_Thereof. Hebrew leb kamai, "of the heart, rising up against me." (Haydock) --- Many take Leb-kamai to be the enigmatical name of the Chaldeans, by a secret combination of letters, (Kimchi; Grotius) as if they were not clearly designated in the sequel. (Calmet) --- The prophet expresses more pointed... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fan her. After the corn was trodden out, it was heaved into the wind. This custom would insinuate the distress and captivity of the Chaldeans. Septuagint, "I will send....scoffers, and they shall treat her with scorn, Greek: kathubriousin. (Haydock) --- They have read (Calmet) zedim for zarim._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mail. There will be little or no resistance made, chap. l. 3. (Haydock) --- The Persians denounce destruction to all taken in arms; or, according to Septuagint and Syriac they exhort each other to fight. (Calmet) --- "Let him," &c. (Haydock) --- Hebrew of the Masorets, "you who bend....spare not.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forsaken, as a widow, viduatus. (Haydock) --- God still considers the nation as his spouse. --- Their land. That of the Chaldeans, (Calmet) or of the Jews. (Theodoret) --- Sin, or punishment._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Silent. Jews proclaim that Babylon is justly punished, (Calmet) lest you partake in her crimes, Apocalypse xviii. 4. Protestants, "be not cut off in her," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cup. She has exercised the vengeance of the Lord on Juda, Egypt, &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Suddenly. She has not lost many battles; but is fallen at once from being the greatest city of the East._... [ Continue Reading ]
_We. The guardian angels, or Jews reply. Miracles are lost on her. --- Heavens. Her crimes call for punishment, Genesis xviii. 21., and Jonas i. 2._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Justices. We had not injured the Chaldeans, though we had offended God._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sharpen. He addresses ironically the citizens of Babylon. --- Medes. Thus the subjects of the Persian monarchs are commonly styled. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Standard. Call together thy subjects and allies. (Haydock) --- This must be explained of Babylon. (Menochius) --- Yet all will be in vain, ver. 11. (Haydock) --- Ambushes. Herein the valour and genius of heroes was most displayed, Josue viii. 2. (Homer)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Waters. Not far from the Tigris, and divided into two parts by the Euphrates. (Calmet) --- Entire, being cut up by the roots, pedalis, (Lyranus) or according to the measure of thy crimes. (Delrio) (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "thy end is truly come into thy bowels." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Himself. Septuagint, "his hand" lifted up, or by his power. --- Locusts. Their ravages were equally dreaded, Joel ii. 4., and Judges vi. 5._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rain. Thunder and lightning are usually followed by showers. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every man, &c. That is, every maker of idols, however he boasts of his knowledge and skill, does but shew himself a fool in pretending to make a god. (Challoner) (Wisdom xiv. 18.) --- By his, or "by default of knowledge;" ( a scientia. Haydock) as the Hebrew may also mean. The Babylonians were so c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou, Cyrus, (Grotius) or more commonly the Chaldeans are understood._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mountain. So Babylon is styled in derision. See chap. xxi. 13., and Isaias i. 10., and xx. 6., and xxii. 1. The city stood on a plain. Some think that its palace and walls are designated. --- Burnt; unfruitful. This happened long after Cyrus, though it then ceased to be the capital, and became only... [ Continue Reading ]
_Corner. No king or conqueror shall spring thence. Alexander [the Great] thought of making it the seat of his empire, but was prevented by death. (Strabo xv.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prepare. Literally, "sanctify." (Haydock) --- Call together all nations to fight against Babylon. (Worthington) --- Many religious ceremonies were used. --- Ararat, where the ark rested, (Genesis viii. 4.) near the Araxes, (St. Jerome, in Isaias xxxvii.) or in the Gordyean mountains, in Armenia, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prepare; "sanctify." (Haydock) --- Media. Cyrus, ver. 11. --- Captains: generals. (Calmet) --- Rulers. Literally, "magistrates." (Haydock) --- Hebrew Seganim, a title used once by Isaias, and frequently by those who wrote after the Assyrians (Calmet) commenced their invasion. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bars, fastening the gates. (Calmet) --- Those who entered by the channel of the river, would seize the gates to let their companions enter. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_King, feasting in his palace, (Herodotus i. 191.) or at Borsippe. (Berosus) He sent to make inquiries, (Calmet) or his subjects hastened to convey the doleful tidings, and thus met each other. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fords. Thus the enemy entered. --- Marches. Hebrew, "sedges," which grew to the size of trees, and were burnt when the waters of the river and lakes were drained. Herodotus (i. 185, 178.) specifies a lake four hundred and twenty stadia square, and says the ditches round the city were full of water.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Threshing, performed by oxen treading, and by rollers, &c., Judges viii. 16., and 2 Kings xii. 31. --- Little; about fifty-six years._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dragon, or huge fish, which swallows without chewing. Sion is here venting her complaint, Psalm cxxxvi. 8. (Calmet) --- She shews that Babylon is justly punished for her cruelty towards God's people. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spring; commerce, the source of her riches; or rather the waters shall be brought out of their usual channels. For many ages (Calmet) the Euphrates has been lost in sands, and reaches not the Persian Gulf. (Pliny, [Natural History?] vii. 27.) (Cellar. iii. 16.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dragons. This has been the case for above sixteen centuries, chap. l. 31., and Isaias xiii. 21._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Roar. They shall retain their haughty air and threaten others, when they themselves shall fall (Calmet) in the midst of their feasting, Daniel v. 30. (Xenophon vii.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Search, the city which worshipped the moon, (chap. xxv. 26.) Bel, (chap. l. 2.) &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sea: numerous armies of Cyrus, or the waters of the Euphrates let loose. (Calmet) --- In the days of Alexander [the Great], many tombs of the kings were inundated. (Strabo xv.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER LI. _ Down. His priests pretended that he eat, (Daniel xiv. 11.) and a woman of their choice slept in the most retired part of the temple. (Herodotus i. 181.) --- The prophet derides this notion. The idol, or rather his votaries, (Haydock) shall be forced to let go the Israelites. (Calmet)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Faint. You may apprehend that your miseries will increase in the midst of such confusion; but no, Baltassar, the last of your oppressor's race, shall be assassinated by Neriglissor, who will be succeeded by Laborosoarchod and Nabonides. This last shall yield to Cyrus, who well grant you liberty. Ba... [ Continue Reading ]
_Idols; Bel, &c., ver. 41. --- Slain. Hebrew, "dancers." The people were feasting. (Calmet) --- It means also "slain," (Protestants) or "soldiers."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Praise, for the just punishment. (Haydock) --- The crimes were public. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mind. Offer sacrifices of thanks on Sion, (Haydock) both Jews and other nations. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_We. The Jews answer: we are ashamed when we think of these places. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_High. Her fortifications and ditches will prove fruitless, chap. xlviii. 7, 18._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Great voice, or boasting and songs of joy, usual at public meetings. --- Noise. They groan under affliction._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Drunk, with the wine of fury, ver. 39., and chap. xxv. 26._... [ Continue Reading ]
Broad wall. The pagan historians agree not in the dimensions, but allow it was excessively broad and lofty. (Calmet) --- Six chariots might go abreast. It was 360 stadia long, (Ctesias); or 480 (Herodotus i. 178.) that is above 23 leagues, allowing 2,500 paces for each. This author says the breadth... [ Continue Reading ]
_With. Hebrew also, (Calmet) "on behalf of." (Protestant marginal note) (Haydock) --- It is no where else asserted that Sedecias went in person, and Septuagint, Chaldean, &c., explain it in this manner. Baruch accompanied his brother Sararias, and probably took the letter, Baruch i. 2. Saraias went... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sink. The angel did the like; (Apocalypse xviii. 21.; Calmet) and the Phoceans, leaving their country, swore that they would return no more till a piece of red hot iron, which they threw into the sea, should swim. (Herodotus i. 165.) --- Thus, &c., was added by the compiler. Septuagint omit the sen... [ Continue Reading ]