Ezra 4:1
_Enemies; Samaritans, and others, ver. 9._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Enemies; Samaritans, and others, ver. 9._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Asor Haddan sent a priest to instruct these people, but Salmanasar had transported them into the country. (Calmet) --- They continued for some time worshipping idols alone, and afterwards they consented to pay the like adoration to the Lord, 4 Kings xvii. 24, &c. (Haydock) --- It is clear, from the... [ Continue Reading ]
You, &c. Literally, "It is not for you and us to build." But why might not these people assist in the work, as well as king Hiram or Darius? (Haydock) --- Schismatics and heretics must not communicate in sacrifices with Catholics, (Worthington) nor must the latter have society with them, in matters... [ Continue Reading ]
_Counsellors; ministers of the king, (Calmet) or governors of the provinces. (Tirinus) --- Cyrus, who was ignorant of their machination, (Josephus) being engaged in war with the Scythians. We may easily conceive what ill-disposed ministers may do, against the inclinations of their prince. (Calmet) -... [ Continue Reading ]
_Assuerus; otherwise called Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus. He is also, in the following verse, named Artaxerxes, by a name common to almost all the kings of Persia, (Calmet) after Memnon. (Diodorus xv.) Septuagint, "Arthasastha." Arta signifies "great," and xerxes, "warriour." (Herodotus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Artaxerxes may be the Oropastes of Trogus, (Calmet) or the false (Haydock) Smerdis. (Herodotus) --- Beselam, &c. These governed the provinces on the west side of the Euphrates. --- Syriac comprises the Chaldean, with which it as a great resemblance. It was spoken at the court of Babylon. (Xenophon... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beelteem. Syriac, "the son of Baltam." The term designates the office of Reum, "the master of reason," president of the council, treasurer, &c. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "chancellor." --- From. Protestants, "against." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "concerning."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Counsellors. Septuagint and Syriac, "of our fellow-servants." Chaldean, "colleagues." This letter, and as far as chap. vi. 16, is in the Chaldean language. --- Dinites, perhaps the Denarenians. (Junius) (4 Kings xvii. 24.) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Asenaphar, commonly supposed to be the Asarhaddon, though we know not that he caused any of these nations to remove thither, as Salmanasar certainly did. (Calmet) --- The name of the latter occurs in some copies. (Lyranus) --- River, Euphrates. --- In peace. (Haydock) --- The original, cehenth, is n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him. This is a gloss. (Calmet) --- Greeting. Protestants, "and at such a time."_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER IV. _ Rebellious. The Jews had shewn themselves impatient of subjection, contending with the kings of Assyria and Babylon, whose territories were now possessed by the successors of Cyrus, ver. 15. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Revenues. Septuagint, &c., include all under the term of "tribute."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eaten. Chaldean, "on account of the salt, with which we have been salted, from the palace." The king's officers were fed from his table. Salt is put for all their emoluments; (Calmet) and hence the word salary is derived. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xxxi. 7.) We may also translate, "because we have... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fathers, the preceding emperors, Nabuchodonosor, Salmanasar, &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Possession. Septuagint have simply, "peace."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Greeting. Protestants, "peace, and at such a time," which has no great meaning. (Haydock) See ver. 10._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seditions: so are styled the just efforts of the Jews, to keep or to regain their liberty. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kings; only David and Solomon. (Menochius) --- They had made some on the east side of the river pay tribute, though the king may speak of the countries on the west._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear. Chaldean, "give command," &c. --- Further: literally, "perhaps." (Haydock) --- This was a private edict, which might be rescinded, Daniel vi. 7._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beelteem, is not in Chaldean. --- Arm, or "force." (Protestants) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_House. They went beyond the order, which only forbade the building of the city, ver. 21. --- Darius, the year of the world 3485. (Calmet) --- He was the son of Hystaspes, (St. Jerome) and not Nothus, the sixth from Cyrus, as Sulpitius and Scalinger believe. (Tirinus)_... [ Continue Reading ]