_Understanding. Psalm xxxi. (Haydock) --- We behold here the destruction of the tabernacle by the Philistines, (Grotius) or rather of the temple, by Nabuzardan, (4 Kings xxv. 8., and Jeremias lii. 12.) though some understand the profanation of Epiphanes, or the final ruin by the Romans. In the latte... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mount. St. Augustine reads montem, (Calmet) as the Hebrew may also signify. "This Mount Sion, thou hast dwelt in it." (Montanus) (Haydock) --- What injury has it done? (Calmet) --- The more enlightened are fully persuaded, that God will still preserve his Church. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hands. Hebrew, "feet," (Montanus; Haydock) or "strokes," phehamec. (Berthier) --- "The elevation of thy feet (thy foot-stool, or temple; Calmet) is destroyed unto the end;" (St. Jerome) or "for victory," as Symmachus renders netsach. The Chaldeans have boasted of their victory over thee, and violat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Made. Hebrew, "have roared," sending forth shouts of war, where thy praises alone ought to be heard. (Calmet) --- Ensigns. They have fixed their colours for signs and trophies, both on the gates, and on the highest top of the temple; and they knew not, that is, they regarded not the sanctity of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Going out. Septuagint, "coming in." Both designate the same gates, (Haydock) or the ends of roads and streets, Matthew xxii. (Menochius) --- Top. The doors of the temple were very lofty. The idolatrous ensigns were fixed there, as on an eminence, to give notice of an invasion, (Isaias xi. 12.) while... [ Continue Reading ]
_Name. That temple, which was the only one consecrated to thee. (Haydock) --- All persecutors seek to destroy the places of true worship. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Together. And the infidel nations in that army, Psalm cxxxvi. 7. (Calmet) --- Days. So the enemies of religion are always affected. The servants of God ought to be more zealous to preserve the remains of ancient piety. Protestant version translates, synagogues, (Haydock; Aquila; Symmachus) which Sig... [ Continue Reading ]
Our. Some copies of the Septuagint read "their," as if the enemy still spoke. But the people of God rather complain, that they are not so favoured with prodigies, as they had been formerly, and that the prophets did not publicly encourage them, (Berthier) or declare how long these miseries would con... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ever. Why dost thou delay to heap favours on us, and destruction on thy adversaries? We are most grieved at the injury done to thy name. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Ages. He is eternal, and hath long ago made choice of us. (Menochius) --- Earth. Publicly rescuing his people from Egypt, (Kimchi) and shewing his power over all the earth. (Calmet) --- The Fathers understand this of Jesus Christ, who died on Calvary, (Calmet) near Jerusalem, (Haydock) which some as... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sea firm. By making the waters of the Red Sea stand like firm walls, whilst Israel passed through; and destroying the Egyptians, called here dragons, from their cruelty, in the same waters, with their king; casting up their bodies on the shore, to be stript by the Ethiopians, inhabiting in thos... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ethiopians. Or to enrich the Arabs. (Menochius) --- Hebrew Tsiim, is understood of sailors, and "fishermen, &c., Psalm lxxi. 9. Some nations of Ethiopia are said to be cannibals; but they were too distant from the Red Sea. The Ichnyophagi or Troglodytes on the western banks, might despoil the dead,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ethan rivers. That is, rivers which run with strong streams. This was verified in the Jordan, (Josue iii.) and in the Arnon, Numbers xxi. 14. (Challoner) --- Though the latter point is not so clear, God might divide the torrents, or rivers, at the station Ethan, as the Septuagint here read. (Berthi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Morning. Aurora. Hebrew, "the light," which existed before the sun. (Berthier) --- Yet most understand the moon, (Calmet) or, in general, "the luminaries." (St. Jerome) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spring. Hebrew, "and winter," under which two the Jews comprised all the seasons, (Genesis viii. 22.) as the Africans and Danes are said to do still. (Calmet) --- Yet choreph is used for youth, "the spring" of life, Job xxix. 4. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_This. "Congregation." (Theodoret) --- Septuagint add, "thy creature." Hebrew is feminine. But it is used instead of our neuter. (Calmet) --- Consider this insolent language; the enemy, &c., ver. 22. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_To thee. St. Jerome, "the soul intrusted in thy law." (Haydock) --- Hebrew has now torec, which is rendered, "thy turtle dove." But the Septuagint have read d, instead of r, better; (Calmet) and Houbigant rejects with disdain the present Hebrew, though that figurative expression would have the same... [ Continue Reading ]
_The obscure of the earth. Mean and ignoble wretches have been filled, that is, enriched, with houses of iniquity, that is, with our estates and possessions, which they have unjustly acquired. (Challoner) --- Or the captives may thus complain, that they are forced to live among infidels, in constant... [ Continue Reading ]
_Humble. Hebrew, "the contrite," whether of Israel, or of any other nation, Isaias lxvi. 2. (Berthier) --- The rich and presumptuous think not of thanking God. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Enemies. Septuagint and St. Augustine read, "servants," and the ancient psalters, "supplicants," (Calmet) which seems to be a mistake of transcribers, (Berthier) as it is contrary to the Hebrew, Chaldean, and Syriac. (Calmet) --- The sense of both would be good. Erasmus reads Greek: iketon, quærent... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM LXXIII. (UT QUID DEUS.) A prayer of the Church under grievous persecutions.... [ Continue Reading ]