_At. The Septuagint omit the 20 verses following. But Grabe's edition has them marked with asterisks, (Haydock) as being supplied from Theodotion, &c. The Vatican copy gives a great part, with some circumstances which occur no where else, chap. xii. 24. (Calmet) --- The wife of Jeroboam is there cal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dress. As if the prophet, who could dive into futurity, could be thus imposed upon. Jeroboam was aware that he would be full of indignation at the changes which had been introduced. He might also fear, lest his wife might be exposed to danger in (Calmet) or near (Haydock) the enemy's country, (Calm... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cracknels. Hebrew nikkudim, "cakes full of holes," &c., Josue ix. 12. (Calmet) --- Septuagint give a double translation, "cakes and raisins." Arabic, "fruits." Syriac adds "dried." It was customary to make presents to the prophets, 1 Kings ix. 7. (Calmet) --- But these were mean, that the woman mig... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dim. Hebrew, "swelled," &c. (Calmet) --- Septuagint inform us that the prophet was 60 years old. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tidings. Hebrew, "I am a hard messenger to thee." (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Strange gods; that is, foreign gods: which expression destroys the opinion of those who imagine that Jeroboam designed by his calves to worship the Lord God of Israel. (Challoner) --- Back. Literally, "body."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wall. Every male child, or every dog. See 1 Kings xxv. 22. (Haydock) --- The Hebrew word mashtin, in Spanish and French, signifies a "shepherd's dog." --- Israel. This proverbial expression signifies, that even those who keep at home, and meddle not with the affairs of war, will not escape; (Calmet... [ Continue Reading ]
_Devour. They shall have the burial of asses, Jeremias xxii. 19._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Word from. Hebrew or "thought towards." (Grotius) --- He has entertained sentiments of piety (Calmet) in the midst of a wicked court; therefore, God will hasten to draw him out of the midst of iniquity. (Haydock) --- The Rabbins say that he had pulled down the walls, which his father had built, to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Time. Protestants, "But what? even now." The young prince, (Haydock) who was the firmest support of the family, was presently hurried away. Abia, king of Juda, slew above 500,000 of Jeroboam's subjects at once; and Baasa exterminated his family. (Calmet) --- The latter had now begun his conspiracy.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Water. The kingdom of Israel was continually agitated with wars. --- River Euphrates, by degrees. The kings of Assyria verified these predictions; and we know not what is become of these ten tribes. (Calmet) --- To provoke. These people did not perhaps design (Haydock) to make God their enemy, no m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sin. This is the common effect of evil example in kings. Plus exemplo quam peccato nocent. (Cicero, Leg. iii.) "As it is esteemed a sort of service to imitate the customs and vices of the king; they laid aside all piety, lest they might seem to upbraid the king with his impiety, if they should live... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thersa. Septuagint inform us that Jeroboam had built this place, which the call Sarira, while he was employed by Solomon. No wonder, therefore, that it is not mentioned by Josue. Its exact situation is not known, though it must have been very delightful, since Solomon compares the spouse to it. (Ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_The book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel. This book, which is often mentioned in the Book of Kings, is long since lost. For as to the books of Paralipomenon, or Chronicles, (which the Hebrews call the words of the days) they were certainly written after the Book of Kings, since they... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forty. Some suspect there is a mistake, and that it should be twenty-one. See 1 Paralipomenon xxii. 5. (Grotius) (Du Hamel) --- Hardouin dates from the æra of Solomon. Roboam was young, in the Scripture style. But he might be forty-one years old, chap. xii. 10. (Calmet) --- Ammonitess. She probably... [ Continue Reading ]
_High hill. Such places of devotion had been tolerated, before the temple was built: but now they were deemed profane. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The effeminate. Catamites, or men addicted to unnatural lust. (Challoner) --- This crime had been punished in the Sodomites, and in the people of Chanaan, and of Benjamin. Yet they continued prevalent in the country, chap. xv. 12., and 4 Kings xxiii. 7., and Isaias ii. 6., and 2 Machabees iv. 12. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sesac. See chap. xi. 40. He was allied to Jeroboam, (Calmet) so that he might come to his assistance, (Haydock) being attracted by the ivory throne, (Rabbins) and immense riches of Jeroboam. (Calmet) --- Roboam was informed by Semeias, that resistance would be fruitless; and being humbled, he repai... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hand. Symmachus, "the place where the courtiers" (guards) stood, (Haydock) in the hall; (Calmet) or he made the guards carry these shields before him, ver. 28. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Always. The two kingdoms were constantly divided, and did each other all the harm they could; though we know not that they ever came to a pitched battle. Roboam was too great a coward, 2 Paralipomenon xiii. 7._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Roboam. He deserved some commendation for procuring provisions, and fortifying his dominion; (2 Paralipomenon xi. 5, 12.) but was a prince devoid of wisdom and religion. He married 18 wives and 60 concubines. The son of Maacha, his most favourite queen, succeeded him, after he had reigned seventeen... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XIV.... [ Continue Reading ]