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Showing 751 to 775 of 975 results

751. The Living Stone and a Chosen People

1 Peter 2:4-12

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

The Stone—Living and Deadly Peter now turns from exhorting his readers to conduct that befits their life within the believing community to inviting them to consider the nature of that community which Christ has brought into existence. 2:4 The shift to stone from the figure of “milk” (v. 2) is unexpected and seemingly without reason. But for a Jewish reader there is a natural succession of ideas in this passage—not milk: stone, but the Hebraic one of babes: house. A helpful illustration is in Genesis 16:2. ...

752. False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 Peter 2:1-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

Watch Out for False Teachers Peter began this letter by speaking of the divine provision for a godly life (1:1–11). He went on to stress the divine inspiration of Scripture truths (1:12–21). Now he warns against those who are threatening the church’s spiritual well being by the way they falsely treat these matters (2:1–22). 2:1 In some respects times do not change. All prophecy, whoever gives it and in whatever circumstances, needs to be interpreted. Furthermore, just as in the period of the OT there were ...

753. The Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:1-18

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

The Writer’s Purpose Restated 3:1 After his lengthy tirade against the false teachers and their perverted life-style so dangerous to the well being of his readers, Peter turns—one senses, with warm relief—to address his dear friends directly. He now reverts to his opening exhortation to them to foster their spiritual life (1:5–8). This is now my second letter to you, he declares, although whether he means 1 Peter or some other letter, now lost, is uncertain. Since Peter is evidently not able to visit his ...

754. The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

Joshua 24:1-27

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

Covenant Renewal Ceremony at Shechem: 24:1–13 Joshua assembles representatives of the western tribes at Shechem. The chapter parallels the farewell address in Joshua 23. The farewell address anticipates Joshua’s death, and Joshua 24 describes it. This chapter gives no indication of its compositional history, and scholars disagree on its origin or use in the worship of Israel. The ceremony may reflect an early covenant renewal liturgy at Shechem (see Deut. 11:29–32; 27:1–26; reported in Josh. 8:30–35). ...

755. Wives for the Benjamites

Judges 21:1-25

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

Israel Preserved Intact: Just when it looked like one crisis was averted, another came to light. It is, however, not surprising, for that is how it is when chaos prevails, when “what is right in a person’s eyes, he/she does” (21:25). At the end of the book of Judges, the Israelites do not seem to be able to extricate themselves from the miry bog that they have gotten themselves into. Though they appear to call out to God for help, they still rely on their own absurd solutions that only make matters worse. ...

756. The Genealogy of Saul

1 Chronicles 9:35-44

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Saul’s Descendants: After the description of the inhabitants of postexilic Jerusalem in the previous section, the last few verses of this chapter jump back to Saul. Commentators are in agreement that the Chronicler (or those responsible for the final composition) probably included the genealogy of Saul here in order to lead into the narrative section starting with the death of Saul in 1 Chronicles 10. In 8:29–32 and 8:33–40 we already encountered a genealogy of Saul. Apart from 8:39–40, the rest of those ...

757. Triumph of the Jews

Esther 9:1-19

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

The Victory of the Jews: The ninth chapter of Esther recounts the events that ensured Jewish victory. It begins with an emphasis on a particular day: On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar—a date that chillingly recalls the events in chapter 3 that led to this crisis. This chapter is about this day (and the next), about the victory the Jews achieved over those who hated them, and about the rest that followed. These events provide the etiology of the Jewish festival of Purim. Much of ...

758. Wisdom's Call

Proverbs 8:1-36

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

The personification of Wisdom reaches new heights in this chapter that is entitled “Wisdom’s Call” in the NIV—an understatement, if one truly considers the claims Wisdom makes about herself. There is a superficial similarity between the opening verses and 1:20–21, but the tenor of Wisdom’s proclamation in this chapter is unique. She appeals to all, including the simple and the fools. They are to listen to her because of her claims to truth and righteousness, which are far more valuable than material riches ...

759. Invitation of Wisdom and of Folly

Proverbs 9:1-18

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

The NIV entitles this chapter “Invitations of Wisdom and of Folly.” This certainly captures the main points, but it neglects verses 7–12. The personification of the two women, Wisdom (vv. 1–6) and Folly (vv. 13–18) is the proper way to end these chapters (1–9) which have been so dualistic: wisdom/folly, life/death, and good/bad. 9:1–6 The rendering of Woman Wisdom in verses 1–6 contains several new items (in contrast to the businesslike description of Folly in vv. 13–15). Thus, she has her house of seven ...

760. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 15:1-33

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

This chapter is marked by many antitheses between the wise and the foolish and the topic of speech occurs several times (vv. 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 23, 26, 28). Notably frequent also are the yhwh sayings (“abomination,” vv. 8, 9, 26; “fear of the Lord,” vv. 16, 33). Their frequency in 14:26–16:15 has led some (Skehan, Studies, pp. 17–20) to ask if they were not added to provide a suture between the antithetical proverbs of chapters 10–15 and another group beginning in chapter 16. 15:1 Antithetic. For the idea see ...

761. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 21:1-31

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

21:1 Synthetic. Not only ordinary humans, but even kings are thoroughly under the Lord’s control. The watercourse is an irrigation channel, subject to the design of the gardener. 21:2 Antithetic. The possibilities of self-deception are enormous; the LORD alone knows the truth of a person’s heart (a catchword with v. 1). See 16:2 and comment, as well as 17:3. 21:3 This is a frequent biblical theme (cf. v. 27; 15:8, and the so-called prophetic critique of sacrifice; also Sir. 34:21–35:8). 21:4 The MT is ...

762. More Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 25:1-28

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

These chapters are introduced by a superscription indicating that they are from Solomon by way of the “men of Hezekiah.” The sayings break from the admonitory style of 22:17–24:34 and resemble those of chapters 10–22:16. However, these sayings are much more vivid, and in chapters 25–27 they form larger units (“proverb poems,” as they have been called). Explicit comparisons are frequent. We are unable to say much about the general setting of the collection, but the ambience of the court predominates in ...

763. Sayings of Agur

Proverbs 30:1-33

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

The title that is incorporated into verse 1 clearly indicates a new collection. But it is difficult to ascertain the extent of the sayings: does it extend to verse 4, 9, or 14? The fact that the 14 verses are found in the LXX after 24:22 would suggest that they were taken as a unit. Proverbs 30:1–14 30:1 Agur is identified as son of Jakeh, but the next two words create some confusion (see Additional Notes) because both belong to prophetic speech: “burden,” “oracle.” It seems better to emend it slightly and ...

764. Sayings of King Lemuel

Proverbs 31:1-9

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

The opening words indicate that a new collection appears. These sayings are clearly limited to verses 1–9, since an acrostic poem begins at verse 10. Moreover, they are a rare example of advice given by the queen mother to her son. 31:1 As in 30:1 (see the comment), “Massaite” should be read instead of oracle (see the NIV margin). The prestige and role of the queen mother in the ancient Near East was great. The role of women in society (and education) is not as prominent elsewhere in the OT as it is in ...

765. Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

Proverbs 31:10-31

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

An acrostic poem (vv. 10–31) is a rather surprising ending to a book that consists mainly of collections of sayings and it adds to the intriguing nature of this work. The Hebrew phrase, ʾēšetḥayil (cf. Ruth 3:11), “wife of noble character,” has been rendered in many ways: mulier fortis (Vulgate), etc. Her qualities are described from a male point of view. But the description of the woman is such that no human being could possibly possess all these qualities. Hence many look to another level of meaning in ...

766. Obey the King

Ecclesiastes 8:2-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

Where Is Wisdom?: A complex segment closes the section (8:1–17). Here the value of wisdom is considered in the context of people’s power over one another and the apparent lack of retribution. As usual, Qohelet concludes with a combination of positive and negative refrains. The commendation of pleasure (8:15) is muted by the preceding “this too is meaningless” (8:14) and the following “no one can comprehend” (8:17).The reader’s response to this section is likely to be complex and perhaps even contradictory ...

767. Israel Forsakes God

Jeremiah 2:1-3:5

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

Former Bliss (2:1-3): 2:1–3 God again commissions Jeremiah to speak an oracle to the residents of Jerusalem. The oracle reminds the Judeans of their former intimate relationship with God. Jeremiah uses the metaphor of marriage to make his point here. The beginning of the relationship between God and his people was like a honeymoon—pure devotion. The bride, Israel, followed the groom, God, through hard places like the desert, also called a land not sown. This language reminds the hearers of the wilderness ...

768. Disaster Because of Idolatry

Jeremiah 44:1-30

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

Idolatry and Its Consequences: One would think that the events of the past few decades would have made the people sensitive to Jeremiah’s guidance and obedient to the Lord. In Judah they had witnessed God’s word through Jeremiah come to a horrible reality in the destruction of Jerusalem. But in the previous chapter we observed how they continued to be hard-hearted toward the Lord and his prophet. Against God’s will they fled to Egypt. In this chapter, we will learn that matters get worse still. While in ...

769. Judgment Against Israel

Hosea 5:1-15

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

God’s Absence (5:1-7): In this oracle, Hosea describes the deeds of his three addressees in the exact reverse of their order in verse 1a–c. First, he tells of the murderous ways of the royal house, verses 1e–2a. Then he discusses the captivity of the Israelites to a spirit of harlotry, verses 3c–5. Finally, he turns to the cult where the priests officiate, verses 6–7b. And after each description, the punishment for such ways is stated, verses 2b, 5b–c, and 7c–d. The oracle holds together in a unified form ...

770. Israel to Reap the Whirlwind

Hosea 8:1-14

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

Israel Shall Reap What She Sows (8:1-7a): As is frequently the case with Hosea, it is very difficult to know how to divide chapter 8 into its separate oracles. From a form-critical standpoint, verses 1–3 could form an independent unit because they include summons, accusation, and judgment. But they are intimately linked to what follows by their subject matter. Verse 4 spells out the two primary ways in which Israel has rejected what is good (v. 3). It is then connected with verse 5 by the repetition of the ...

771. An Invasion of Locusts

Joel 1:1-12

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

The Interpreting Word (1:1): 1:1 It may be that the name Joel is more than just the proper name of the prophet. In the Hebrew, “Joel” combines two words, Yah, which is an abbreviated form of Yahweh, the Hebrew name for the Lord, and ʾēl, which means god. Thus, the name “Joel” signifies “Yahweh is God,” and while many pious parents could have affirmed their faith by giving their son that name, “Joel” may also point to one of the major concerns of the book, namely, apostasy or the worship of false gods. Joel ...

772. Blessings for God's People

Joel 3:17-21

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

The Glorious Future: Joel ends his book by portraying the glorious future that awaits the people of God. Their enemies have been destroyed, and peace reigns on the earth (cf. Ps. 46:8–11). In the place of the catastrophes that they knew in the past, they have become inheritors of abundant life. Indeed, Joel’s portrayals of that life, borrowing partially from Amos 9:13, pick up the themes of his first chapter and show their exact opposite. Once the sweet, new wine was cut off from Judah (1:5), but now the ...

773. The Indictment and Punishment of Israel Spelled Out

Amos 4:1-13

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

The Indictment and Punishment of Israel Spelled Out: Introductory and summarizing material has been concluded. We now enter into the principal collection of Amos’s oracles, encompassing 3:13–6:14, interrupted by the visions and encounter with Amaziah in chapter 7 and 8:1–3, and resuming with 8:4–9:6. This section of 3:13–4:13 forms the first large unit in the collection. 4:1–3 Throughout history women have served as “decorations” for the rich and powerful. In Western society, the more beautiful the woman, ...

774. Jesus Changes Water to Wine

John 2:1-11

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

The journey home to Galilee is not described. The writer focuses instead on a single incident that took place after the group arrived. Debates about whether one could reach Galilee from Bethany in two days are pointless, first, because the exact location of Bethany is unknown (see note on 1:28), and second, because the phrase on the third day could sometimes be used to express a short indefinite period of time (like “a couple of days” in colloquial English). Strictly speaking, the phrase means “the day ...

775. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

John 3:1-21

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

Nicodemus is introduced as a particular example of the “believers” mentioned in 2:23–25. As a “member of the Jewish ruling council” and “Israel’s teacher” (vv. 1, 10), he is perhaps not wholly typical of the group, though later indications are that leaders of the people were indeed conspicuous among these so-called believers (12:42). It is probably out of fear that Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. Speaking perhaps for the larger group, he makes a confession that puts the narrator’s summary (2:23) into ...

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