_Israel. God divided the kingdom, that by this chastisement the people might be converted. But Jeroboam set up calves, and caused them to grow worse. (Worthington) --- How often did God send his prophets to reclaim them! --- Without. Most of the kings were of this stamp, while foreign nations invade... [ Continue Reading ]
_Face. I do not search (Calmet) into their past lives; they sin publicly, and without ceasing. I have been too indulgent. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Glad, &c. To please Jeroboam and their other kings, they have given themselves up to the worship of idols, which are mere falsehood and lies. (Challoner) --- We do not find one good king of Israel. (Calmet) --- But Jeroboam principally caused Israel to sin. (Haydock) --- His infernal policy changed... [ Continue Reading ]
_Leaven. Jeroboam invited the people simply to a feast, and used no violence to make them adopt his novelties. But they soon prevailed, and brought on ruin. The cake, or whole nation, was burnt, (ver. 8.) as well as the princes, ver. 7. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Princes. The chief men joined in the schism and idolatry. (Worthington) --- Mad, with drinking at the king's coronation, or at his coming to the crown. (Calmet) --- Bacchus presents three cups to the wise; the fourth is the cup of petulance, the fifth of shouts, the sixth of debauchery, &c. (Athene... [ Continue Reading ]
_Them. Jeroboam seduces the subjects of the house of David, by indulging the passions of the great and small. He may then sleep; the poison gains ground. (Calmet) --- But soon his own family will feel the direful effects of his policy. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judges, or rulers. Idolatry proved fatal to all, ver. 3._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mixed, like oil and flour. (Hebrew) --- Ashes. Thin cakes (Calmet) of this kind are used by the poor, in Spain, (Sanctius) and by the Arabs. (Thevenot. Levant. xxxii.) --- Turned. There was no time allowed by the enemy, who came and took the Israelites away. (Calmet) -- They became like other natio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Strangers: kings of Assyria, Damascus, &c. --- Hairs. He is grown old in misery, and yet is insensible of it, and sees not that he will shortly cease to be a people, Isaias vii. 8._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Humbled. Hebrew, "answer," chap. v. 5. Pride is visible on his face, though he be so much reduced. (Calmet) --- For all these sins Israel shall be severely punished. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER VII. _ Decoyed. Hebrew, "stupid," chap. iv. 11. The dove is the only bird which is not grieved at the loss of its young. (St. Jerome) --- It returns to the same nest, though repeatedly robbed, forgetting past dangers. (Theodoret) --- Thus Israel is not reclaimed, though idolatry has so ofte... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heard the menaces of Moses, (Deuteronomy xxvii.) and of the prophets, 4 Kings xxvii. 13. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "I will instruct (or chastise) them by the hearing of their misery," (Haydock) when it shall become the subject of conversation throughout the world._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lies, attributing their deliverance to the golden calf, (3 Kings xii. 28.; Calmet; Exodus xxxii. 8.; Menochius) and always denying my justice and power._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thought: "ruminated." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "assembled, or been afraid." Septuagint, "they were cut," (Calmet) in honour of idols, hoping to avert the famine. (St. Cyril)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arms. I gave them my laws and power to resist the enemy. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Returned, imitating Apis, the folly of Egypt. They have repeatedly followed idols in Egypt, and in the desert, under Jeroboam, Achab, Jehu, &c. --- Deceitful. Septuagint, "bent." Theodoret reads, "unbent." It never hits the mark, (Calmet) but wounds the person who uses it. (St. Jerome) --- Derision... [ Continue Reading ]