_Espousals. He speaks ironically. (Theodoret) --- Yet the Israelites at first shewed greater proofs of love than they did afterwards. It is true they often prevaricated, in the wilderness, Exodus xxxii. 1., and Amos v. 25., and Psalm lxxvii., &c. (Calmet) --- The Lord declares his gratuitous love, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Increase; most desirable, Osee ix. 10. God punished those who attempted to injure his people: yet they abandoned his service._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vanity; idols, whom he will not mention, to spare their shame. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Carmel. That is, a fruitful, plentiful land. (Challoner) (Worthington) --- All Palestine is thus designated. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Priests were silent, or abandoned themselves. --- Pastors; "princes." (Chaldean) Manasses, Amon, &c. --- In Baal, promoting his worship. (Haydock) --- The land was full of false prophets, and none stood up for the Lord._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Children; the Israelites, under Moses, and their posterity transgressed._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cethim; Macedon. It here denotes the western nations, as Cedar does those of the east._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Glory; the true God and his ark, Psalm iii. 4., and 1 Kings iv. 21._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gates; angels, or the temple._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Water. The idols and nations, to which they have had recourse, injure them. (Calmet) --- The Jews did just the reverse to what God commanded. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Slave. From such, labour and tribute were required, Matthew xvii. 24., and John viii. 33._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lions; kings of Assyria, &c. The decree for the devastation of Juda had already passed, though it was not put in execution._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Taphnes, 16 miles from Pelusium, in Egypt. The nation proved only detrimental to the Jews, by engaging them in their abominations, instead of affording relief._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Troubled. Hebrew shichor, or Nile water, (Josue xiii. 3.) which was thought as good as wine, and grew better for keeping. (Strabo xvii.) --- Hence the people adored it. (Vitruvius viii.) --- God often reproached the Jews for distrusting in his protection, and seeking aid from the Egyptians, who dec... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER II.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou. Septuagint. Yet Hebrew and Chaldean have, "I have permissively broken," or foretold this infidelity._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chosen. Hebrew, Sorek, Judges xvi. 4., and Isaias v. 2., and xvi. 8. (Calmet) --- God created all things good, planted his Church in justice, and no evil proceeds from Him. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Borith. An herb used to clean clothes, and take out spots and dirt, (Challoner) like kali, soda, (Calmet) or soap. (Langius.) --- Protestants, "and take thee much soap." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Valley of Hinnom, under the very walls of Jerusalem. (Calmet) --- Runner. Hebrew, "dromedary," which takes its name from its swiftness. (Haydock) --- The female camel continues all day with the male, and cannot be approached. (Aristotle; Pliny, [Natural History?] x. 63.) --- Juda is represented as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Away. The female may easily be found by the poisonous hippo-manes. (Georg. iii.) --- Thus Jerusalem is an impudent prostitute. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Foot, and the parts which modesty covers. My exhortations are slighted. (Calmet) --- Despair opens the door to every sort of impurity, Ephesians iv. 19. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Taken. Juda affected still to be very pious, ver. 23._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cities. All were abandoned, Ezechiel xvi. 24., and Osee x. 1._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prophets; Zacharias, (2 Paralipomenon xxiv. 21.) Isaias, &c., Matthew xxiii. 34. (Calmet) --- Punishment is designed by God to cause people to repent. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_See, or hear. The sword seems to be animated. (Calmet) --- Lateward. Hebrew, "darksome land." Have I not heaped blessings on my people? --- Revolted. Protestants, "Lords." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou who. Hebrew, "Therefore have I." (Calmet) --- Protestants, "hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways." (Haydock) --- Thou hast opened a school of vice._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Innocent children, immolated to Moloc, or people murdered, whose blood thou hast not concealed, 4 Kings xxi. 16._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Head, like the violated Thamar, 2 Kings xiii. 19. The king of Egypt was routed, when coming to assist Sedecias, chap. xxxvii. 3, 10. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]