The Living Bible (520 page)
Authors: Inc. Tyndale House Publishers
Tags: #BIBLES / Other Translations / Text
32:9
when I destroy you,
or “when I carry you captive among the nations.”
32:17
Two weeks later,
literally, “In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month.”
32:27
and their swords beneath their heads,
literally, “and their iniquity [iniquities] upon their bones.”
33:21
In the eleventh year.
Some manuscripts read, “In the twelfth year.”
33:30
Come on, let’s have some fun! Let’s go hear him tell us what the Lord is saying!
literally, “Come and let us hear what the word is that comes from the Lord!”
34:29
a notable Vine (the Messiah),
literally, “a plant of renown”; so perhaps the meaning is, “I will give them bumper crops.” Either translation is permissible, but the word for “plant” is in the singular.
36:17
as filthy rags,
literally, “as a menstruous cloth.”
36:23
by delivering you from exile among them,
implied.
36:26
hearts of love,
literally, “hearts of flesh,” in contrast to “hearts of stone.”
38:2-3
face northward,
implied.
against Gog.
The names of Gog’s confederates (Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, Beth-togarmah) can be identified as Muschki, Tabal, Gimaraya, Tegerama, peoples who lived in the mountainous area southeast of the Black Sea and southwest of the Caspian, currently in central Turkey. It therefore seems that Gog was, or is to be, the leader of one of these nations. But from the context Gog seems to be a symbol rather than a historical figure like Nebuchadnezzar. In any event he represents the aggregate military might of the forces opposed to God, especially in a mighty battle of the end times. See also Revelation 20:7-9.
38:13
Sheba and Dedan,
great trading centers in Arabia.
the merchant princes of Tarshish with whom she trades,
implied.
38:15-16
in the latter years of history,
implied; literally, “in the latter days,” an expression which, in Hebrew usage, does not necessarily mean “the end times.”
39:2
I will destroy 85 percent of your army,
literally, “I will leave one-sixth of you.”
40:3
standing beside the Temple gate,
implied.
40:7-12
18 inches wide,
or an 18-inch pillar in front of (or between) the guardrooms, projecting out into the hallway.
40:19
(which was called “the outer court” of the Temple),
implied.
40:28
Some manuscripts add to this verse: “And the arches around it were 37
1
/
2
feet by 8
3
/
4
feet broad.”
40:29-30
Verse 30, omitted in the Septuagint and several other of the ancient manuscripts, reads, “There were vestibules round about, and they were 37
1
/
2
feet long and 8
3
/
4
feet broad.”
40:47
in front of the Temple,
implied.
41:22
the Table of the Lord,
literally, “the table which is before the Lord.”
42:12
from the outer court,
implied.
42:16-20
to separate the restricted area from the public places,
literally, “between the holy and the common.”
43:3
at Jerusalem,
implied.
43:9
totem poles,
literally, “stellae.”
44:23
between what is holy and what is secular, what is right and what is wrong,
literally, “between what is ritually clean and ritually unclean.”
44:28
That is enough!
implied.
45:12
Fifty shekels,
or “Sixty shekels,” the manuscripts are unclear.
45:18
On each New Year’s Day,
literally, “On the first day of the first month.” The first month of the Hebrew year corresponded approximately to March 15–April 15 of our calendar.
46:7
a half bushel,
literally, “one ephah.”
47:2
through the north passageway.
The eastern passageway was closed.
of the eastern passageway,
implied.
47:7
to my surprise,
implied.
47:13
(Ephraim and Manasseh),
implied.
47:15
Labweh.
The present village on this site is so named. It was originally called Lebo-hamath.
48:17
for approximately a tenth of a mile,
literally, “for 437
1
/
2
feet in every direction.”
48:35
The City of God,
literally, “Jehovah-Shammah,” which means “The Lord is there.”
1:3-4
who was in charge of his palace personnel,
literally, “his chief eunuch”; see 2 Kings 20:17-18.
to teach them the Chaldean language and literature.
The language was Aramaic; the literature would have included mathematics, astronomy, and history—plus a strong dose of alchemy and magic!
1:8
made up his mind not to eat,
literally, “determined that he would not defile himself with.” The defilement was probably in eating pork or other foods outlawed in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14:3-21.
He asked the superintendent for permission to eat other things instead,
literally, “He asked the superintendent to allow him not to defile himself.”
2:34
a Rock was cut from the mountainside,
implied.
2:39
another world power,
the Medo-Persian Empire, whose first great ruler was Cyrus.
yet a third great power,
the Greek Empire founded by Alexander the Great.
2:40
the fourth kingdom,
apparently the Roman Empire.
3:5
the band,
literally, “the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltry, dulcimer, and every other sort of instrument.” So also in vv. 7 and 10.
3:7
whatever his nation, language, or religion,
implied.
3:25
looks like a god,
literally, “looks like a son of the gods.”
3:29
of any nation, language, or religion,
implied.
4:13
one of God’s angels,
literally, “a watcher, a holy one.”
4:19
Then Daniel,
literally, “Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar.”
4:23
God’s angel,
literally, “a holy watcher.”
4:34
At the end of seven years,
literally, “At the end of the days.”
5:7
become the third ruler in the kingdom.
Belshazzar was the second under Nabonidus, his father, who was out of town at the time.
5:11
King Nebuchadnezzar,
literally, “King Nebuchadnezzar, your father”—the Aramaic word for “father” can also mean “predecessor,” in this instance, fifth removed.
5:31
Darius the Mede.
Darius the Mede is not to be confused with Darius the Persian mentioned in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, nor with the one in Nehemiah 12:22.
7:12
a short time longer,
literally, “for a season and a time.”
7:23
the fourth world power,
usually believed to be a revived Roman Empire; see 2:40.
7:24
then another king,
probably the future Antichrist of 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
7:25
change all laws, morals, and customs,
literally, “change the times and the law.” Perhaps the meaning is, “change right to wrong and wrong to right.”
7:26
the Ancient of Days will come,
implied in v. 22.
7:27
the people of God,
literally, “the people of the saints of the Most High.”
8:2
Susa,
one of several capitals of the empire at this time.
8:8
in its place grew four good-sized horns.
The four principal successors of Alexander the Great were Ptolemy I of Egypt, Seleucus of Babylonia, Antigonus of Syria and Asia Minor, and Antipater of Macedonia and Greece.
8:9
the land of Israel,
literally, “the glorious land.” Israel was attacked by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, with a further fulfillment of this prophecy indicated for the future; see vv. 17, 19, 23.
8:10
the people of God and . . . some of their leaders,
literally, “host of heaven . . . the starry host”; see 8:24.
8:11
the Commander,
compare Joshua 5:13-15.
8:12
truth and righteousness perished, and evil triumphed and prospered,
or “and great indignities were perpetrated against the Temple ceremonies, so truth and righteousness perished.” The Hebrew text is obscure.