_That. Hebrew, "the scissors of clippers." The same term is used for clipping sheep as for cutting hair. Shaving was not probably then in use. --- Beard, as in mourning or for ignominy, 2 Kings x. 4., and Jeremias xlvii. 5. --- Balance, to shew that God does nothing unjustly. (Calmet) --- The hair.... [ Continue Reading ]
Third. Septuagint and Theodotion read "a fourth," as also [in] ver. 12., (Calmet) thus assigning half to be burnt by death (pestilence) and famine. The other half of the people falls a prey to the sword and to captivity. The pestilence, famine, and the sword, were the three usual scourges left to Da... [ Continue Reading ]
_Out of it. Some rose up against Godolias, Jeremias xl., &c. (Calmet) --- The divisions of the Jews brought on the persecution of Epiphanes, (Sanctius) and introduced Pompey. (St. Jerome) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Midst, distinguished above the rest. Many have supposed that the city was in the exact middle of Palestine, or of the world, Psalm lxxiii. 12. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Surpassed. in numbers, (Symmachus) or rather in wickedness. (Chaldean) (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "because you have been incited by the," &c. (Haydock) --- Judgments. You have been less attached to my service than the Gentiles have been to their idols. Some think that not is here superfluous, as it i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Like. The ruin of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans was terrible, (Calmet) but that by the Romans was more so. (St. Jerome) --- The reasons were different._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fathers. This is not specified in history. Famine prevailed, 4 Kings xxv. 3.; and we find something similar, Lamentations iv. 10., (Calmet) and Baruch ii. (Worthington) --- It is probable, therefore, that these threats were realized. (Theodoret) (Deuteronomy xxviii. 53.) --- Scatter. Literally, "wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pestilence. Septuagint, "death;" so they usually denote pestilence. They add, "and a fourth part of thee shall be," &c., ver. 2. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Comforted, or revenged, chap. xxiv. 14., and Isaias i. 24._... [ Continue Reading ]
_And a. Septuagint, "and thy daughters (dependances. Calmet) round," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Scoff. Literally, "blasphemy;" which is here used improperly, to denote derision. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arrows; inclemency of the seasons, &c., which bring on famine. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER V. _ Beasts. They usually take possession of abandoned countries. (St. Jerome) --- The Chaldeans may also be meant, chap. xvii. 3._... [ Continue Reading ]