_On. Literally, the wind. (Haydock) --- To trust in men is no less vain. (Worthington) --- Septuagint, "Ephraim is an evil spirit," &c. --- Heat. Hebrew, "eastern or burning wind." (Haydock) --- Manahem attempted to engage Egypt on his side, but he was frustrated in his hopes, (4 Kings xv.; St. Jero... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judgment. Hebrew, "trial." What follows refers to all the people, whose impiety is contrasted with Jacob's virtue._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brother Esau, thus foreshewing what would happen, Genesis xxv. --- Angel. Septuagint, "God," whose place this angel held. Elohim implies both, ver. 4., and Genesis xxxii. 24._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wept. Septuagint, "they wept, and besought me." Other interpreters agree with the Vulgate. --- Us. By changing a vowel point, in Hebrew, it might be, "He spoke to him." (Cap.[Cappel?;] Grotius) --- The most magnificent promises were made, at Bethel, regarding the Israelites: this made the profanati... [ Continue Reading ]
_Memorial, and the object of worship; or this great Jehovah spoke to Jacob._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chanaan. The Ph\'9cnicians were so called, and all merchants. Here the title is given reproachfully (Calmet) to all the posterity of Jacob. (Haydock) --- None more ignominious could be used, Daniel xiii. 56. Thus Rome is styled Babylon._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Idol. Hebrew also, "vanity." Riches are vain, and lead to idolatry when people place their affections on them, Matthew xiii. 22., and Ephesians v. 5. --- Committed. I am conscious of no injustice. (Calmet) --- Yet he had used a deceitful balance, and his judgment is equally perverse. (Haydock) ---... [ Continue Reading ]
_Egypt. At Sinai the covenant between God and Israel was chiefly ratified. The former ceased not to perform the conditions, but the latter repaid him with ingratitude. --- Feast. The people shall be brought back, (Calmet) or they shall again be forced to dwell under tents. (Theodoret) --- "Shall I s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prophets. They have represented me as it were under visible forms, that you cannot plead ignorance. The prophets prefigured Christ, the end of the law, &c. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Idol. That is, if Galaad, with all its idols and sacrifices, be like a mere idol itself, being brought to nothing by Theglathphalassar, how vain is it to expect that the idols worshipped in Galgal shall be of any service to the tribes that remain. (Challoner) --- Will these idols be more powerful?... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XII. _ Jacob. The history of the patriarch, and of his posterity, serves to place the ingratitude of the people in the clearest light. (Worthington) --- The prophet had interrupted the account of Jacob, (ver. 4.) who had signalized his piety in Galaad, Genesis xxxi. 46._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prophet. Josue put the people in possession of the country, and offered sacrifice at Galgal, where the rite of circumcision was performed. This place is now defiled. What perfidy (Haydock) and ingratitude. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him. He shall suffer for his crimes. (Menochius) --- He can blame only himself. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]