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Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 3526 to 3550 of 3926 results

3526. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luke 18:9-14

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else: Although not stated, it is quite likely that Luke has the Pharisees in view (see 16:14–15). The role of the Pharisee in the parable itself (v. 10) also supports this supposition. The application, however, is much broader. Anyone, including Jesus’ disciples, could easily fall into the way of the thinking of this parable’s Pharisee. (Remember, not all of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day were self-righteous hypocrites. The Christian ...

3527. Personal Requests

1 Corinthians 16:5-18

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... -east corridor from Corinth to Asia Minor or Palestine, so Paul planned to avoid unnecessary dangers. Moreover, as some commentators point out, the Greek verb (propempō) underlying you can help me on my journey is nearly a technical term for supply assistance or physical support for someone engaged in traveling. 16:7 This verse is a simple statement of Paul’s desire to see the Corinthians for more than a passing visit. He apparently did not perceive any difficulty in such a visit or stay, and there is no ...

3528. Hallelujah!

Revelation 19:1-10

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... and even to the Messiah as the time of fulfillment, when Israel will be God’s faithful bride. Behind the prophetic use of this marriage-typology are the ideals of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The experiences of intimacy and mutual support which nurture a good marriage ought also to characterize the relationship between God and God’s people. Such a relationship constitutes the OT promise which has now been fulfilled because of the Lamb-groom (cf. Eph. 5:21–32). Indeed, the true ...

3529. The People Rebel

Numbers 14:1-45

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... that the land is exceedingly good; God will provide the strength to possess it. Rather than the land’s devouring its inhabitants (13:32), the leaders say, We will swallow them up (v. 9). The leaders fear that the people’s rebellion will cause God to withdraw support for the invasion of the land: If the LORD is pleased with us (v. 8). The question is not so much military might as trust in the divine promise. The response of the people was unanimous; they talked about stoning them. The glory of the LORD ...

3530. Offerings for Unintentional Sins

Numbers 15:22-31

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... ways to chapters 11–14 on the one hand and to chapter 16 on the other. Also, in contrast to a number of other commentators, he understands chapter 15 to exhibit an internal coherence (Numbers, pp. 90–101). What follows will in general support Olson’s view. The chapter is clearly from the hands of the Priestly tradents. It provides a temporary halt to the intensifying sequence of narratives of rebellion and brings attention back to God’s instruction of the people. The chapter contains several ...

3531. The Journey to Moab

Numbers 21:10-20

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... piece of poetry may not be possible to determine. Presumably Waheb is a town in the area of Suphah, and then there is reference to the ravines and slopes of the ravines that lead to Ar, a significant city in Moab. Is the point simply to support the statement that the Arnon is the border of Moab, or does the poetry imply Israelite victory or divine presence at these places? The fragment is too brief to know (see Davies, Numbers, pp. 220–21, and the literature cited there). The Israelites then continued to ...

3532. Balaam's Third Oracle

Num 23:27--24:14

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... seem one of the less formidable enemies Israel had. Still, before Agag’s defeat, they did cause problems. Accordingly, here the point of the blessing in Balaam’s mouth is that Israel will be exalted. The progress of the people up to this point supports the prophet’s words. Since leaving Egypt, the people have gained strength and victories. They are like a lion that can pounce upon prey. The conclusion of the oracle is reminiscent of Genesis 12:3, expressing the hope that those who bless Israel will ...

3533. Joshua to Succeed Moses

Numbers 27:12-23

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... daughters have a legitimate claim and should inherit (see Josh. 17:3–6). Two customs are in conflict here, that of keeping land in the family and that of only males inheriting property (Deut. 21:15–17). The judgment is that the former gets priority. Various practices supported the effort to keep land in the same family, clan, and tribe. The practice of Levirate marriage (Deut. 25:5–10) is, in part, a way of keeping property in a family. When a man dies without a son, a brother is to marry the widow in ...

3534. The Grain Offering (II)

Leviticus 6:14-23

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... should one follow the marginal suggestion “Whoever touches them must be holy”? The commentators are not of one mind. Hartley (Leviticus, p. 97) and Levine (Leviticus, pp. 37–38) follow the alternate reading and see the phrase as a further warning. Milgrom supports the primary NIV rendering and sees the phrase as reflecting the contagion of holiness (Leviticus 1–16, pp. 443–56). Holiness can be dangerous to the unprepared, and thus those who are not priests should avoid contact with these most holy ...

3535. The Fellowship Offering (II)

Leviticus 7:11-21

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... indication of what is unclean. The punishment is some kind of excommunication: that person must be cut off from the people. Perhaps the person loses all family and property inheritance rights. Uncleanness was contagious and dangerous. Such directions supported the Priestly order reflected in Leviticus. Additional Notes 7:18 Time limits were clearly important to the priests, and infringement of such limits negated the genuine intent of the worshiper. Meat left until the third day became an abomination ...

3536. The Priests' Share

Leviticus 7:28-38

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... the breast goes to the priests. The fact that certain portions go to the priests indicates that the priests have a means of living. In fact, these regulations put the priest in a much favored status. These portions come to the priests regularly. God supports these gifts to the priests with a first-person statement in verse 34, and the practice is associated with priestly ordination in verses 35–36. The portion[s] of the offerings . . . were allotted to Aaron and his sons . . . as their regular share for ...

3537. The Year of Jubilee

Leviticus 25:8-55

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... use in the OT (Jer. 34:8–22; 2 Chron. 36:21) and more widely in the ancient Near East (Budd, Leviticus, p. 342). While no doubt the instruction is an ideal, it is really more an articulation of a divine agenda that supports families and the community. The principle resists grand accumulation of wealth by individuals and is not a kind of casuistic legislation. Here theology and ethics come together. The instruction appeals to divine authority rather than to an earthly, governmental one. The basic Jubilee ...

3538. The Ark Returned to Israel

1 Samuel 6:1-7:1

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... figure of 50,070, but the grammar is unusual (the 50,000 is placed alongside the 70 without the normal conjunction), and the NIV’s 70 is almost certainly correct. The loss of seventy men would be significant in a small town like Beth Shemesh (cf. D. M. Fouts, “Added Support for Reading ‘70 Men’ in 1 Samuel VI:19,” VT 42 [1992]: p. 394).

3539. Israel Routs the Philistines

1 Samuel 14:15-23

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... was different from the priestly garment. Translating “ephod” instead of “ark” makes sense of the reference to the hand being withdrawn, as the priest manipulated the sections of the ephod. 14:21–22 The distinction between Hebrews and Israelites may again indicate that the Hebrews were outsiders brought in to support the Israelite army (cf. additional note on 13:3).

3540. David In Saul's Service

1 Samuel 16:14-23

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... maker in the appointments of both Saul and David. When Solomon came to power, David played a crucial role—his endorsement ensured Solomon’s succession. The key influence was neither prophet nor priest although both were involved, as Nathan and Zadok supported Solomon and Abiathar acted for Adonijah. It is likely, therefore, that Samuel is pictured as having recovered his power from Saul and handing it over again, this time to David. Payne (“Apologetic Motifs in the Books of Samuel,” pp. 57–66 ...

3541. Saul Tries To Kill David

1 Samuel 19:1-24

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... is expressed by the same word as is used for the pleasure Saul had previously taken in David (18:22). It may be that Jonathan’s calm good sense in removing David from the scene and then facing his father with the realities of David’s support, through which the LORD won a great victory for all Israel, brought Saul back to one of his periods of reality. Jonathan must have had some awareness of Saul’s fear that David would replace him, but his serene acceptance of the implications of David’s victories ...

3542. Saul and the Witch of Endor

1 Samuel 28:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... attack remained as strong as ever, so seeking further instructions from God was unnecessary. But, crying out for the kind of confidence boosting that he had never been able to cope without, Saul tried every possible means to ensure confirmation of God’s support except for the unavailable ephod now possessed by David (23:6; 30:7). This behavior shows Saul’s desperation and perhaps an increasing lack of confidence in God’s desire or ability to protect him. Dreams, Urim, and prophets all failed him; the ...

3543. Saul Takes His Life

1 Samuel 31:1-13

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... Jonathan, were killed in the fighting. Whatever Saul’s mental state, he threw himself into the attack as far as he was able; there is no question of cowardice. His great fear had been not of the battle but of losing any sense of God’s support. In the fierce fighting, indicating that by no means all of the Israelites had fled, Saul was critically wounded by Philistine archers. 31:4–5 Saul’s desire for a quick end avoiding any Philistine torturers is understandable, but so is the refusal of his armor ...

3544. David Conquers Jerusalem

2 Samuel 5:6-16

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... , but the fact that David’s kingship over Israel was at the initiative and with the full affirmation of the nation was crucial. The compact that David made with the people would have included mutual obligations, making explicit his responsibilities to them and the support he could expect from them. This is the first time (v. 2) the shepherd image is used to describe David’s God-given calling, but it became a well-used motif in the psalms and in the prophets for the role of national leaders, particularly ...

3545. David Defeats the Philistines

2 Samuel 5:17-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

3546. David Mourns

2 Sam 18:19–19:8

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... was aware of David’s wishes about Absalom’s safety, and because of this, no one would take the responsibility of killing him. Joab, with harsh realism, believed that Absalom had to die. He understood that the young prince, whom he had previously encouraged and supported, was too dangerous to be allowed to live. He took the initiative, and his personal bodyguard finished the job. 18:16–18 Any threat from Absalom’s forces was over as soon as he died. There was no cause for them to fight for; only ...

3547. The King Who Exalts Himself

Daniel 11:36-45

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... 2 Macc. 6:2). Because of the reference to the fertility cult, it seems likely that Zeus was identified with the Syrian god Baʿal Shamem (2 Macc. 6:4; cf. Additional Notes on Dan. 2:18; 8:13; and 9:27). This is further supported by the phrase shiqquts shomem, “desolating abomination” (Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11), which is probably a deliberate corruption of Baʿal Shamem, intended to ridicule the pagan deity. The problem is the expression “unknown to his fathers.” Zeus was certainly known and worshiped ...

3548. The Claims of Jesus About Himself

John 8:48-59, John 8:31-41, John 8:42-47

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... until v. 41. It is therefore likely that God is the only Father being referred to in this verse: “I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father” (NIV margin). This translation is supported by the word oun (“therefore”) in the Greek text. It assumes that the last verb do (Gr.: poieite) should be taken as an imperative rather than as an indicative. Jesus is making one last appeal to his opponents to accept his words as words from God ...

3549. Jesus the Way to the Father

John 14:5-14

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... you really have known me, you will know” (cf. GNB). Jesus’ immediate positive statement that from now on, you do know him and have seen him (i.e., the Father, v. 7b) and his surprised question, “Don’t you know me, Philip?” (v. 9), further support the notion that Jesus is assuming knowledge—not the lack of it—on the part of his disciples. In this respect their situation stands in contrast to that of the Pharisees in 8:19. 14:11 Believe on the evidence of the miracles (lit., “believe because ...

3550. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

John 14:15-31, John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

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