[The Biblical citations given in the Christian Science Quarterly are from the Authorized King James Version. The Bible Notes in these columns can be used, if deemed necessary, to elucidate some of the words or passages contained in the Bible Lessons. The Notes in this issue are related to the Lesson-Sermon designated to be read in Christian Science churches on February 21, 1943.]

"The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing" (Isa. 55:12)—There is general agreement among scholars that when these words were written the people of Israel were in exile in Babylon, a flat, alluvial plain in the vicinity of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The prophet appears to foresee their speedy release from bondage, and their glad return to "the mountains and the hills" of Palestine from which they came.

"Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come in the myrtle tree" (Isa. 55:13)—Often in the book of Isaiah and sometimes in other prophetic books, "briers and thorns" are referred to as symbols of desolation or of opposition, being of little if any value for constructive purposes. On the other hand, fir boards were used in constructing the temple (Isa. 60:13) and in shipbuilding (Ezek. 27:5); while myrtle boughs were used in making the "booths" used in connection with the Feast of Tabernacles (compare Neh. 8:15).

"Moses ... came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb" (Ex. 3:1)—Sometimes this famous mountain is simply termed "the mount of God" without further description, as when Aaron met Moses there (Ex. 4:27) and when Jethro did so also (18:5). However, in Chapter 24 of Exodus, "the mount of God" is described as "mount Sinai" (verses 13 and 16). It may be observed that "mount Sinai" appears to have been the topmost summit of a mountain range named "Horeb." Various Biblical passages affirm that God spoke with Moses on that mountain (e.g., Ex. 19:18–21); hence the designation, "mount of God."

"Put off thy shoes from off thy feet" (Ex. 3:5)—The Hebrew word here rendered "shoes" means more strictly "sandals." In the Orient it has long been the custom to remove one's sandals on approaching any sacred spot, with a view to protecting it from dust or pollution of any kind. The rule is still strictly enforced on entering a Mohammedan mosque. Compare Joshua 5:15, where Joshua received a command similar to that which was addressed to Moses.

"Hear, O Israel" (Deut. 6:4)—In the Hebrew, the word for "hear" is "Shema," and for this reason the passage from verses 4 to 9 of this chapter has been known as "the Shema" from time immemorial. It is a passage constantly repeated in the synagogue services and private devotions of the Jews to this day; while every Hebrew child is expected to memorize it at an early age. Presumably it was one of the very first portions of the Old Testament to be learned by Jesus as a child.

"The Lord our God is one Lord" (Deut. 6:4)—The structure of the Hebrew at this point is so condensed that various other translations are equally possible. Three of these are recorded in the Margin of the American Standard Version: namely, "Jehovah our God, Jehovah is one;" "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah is one;" and again: "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah alone."

"Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name" (Deut. 6:13)—Here, as in numerous other Old Testament verses in which "fear" is mentioned in connection with Deity, the thought implied is clearly that of "reverence" or "awe" rather than of "fear" in the usual sense of the term. Hence the seeming contradiction of "fearing" and "loving" God at one and the same time (compare especially Deut. 10:12) is more apparent than real.

"He ... gave them power and authority over all devils" (Luke 9:1)—In the first century of our era there was a prevalent belief to the effect that disease was due directly to the activities of alleged "devils" or "demons." Bearing this in mind, one can readily understand why the disciples were granted "power and authority over" these supposed causes of disease at the very commencement of their healing ministry.

"Straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship" (Matt. 14:22)—The Greek verb here rendered "constrained" is indeed a strong one, with the literal meaning of "compelled." In the parallel passage in John 6:15–17 it is pointed out that just prior to this the people were on the point of taking Jesus "by force, to make him a king," and some commentators feel that even the disciples had been inclined to take part in this importunate move. If so, we cannot wonder that the Master insisted that they should leave him to pray alone, once he had dismissed the multitudes (Matt. 14:23).

"The ship was now in the midst of the sea" (Matt. 14:24)—The Sea of Galilee is approximately seven miles broad, so apparently they had made their way some three or three and a half miles from shore, a supposition which is supported by John's statement to the effect that "they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs" (John 6:19).

"In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them" (Matt. 14:25)—Prior to the time of Pompey, who lived during the first century B. C., the Jews were accustomed to divide the night into three watches, each of four hours; but from that time on they generally observed the Roman division into four watches of three hours each, counting from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Consequently, "the fourth watch" covered the period from 3 to 6 in the morning.

"They were troubled, saying, It is a spirit" (Matt. 14:26)—It is noteworthy that the term here rendered "spirit" is not "pneuma" (the regular Greek word for "spirit") but "phantasma," meaning "ghost, spectre, apparition"—a word which appears in modern English in the form "phantasm." The Twentieth Century New Testament translates: "'It is a ghost,' they exclaimed, and cried out for fear."

"Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion" (Isa. 12:6)—The word here rendered "inhabitant" is strictly a feminine term, and Dr. Skinner observes that it is here used in view of the fact that "Jerusalem" is often "personified as a woman."