 27  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 28  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 29  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    11-13. These verses may be the source of the final affirmation of praise that some ancient texts (and modern pray-ers) add to the Lord's Prayer: "For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen." See Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, pp. 130-131.

2 Chronicles   [Forward to Ezra]  [Back to 1 Chronicles]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    36. See Rom. 3:9, 23.

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 24  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 25  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    19. See 2 Chron. 26:16.

Chapter 26  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    16. Just like his father! See 2 Chron. 25:19 (Jehoash, king of Israel, says to Amaziah, father of Uzziah: "You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud.")

Chapter 27  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 28  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 29  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 30  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    18-20. As the NIV Study Bible points out, faith and obedience take precedence over ritual. Here those who had violated the rules of the sanctuary — who were not ritually clean — nevertheless were accepted by the Lord and joined in the celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread because they had set their heart on "seeking God." See also Jn. 7:22-23; 9:14-16 (Jesus healing on the Sabbath).

Chapter 31  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 32  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 33  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 34  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 35  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 36  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Ezra   [Forward to Nehemiah]  [Back to 2 Chronicles]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    31. This verse lists, as one of the families or clans returning from Babylon, "the other Elam" with 1254 men. So apparently there were two Elam families. The first is listed in verse 7 of this chapter. What makes it so strange, and suspicious, is not that there were two Elams, but that both families are listed as having 1254 men! That seems too great a coincidence to be accurate. Probably there were two Elams (indicated by "the other") but the count for one of them must be a mistake.

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 10  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Nehemiah   [Forward to Esther]  [Back to Ezra]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Esther   [Forward to Job]  [Back to Nehemiah]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Job   [Forward to Psalms]  [Back to Esther]   [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6. What does this mean?

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    13-19. This is apparently the Old Testament view of Sheol. NBC refers to this as "the dormitory of death."

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    17 et seq. Eliphaz tells Job just what we might tell a sufferer today; he missed in his diagnosis of Job's problem, and because of this his advice – though generally good – was not appropriate. This should teach us humility, because we never know all the facts about another's life. (Even Job didn't know here.)

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    9b. Moff.: "to let his hand snap off my thread of life!"

    15-17. Job says of his friends that they were great when not needed, as a nice icy river in the mountains; but when needed they disappear like streams in the desert.

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    17-18. Why do you take so many pains with humans? Or, maybe, why are you so interested in what humans are doing? Job seems very suspicious of God's constant watching over humans, unlike David's more benign view. See Ps. 8:4-8.

    19b. NBC says this means "for a single moment."

    20a. Moff.: "O thou Spy upon mankind?"

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. Moff.: "Yes, it is true; I know it; but how is man to get his rights from God?"

    15. Moff.: "I would not answer him, though I were in the right, but beg my adversary to have pity."

    19. RSV: "If it is a contest of strength, behold him! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?"

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6b. Berkeley: "You would then see that God holds against you less than your iniquities deserve."

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    14. Job longs for a future life after death.

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. Job's deepest need is for consolation, not criticism.

    21. Job recognizes that God must somehow intercede with himself. Cf. Christ.

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 19  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4. Moff.: "Supposing I have sinned, does my sin concern you?"

    21. Job needs comfort, not chastisement.

Chapter 20  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 21  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 22  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6-9. See 29:11-17.

Chapter 23  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    10. Does Job realize or suspect the purpose of his sufferings?

Chapter 24  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 25  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 26  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 27  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    7 et seq. NBC points out that attributing the rest of this chapter to Job means flatly contradicting what he has previously said. See 21:22 et seq.; 24:1 et seq. Moffatt attributes this section to Zophar.

Chapter 28  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3b. Berkeley: "Hanging to ropes that swing back and forth."

    12-17. See 22:6-9.

Chapter 29  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 30  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 31  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    15. Hence, all men are created equal.

Chapter 32  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 33  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 34  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 35  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 36  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4b. Elihu is apparently referring to God here. See 37:16.

    21. Moff.: "Beware, banish all evil thoughts – you prefer sin to suffering!"

Chapter 37  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 38  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    41. See Lk. 12:24.

Chapter 39  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 40  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 41  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 42  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    10. When Job prayed for his friends, then God rewarded him. Cf. Mt. 6:33.

Psalms   [Forward to Proverbs]   [Back to Job]  [All books of the Bible]
        Go to chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150

Chapter 1  [Next chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 2  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    6-9. Two Messianic prophecies here were fulfilled; Messiah as King; see Rev. 19:15-16, and Messiah to be the Son of God (v. 7); see Mt. 3:17; Lk. 1:32.

Chapter 3  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. According to NBC, "Selah" was inserted some time after the poem was pomposed, in order to adapt it for use in the services of the temple. It always appears to indicate a change in mood, a pause in the chant, or an alteration in the musical accompaniment.

Chapter 4  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. Moff.: "O God, my champion ...."

Chapter 5  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 6  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    5. David does not seem to have had an awareness or belief in an afterlife.

    7b. RSV: "... take thy seat on high."

Chapter 7  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 8  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4-8. Unlike Job, who seemed to think that God's intense concern for humans was so he could catch them doing something wrong (see Job. 7:17-18), David is amazed at how God has given such awesome responsibilities to humans, who are so small and seemingly insignificant as compared with the rest of his creation.

Chapter 9  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    1. Give wholehearted thanks to the Lord, not reluctant or mechanical thanks. David does not say "I am thankful," but "I will give thanks. Note the role of the will in v. 2 also.

    10b. If sometimes we feel forsaken, is it because we have not been seeking God?

Chapter 10  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 11  [Next chapter]   [Preceding chapter]   [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    3. The "righteous" have two choices when the foundations are destroyed. They can try to run away and hide ("Flee like a bird to your mountain," v. 1b) or they can take refuge in the Lord (v. 1a).

    4. Why should the righteous run away? The Lord is on the throne, and he watches what is happening. He will destroy the wicked (v. 6), but those who are righteous will "see his face" (v. 7). Why? Because the Lord loves justice (v. 7).

Chapter 12  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 13  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 14  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    2. "any who seek after God." John Stott says, "God's chief quarrel with man is that he does not seek." John R.W. Stott, Basic Christianity, p. 16. Jesus promised, "Seek and you will find" (Mt. 7:7), and Jeremian quotes the Lord as saying, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13) God rewards those who seek him. (Heb. 11:6) Does that mean that those who seek God thereby earn salvation? Is this a kind of "works"?

Chapter 15  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
    4b. Moff.: "He keeps to his oath, though he may lose by it."

Chapter 16  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 17  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
Verse:
   

Chapter 18  [Next chapter]  [Preceding chapter]  [Beginning of book]   [All books of the Bible]
General comments:
This chapter is virtually identical with 2 Sam. 22.