_Cethite, or "Hethite." These two were probably the most abandoned of Chanaan. Daniel (xiii. 56.) give the infamous judges the like appellation; and Isaias (i. 10.) calls the Jews princes of Sodom. (Calmet) --- So Dido says to Eneas: Nec te diva parens, generis nec Dardanus auctor_ Perfide sed duri... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cut. By this the infant received nourishment in the womb. Now it seems to be exposed by its parents. (Calmet) --- The Jews in Egypt were abandoned to idolatry and distress. (Theodoret, in Canticle of Canticles) --- Health. Many plunged the infant in cold water to brace its nerves, (Calmet) or to wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Born, as it were in Egypt. He represents the Jews as a female from her infancy, till she be advanced in years._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy blood, unwashed after being born, ver. 4. (Calmet) --- The Jews were solicitous to increase their numbers, and exposed none. (Tacitus, Hist. v.) --- But other nations did, if they thought the child would be troublesome, or a disgrace. (Calmet) --- The prophet sends this admonition from Chaldea,... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XVI. _ Woman's. Hebrew, "the ornament of ornaments;" hadaiim instead of harim in Septuagint, "the city of cities," (Calmet) or the highest glory, being arrived at that age when decorations are most sought after. --- Fashioned. Literally, "swelling." Septuagint, "erect." (Haydock) --- Hair,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lovers. Hebrew dodim, "breasts, (Haydock) or espousals;" (Aquila) "loving." (Symmachus) --- Garment, as a husband, Ruth iii. 9., and Jeremias ii. 2._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Oil, used after bathing, or with perfume. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Embroidery. Literally, "various colours." (Haydock) --- But this is the import, Psalm xliv. 10. --- Violet, or dark blue, appropriated to princes. --- Linen, or cotton, Exodus xxv., and Proverbs xxxi. 24. (Calmet) --- Fine. Literally, "thin." Hebrew Mesi, (Haydock) "silken." (Jarchi; Pagnin, &c.) S... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forehead. Literally, "mouth." Hebrew, "nose." (Haydock) --- Women wore rings where spectacles are placed, and had others hung at their noses, so as to touch the mouth. People who are not acquainted with this odd custom, which is still prevalent in Africa and Asia, suppose that the ornament hung upo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Linen. Hebrew mossi, ver. 11. (Haydock) --- Chaldean understands these ornaments to pertain to the tabernacle, which was set up in the wilderness. --- Oil, enjoying a most fertile country, (Calmet) and the noblest sacrifices. (Haydock) --- And wast, &c. The kingdom had subsisted 1500 years. (Calmet... [ Continue Reading ]
_Renown, or name; thus dishonouring me, thy husband, Isaias iv. 1._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Places: pavilions, (Cornelius a Lapide; 4 Kings xvii. 30.; Calmet) or idols stuffed, (St. Jerome; Theodoret) and outwardly adorned. Such might easily be procured or removed, 1 Kings xix. 13. --- Hereafter, with impunity. The Jews were guilty of greater ingratitude than other nations._... [ Continue Reading ]
_My gold, for the temple, or thy most precious ornaments, which were sacrificed to gratify thy lubricity, (Calmet) or to form the golden calf, &c., Exodus xxxii. (Haydock) --- Obscene representations were also used in the worship of Osiris. (Herodotus ii. 48.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Oil, or perfume. which no man was allowed to use, Exodus xxx. 9, 38._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy sons: so he calls them to shew his indignation, though he acknowledges them for his, (ver. 21.) to enhance the crime. Who could have thought that such cruel sacrifices would ever take place! (4 Kings xxiii.) (Calmet) --- Adulteresses bring in the children of others; but the Jews sacrifice their... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sign; altars of idols. (Haydock) --- She makes no secret of her apostacy. The Greeks and Romans marked the houses of prostitutes, that honest men might avoid them. "The deemed the profession of such a crime a sufficient punishment to repress impure women." (Tacitus, Annal.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bodies. Literally, "flesh." (Haydock) (Juvenal ix. 34.) (Menochius) --- The Egyptians are tall, but meagre. (Valle. Ep. xi.) --- They were the most dissolute in their worship, and corrupted most other nations as well as the Jews, chap. xx. 8., and xxiii. 3._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Justification; law, &c. Hebrew, "thy right," or allowance, Exodus xxi. 10. --- Hate thee. To be abandoned to the will of a rival, is most dreadful for a woman. The Jews were subjected to the nations which they had despised, as they are still to Christians. Even other less favoured idolaters were as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Assyrians, adoring the sun, Baal, &c. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Price, before she will yield, (Haydock) or who follow such practices for a livelihood. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "in that thou scornest hire." (Protestants) Septuagint, "gathering rewards." The difference consisted in Jerusalem's sinning through mere wantonness, and even to her loss._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fornication unpunished, or comparable with thine, ver. 16. (Haydock) --- All such actions are abominable; but still more so, when the woman solicts[solicits?]. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Money. Literally, "brass," (Haydock) to adorn idols. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "thy filthiness;" (Haydock) virus. (Pagnin, &c.) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nakedness. Friends and enemies (Haydock) saw that idols afforded no protection, chap. vi. 3., and Jeremias xiii. 26._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judge; punish thee by stoning to death, Leviticus xx. 10. The walls of the Jews were battered to the ground._... [ Continue Reading ]
_House; the temple, which thou hast profaned, and the high places. The idols shall be plundered, in which thou hast trusted._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Women: nations assembled against Jerusalem._... [ Continue Reading ]
_No more. I will entirely repudiate thee, so as to observe thy conduct no longer, (Calmet) with the eyes of an husband. (Haydock) --- This is the most terrible effect of God's wrath, (Calmet) when the sinner is left to himself, Osee iv. 14. (St. Jerome)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Youth, when thou wast destitute, (ver. 4.) and more grateful for my favours, Jeremias ii. 2. --- Head. I have punished thee, yet not as thy deeds require. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Daughter. They too commonly (Calmet) follow bad parents. (Juvenal vi. 239., and xiv. 25.) --- Jerusalem is more wicked than the Cethite, (Haydock) her mother, ver. 3. (Calmet) --- Even this nation had once received the principles of the true religion for the patriarchs, but cast them off to embrace... [ Continue Reading ]
_Right: southward. --- Sodom. The city was more ancient than Jerusalem. Hence it here designates Ruben, (Haydock) and the Jews east of the Jordan; (Prado) or rather Moab and Ammon, (ver. 55.; Calmet) and the rest of the Gentiles. (Haydock) --- Samaria shewed Jerusalem the road to idolatry, and there... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ways, but hast done even worse. --- Almost. He seems to diminish their crimes, (Calmet) as if it could hardly be believed that Jerusalem should be more abandoned. Hebrew and Septuagint, "that would be but little: yea, thou hast done more," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sodom, &c. That is, these were the steps by which the Sodomites came to fall into those abominations for which they were destroyed. For pride, gluttony, and idleness, are the high road to all kinds of lust; especially when they are accompanied with a neglect of the works of mercy. (Challoner) --- T... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seen. This would seem to allude to the Israelites beyond the Jordan, who had been led away into Assyria. The Moabites, &c., beheld the downfall of Jerusalem, (Haydock) and were treated in like manner, only five years later. (Jos.[Josephus?]) (Jeremias xlviii., &c.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Justified, as they are comparatively innocent. (St. Augustine, contra Faust. xxii. 61.) --- They had not the like advantages, (Matthew xi. 23.) nor the example of others' punishment to open their eyes. Thou hast pleaded for or with them, and hast lost thy cause. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Back, &c. This relates to the conversion of the Gentiles out of all nations, and of many of the Jews, to the Church of Christ. (Challoner) --- Cyrus also liberated the tribes on the east as well as on the west of the Jordan, (Haydock) and in general all the captive nations. (Calmet) --- And restore... [ Continue Reading ]
_Them. It affords some consolation to have partners in misery. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ancient state. That is, to their former state of liberty, and their ancient possessions. In the spiritual sense, to the true liberty and the happy inheritance of the children of God, through faith in Christ. (Challoner) --- All will be treated alike, whether Jew or Gentile. (Haydock) --- When Sodom... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pride. Thou scornedst to mention her, (Psalm xv. 4.; Calmet) or wouldst not take warning. (St. Jerome)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Covenant at Sinai, or under Josue, [Josue] viii., and Exodus xix. 7._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Covenant. After punishing thee I will fulfill my promises, as we see was done (Calmet) after the captivity, and (Haydock) in the Christian Church. (Calmet) --- All shall be converted, not by the Jewish but by the evangelical covenant. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Daughters. The countries were conquered by the Machabees. All nations embrace the gospel. --- Covenant. It is broken. I will, out of pity, re-establish it, or a better, to last for ever under Christ, free from the servitude and fear of the old law. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]