Latest Commentaries

2 Kings 25:8-12 records how, a month after Jerusalem was captured, Nebuchadnezzar sends his captain Nebuzaradan to burn the city to the ground. Solomon’s Temple, the royal palace, and the houses of Jerusalem are destroyed by fire, and the walls are demolished. The remaining people in the city are exiled to Babylon, while some few poorest of the poor (vine and field laborers) are left in Judah.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 reminds the Corinthians of who they are and how they are to live now. Though they do not need to worry about keeping Jewish laws, that does not mean that they should sin. They should live their identity as members of the body of Christ. Instead of using their bodies to sin, they need to represent Christ. For example, Paul asks his readers, should those who belong to Christ have a sexual relationship with a prostitute? Should we, who are part of Christ, engage in sexual immorality? That is a horrifying thought, and the answer is obviously, "Never!" Paul is prompting them to remember who they are and to act like it. Christians should run away from sin because it will harm us. 

1 Corinthians 6:7-11 notes that the believers who are prosecuting believers have already lost, whatever the outcome of the case. It would be better to show mercy, to cut losses, to exhibit grace and sacrifice, rather than attack one another in the courts. But the Corinthian believers are caught up in suing one another and trying to dominate each other in the legal system, rather than make peace and serve one another as Christ modelled. But this kind of unrighteousness, along with other types of sins which Paul lists, will not lead any believer to inherit a leadership role in God’s coming kingdom. Since we have been saved from sin and declared righteous in God’s sight, we should live not to win in this life, but to win in the next life.

1 Corinthians 6:1-6 addresses dysfunction in the Corinthian church. Some of the Corinthian believers are taking their fellow believers to civil courts with pagan judges. Paul points out that this is ridiculous, since one day believers will be judges over the world and even angels as a reward from Christ for faithfulness in this life. While earthly judges are legitimate for judging earthly legal matters and criminal cases, a dispute between believers should be settled within the church by wise, fair-minded leaders.

The genealogical lines of 1 Chronicles 1:28-33 show Abraham’s direct offspring—Isaac, Ishmael, and Keturah’s children—spreading into numerous territories and ultimately linking with the line of promise that leads to the Messiah.

2 Kings 25:18-21 records the systematic removal of the surviving leadership of Judah.

Joshua 10:40-43 concludes the Israelites' conquest of all the regions in southern Canaan; their victories are because the LORD fought for them. Once the battle ends, they return safely to their camp at Gilgal.

Joshua 10:38-39 depicts the LORD helping the Israelites to conquer the city of Debir. They destroy all its inhabitants, including its king.

Joshua 10:36-37 records how the LORD allowed the Israelites to conquer the city of Hebron, about 20 miles south of Jerusalem. They destroy all its inhabitants.

Joshua 10:34-35 describes how the LORD allowed the Israelites to conquer the city of Eglon, about 35 miles southwest of Jerusalem.

Joshua 10:31-33 shows how the LORD allowed the Israelites to conquer the city of Lachish, about 30 miles southwest of Jerusalem. They destroy all its inhabitants, including the king of Gezer (Horam) and his army, who came to the aid of the people of Lachish.

Joshua 10:29-30 records how the LORD allows the Israelites to conquer Libnah, a city in the allotment of Judah. They destroy all its inhabitants, including its king.

Joshua 10:28 records how the Israelites destroy the city of Makkedah, including all its inhabitants and its king.

Joshua 10:22-27 shows how Joshua dispatched the five Amorite leaders. After executing them, he hangs them on five trees until evening. At sunset, he removes their corpses from the trees and buries them in the cave where they had hid themselves when they fled from the Israelite army.

Joshua 10:16-21 depicts Joshua commanding his soldiers to seal the cave where the five Amorite kings hid themselves. Then, he urges them to press on to kill the enemy soldiers. The Israelites slaughter many, but a few escape to their towns. God's people return safely to their camp. Nobody dares to criticize them.

Joshua 10:12-15 records Joshua's prayer to God to cause the sun and the moon to stay put so the Israelites can finish the battle against the Amorites. God grants him the request. The Israelites defeat the enemy and return to the camp at Gilgal.

Joshua 10:6-11 records how the Gibeonites implored Joshua to rescue them from a coalition of Amorite armies. The LORD confounds the Amorites, allowing Israel to slaughter many of them. Then, He casts large stones from heaven on the retreating hosts, killing more than Israel killed with the sword.

Joshua 10:1-5 describes how the king of Jerusalem organizes a league with four other Amorite kings to attack Gibeon for allying with Israel.

1 Chronicles 1:24-27 trace a deliberate line of ancestry from Noah’s son Shem to Abraham, underscoring that from the ashes of the flood to the birth of a promise, God’s redemptive plan was never lost or abandoned.

1 Chronicles 1:17-23 emphasize the spread of Shem’s descendants into distinct peoples throughout the ancient Near East, revealing God’s overarching design in human history.