_Altar, in Jerusalem, chap. viii. 3., and i. 2. God is going to punish Israel, (Calmet) or the two tribes. (Chaldean) (St. Jerome) --- The ruin of the altar and temple, imply the abolishing of sacrifices during the captivity, at Babylon. (Worthington) --- But Amos speaks rather of Israel. (Calmet) -... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hell; to the deepest caves, where they used to flee, Psalm cxxxviii. 8._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Top, in woods, or caverns. --- Serpent. Fishes and sea monsters are so called._... [ Continue Reading ]
_A river. Septuagint, "the river of Egypt," chap. viii. 8., and v. 24. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ascension, or his high throne. (Challoner) --- Septuagint, "the ascent, and hath founded the declarations (Haydock) or promise upon," &c., which must be explained in a moral sense. (Calmet) --- Bundle. That is, his Church, bound up together by the bands of one faith and communion, (Challoner) which... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ethiopians. That is, as black as they, by your iniquities. (Challoner) Chus was father of the Scythians, Arabs, &c. Yet none of these nations were under the peculiar protection of God. The Israelites depended too much on this prerogative, (Calmet) which they deserved to lose by their sins. (Haydock... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ground, to be mixed with the good corn. --- Israel shall be purified in captivity. (Calmet) --- Though many perished, God still preserved his Church. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Us. Such infidels delayed repentance, (Haydock) or laughed at the menaces of impending ruin, chap. v. 18. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_David. St. James, after St. Peter, explains this of the vocation of the Gentiles, Acts xv. 15. (Worthington) --- After the fall of Israel, Juda still flourished: but this cannot be meant. The prosperity after the return from Babylon, or rather under Jesus Christ, must fulfil the prediction. Zorobal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Edom, subdued by Hircan, with the surrounding nations. The same letters may be read Adam, "man," as the Septuagint have, agreeably to Acts xv. 17. (Calmet) --- "That the rest of men might seek the Lord, (Grabe substitutes me) and all the nations upon whom my," &c. Edom and all mankind shall receive... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall overtake, &c. By this is meant the great abundance of spiritual blessings; which, as it were, by a constant succession, shall enrich the Church of Christ. (Challoner) --- Munster, and his imitator, Clarius, see nothing but an allegory in this abundance and return, ver. 14. Yet the literal sen... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER IX.... [ Continue Reading ]