Recent Commentaries

Seventy sons who were descendants of Ahab lived in Samaria, the capital of Israel. Jehu planned to execute every relative who could possibly succeed Ahab. He wrote letters to the officials of Jezreel inviting them to select a king from Ahab’s sons to fight against him in a conte …

When David’s scheme to have Uriah spend time with his wife failed he ordered Joab to send him to the front lines where he would be killed. The messenger reported to David the details of the battle (vv. 18-21). The Ammonites had pushed the Israelites back from the city. Joab, howe …

In this passage we are introduced to Apollos, who was an eloquent Bible teacher (v. 24). He was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and somewhere along the way heard John the Baptist and became a believer, but he knew nothing beyond that point. Armed with these limited facts, he traveled …

Paul wrote this letter to the Church in Corinth while he was visiting Ephesus during his third missionary journey (Acts 19:1-20:1). While in Ephesus he had heard about problems in the Corinthian Church. He knew it well because he had spent 18 months there during his second …

We find John rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were the most influential of the Jewish sects of that day. They were usually orthodox in doctrine and followed good qualities: They knew the Scriptures – Matthew 23:2They tithed – Luke 18:12They fasted – Matthew 9:1 …

This short chapter pictures the nation’s exile and return. The Lord makes known His plans for the redemption of the prodigal nation. Although this chapter is short, its prophecies survey God’s past (v. 1), present (vv. 2-4), and future (v. 5) relationship with Israel. Israel will experience a time of …

This passage explains how the sword was sharpened (vv. 8-17). It is a poetic song of judgment and the theme is that God’s sword was sharpened, ready for slaughter. The song has three stanzas: The first stanza explains how God’s sword was sharpened with a whetstone to giv …

For the last time, Nahum gives his advice to the Ninevites. Make sure you have enough water! Strengthen the defenses! Make more bricks! (v. 14). All their preparations, however, would be in vain. They would be devoured by fire and cut by the sword (v. 15a). Nahum next uses locusts to …

Jeremiah had predicted that the furnishings still in the temple would be taken to Babylon (Jer. 27:19-22). This passage proves the truth of Jeremiah’s prophecy (vv. 17-23). The bronze pillars, the movable stands, and the other furnishings were indeed carried to Babylon. Thi …

Moses called all of the elders of Israel together and repeated to them the instructions for the Passover that God had explained to him (vv. 25-27). Having witnessed the previous nine terrifying plagues that had come upon the Egyptians the Israelites were quick to do what God had …