_Perish, because she hath stirred up her God to bitterness. It is not a curse or imprecation, but a prophecy of what should come to pass (Challoner) to Israel, in Assyria. Many such expressions occur, Psalm lxviii. 25., &c. (St. Jerome) --- Sometimes they are the efforts of zeal, conformable to divi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Words. In captivity, legal victims cannot be offered. (Calmet) --- But a contrite heart is always acceptable, Psalm l. --- Good. While engaged in sin, (Haydock) "we can offer thee nothing good." --- Calves: victims of praise. (St. Jerome) --- Hebrew parim. Septuagint omit m, (Haydock) and render fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gods. The Assyrians, instead of protecting, oppress us; while Egypt, famous for horses, sits unconcerned. (Calmet) --- But the source of all our evils are the idols, which we will follow no more. --- In thee: adheres to the true faith in practice. (Haydock) --- Israel was like an orphan during the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Breaches, when Israel shall be converted, as some were to Christ, and many will be at the end of the world. (Worthington) --- Hebrew, "their return." Septuagint, "dwellings." They shall be purified. --- Freely. I have been forced to chastise, My heart dilates. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "I will love... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dew. Israel has been like a plant dried up, chap. xiii. 15. --- Libanus. The cedars were tall and bulky, being well rooted._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Glory. Septuagint, "he shall be as fruitful as the olive-tree." --- Libanus, or incense. (Calmet) --- The term has both meanings. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_His. This may refer to the tree, or to God. The captives shall return, and be happy. But in a more sublime sense it refers to the nations which shall embrace the gospel. --- Libanus, or fragrant. Such wine was esteemed in which certain odoriferous herbs were infused, Canticle of Canticles vii. 2. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Idol? or God will no more reproach them, as their conversion is sincere. --- Make. Hebrew, "be to him like," &c. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wise. This denotes the obscurity of the prophecy. (Theodoret) --- No human wit can explain the prophets: yet the just shall understand as much as shall be necessary. (St. Jerome; St. Augustine, City of God xviii. 28.) (Worthington) --- Only few will make good use of these admonitions, and share in... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XIV.... [ Continue Reading ]