Waters. These waters are not to be understood literally, (for there were none such that flowed from the temple) but mystically of the baptism of Christ, and of his doctrine and his grace; the trees that grow on the banks are Christian virtues; the fishes are Christians, that spiritually live in and... [ Continue Reading ]
_East. This gate was shut, and therefore he went out at the north gate. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The. Hebrew, "the east country," (Protestants; Haydock) or "the frontiers ( Gelilah) eastward," by which some improperly suppose that one rivulet went to the sea of Galilee. --- And shall. Hebrew, "the sea of the going out," where the Jordan River empties itself into the Dead Sea; or, the second ri... [ Continue Reading ]
_Engallim, or "the fountain of Gallim," in the tribe of Benjamin, Isaias xxv. 44._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salt, or bitumen pits. Schismatics and bad Christians, who do not live by the spirit of Christ, are meant. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_First-fruits, or most excellent. (Haydock) --- St. John saw such (Worthington) a tree of life, Apocalypse xxii. (Haydock) --- The doctrine of the gospel, and the study of the sacred books, have the most salutary effects; while the very leaves, or the example of the saints, heal the soul. No more sh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Double portion. Literally, "cord." (Haydock) --- His two sons would each have a share, as Levi was better provided for. (Worthington) --- He had no portion of the land assigned to him by Josue, but here one part is appointed (Calmet) for the sacred ministers and the prince, chap. xlv. 1._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brother. The seven tribes to the north have each an equal share, as the five who lay to the south of the Levites had with respect to each other, though their portion must have been only about half of what the former possessed, according to the map, chap. xlv. 1. (Haydock) --- Under Josue, the numbe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sedada. These places are not well known. They seem to be near the highest mountain specified, (Numbers xxxiv. 7.) west of Emesa._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Berotha, conquered by David, 2 Kings viii. 8._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Emath was about the middle of the northern limits, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Auran. Hence a line must be drawn through Damascus over Mount Galaad to the eastern or Dead Sea, to form the eastern borders. (Calmet) --- The Jordan River flowing from Genesareth to Sodom marked out this side, (Menochius) or rather was in this division; though the land as far as Galaad was to belo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thamar. Engaddi is sometimes understood: but it lay near Jericho, as this (Calmet) Thamar was to the south of the Dead Sea. (Ptolemy) --- Torrent, Besor. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Emath, not that it was on the sea: but a line was to be drawn over against this city, eastward from the Mediterranean Sea. Septuagint, "to opposite the entrance of Emath, as far as its entrance." But the territory extended farther, Numbers xxxiv._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Strangers. This was never done by the Jews. It signifies that Christ would give an inheritance, in the true land of promise [in heaven], (Calmet) to all nations which should practice his religion, Romans x. 12. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XLVII.... [ Continue Reading ]