Mat 1:11-13, Act 7:43, 1Pe 5:13 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 11. No specific Barnes text on this verse. (1) "Josias begat Jechonias", some read "Josias begat Jakim, and Jakim begat Jechonias"

Matthew 1:11-13

Verse 11. No specific Barnes text on this verse. Mt 1:3

(1) "Josias begat Jechonias", some read "Josias begat Jakim, and Jakim begat Jechonias" Verse 12. No specific Barnes text on this verse. Mt 1:3

(s) "Jechonias begat Salathiel" 1Chr 3:17 (t) "Salathiel begat Zorobabel" Neh 12:1 Verse 13. No specific Barnes text on this verse. Mt 1:3

Acts 7:43

Verse 43. Yea, ye took up. That is, you bore, or you carried with you, for purposes of idolatrous worship.

The tabernacle. This word properly means a tent; but it is also applied to the small tent or house in which was contained the image of the god; the house, box, or tent, in which the idol was placed. It is customary for idolatrous nations to bear their idols about with them, enclosed in cases or boxes of various sizes, usually very small, as their idols are commonly small. Probably they were made in the shape of small temples or tabernacles; and such appear to have been the silver shrines for Diana, made at Ephesus, Acts 19:24. These shrines, or images, were borne with them as a species of amulet, or charm, or talisman, to defend them from evil. Such images the Jews seem to have borne with them.

Moloch. This word comes from the Hebrew word signifying king. This was a god of the Ammonites, to whom human sacrifices were offered. Moses in several places forbids the Israelites, under penalty of death, to dedicate their children to Moloch, by making them pass through the fire, Lev 18:21, 20:2-5. There is great probability that the Hebrews were addicted to the worship of this deity after they entered the land of Canaan. Solomon built a temple to Moloch on the Mount of Olives, 1Kgs 11:7; and Manasseh made his son pass through the fire in honour of this idol, 2Kgs 21:3,6. The image of this idol was made of brass, and his arms extended so as to embrace any one; and when they offered children to him, they heated the statue, and when it was burning hot, they placed the child in his arms, where it was soon destroyed by heat. It is not certain what this god was supposed to represent. Some suppose it was in honour of the planet Saturn, others the sun, others Mercury, Venus, etc. What particular god it was, is not material. It was the most cutting reproof that could be made to the Jews, that their fathers had been guilty of worshipping this idol.

And the star. The Hebrew in this place, is "Chiun your images, the star of your god." The expression here used leads us to suppose that this was a star which was worshipped, but what star it is not easy to ascertain; nor is it easy to determine why it is called both Chiun and Remphan. Stephen quotes from the LXX. They have rendered the word Chiun by the word Raiphan, or Rephan, easily changed into Remphan. Why the LXX. adopted this is not known. It was probably, however, from one of two causes.

(1.) Either because the word Chiun in Hebrew meant the same as Remphan in the language of Egypt, where the translation was made; or,

(2.) because the object of worship called Chiun in Hebrew, was called Remphan in the language of Egypt. It is generally agreed that the object of their worship was the planet Saturn, or Mars, both of which planets were worshipped as gods of evil influence. In Arabic, the word Chevan denotes the planet Saturn. Probably Rephan, or Remphan, is the Coptic name for the same planet, and the Septuagint adopted this because their translation was made in Egypt, where the Coptic language was spoken.

Figures which ye made. Images of the god which they made. See the article Chuin in Robinson's Calmet.

And I will carry you away, etc. This is simply expressing in few words what is stated at greater length in Amos 5:27. In Hebrew it is Damascus; but this evidently denotes the eastern region, in which also Babylon was situated.

1 Peter 5:13

Verse 13. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you. It will be seen at once that much of this is supplied by our translators; the words "church that is" not being in the original. The Greek is, ηενβαβυλωνισυνεκλεκτη; and might refer to a church, or to a female. Wall, Mill, and some others, suppose that the reference is to a Christian woman, perhaps the wife of Peter himself. Comp, 2Jn 1:1. But the Arabic, Syriac, and Vulgate, as well as the English versions, supply the word church. This interpretation seems to be confirmed by the word rendered elected together with--συνεκλεκτη. This word would be properly used in reference to one individual if writing to another individual, but would hardly be appropriate as applied to an individual addressing a church. It could not readily be supposed, moreover, that any one female in Babylon could have such a prominence, or be so well known, that nothing more would be necessary to designate her than merely to say, "the elect female." On the word Babylon here, and the place denoted by it, see the Intro., & 2.

And so doth Marcus my son. Probably John Mark. Acts 12:12; Acts 15:37. Why he was now with Peter is unknown. If this was the Mark referred to, then the word son is a title of affection, and is used by Peter with reference to his own superior age. It is possible, however, that some other Mark may be referred to, in whose conversion Peter had been instrumental.