_City. David had conquered many. Jerusalem was long considered as the finest city in those parts. --- Tributary. It had been so to the Assyrians, Egyptians, and Chaldeans, 4 Kings xxiv. 1. From this and similar passages, it would seem that the city was still existing: yet in others it appears to hav... [ Continue Reading ]
_Night; privately, or without ceasing. --- Friends, who had made a league with Sedecias, chap. xxvii. 3., and xlviii. 26._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rest. Many returning to join Godolias, chap. xl. 7. (Calmet) --- The Jews who beheld their brethren led away to Babylon, retired into Egypt, but were in misery. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Feast, thrice-a-year. This was the most charming sight, when all the nation met to adore God, and to renew their friendship with one another. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lords. Literally, "at the head," (Haydock) which Moses had threatened, Deuteronomy xxvi. 1, 43. (Calmet) --- This would be most cutting. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beauty; princes' palaces, but particularly the temple, ver. 10. (Calmet) --- Rams, fleeing from place to place to seek relief. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of all. She compares her past happiness with her present chastisement. --- Sabbaths, or days of rest. The pagans derided them as so much lost time. Ignava et partem vitæ non attigit ullam. (Juvenal v.; Seneca, apud St. Augustine, City of God vi. 11.) --- If none of their legislators thought of such... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unstable. Hebrew also, "removed," (Haydock) like a woman unclean. (Calmet) --- Such were excluded from places of prayer, and were not allowed to touch a sacred book, or to pronounce God's name. Their husbands could not look at their face, nor give them any thing, but laid it down for them to take.... [ Continue Reading ]
_End in her prosperity, to avert this misfortune. (Haydock) --- Idolatry is a spiritual adultery, (Worthington) and one of the worst species of filth. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Church. Deuteronomy xxxiii. 1., and Ezechiel xliv. 9. The Chaldeans disregarded the ordinance._... [ Continue Reading ]
_O. Hebrew of the Masorets, "It is." (Calmet) --- Protestants, "Is it nothing to you, all?" &c. (Haydock) --- But the Vulgate is much clearer, and approved by many Protestants, lu being often used as an exclamation, Genesis xvii. 18. (Calmet) --- Vintage. He has plundered all, ver. 22. (Haydock) ---... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bones: fortresses. (Theodoret) --- I am like one in a burning fever, Ezechiel xxiv. 4. (Calmet) --- Chastised. Literally, "instructed." This is the good effect of affliction. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Watched. This metaphor is not too harsh, chap. xxxi. 28. The Masorets prefer, (Calmet) "is bound by his hand." (Protestants) But miskad is explained (Haydock) by the Septuagint, &c., in the sense of the Vulgate. God lays the yoke on my neck suddenly. My iniquities are like bands, and Nabuchodonosor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mighty. Hebrew, "magnificent" princes, (Luke xxii. 25.) or warriors. --- Time of vengeance. All in animated. Hebrew also, "a troop" of Chaldeans, chap. ii. 22. --- Juda. God, as the first cause, punishes the Jews by war._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then. They surround the city, to starve the inhabitants, ver. 8._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Me. Egypt attempted to relieve Juda, to no purpose, ver. 2. (Calmet) --- It could not, or at least did not, prove of any service to the Jews, chap. ii. 18. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Alike, by famine, &c. (Calmet) (Worthington) --- Ubique pavor et plurima mortis imago. (Virgil, \'c6neid ii.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Done it. They conclude that I am cast off for ever. But when I shall be comforted, their turn will come; (Calmet) or rather they will feel the scourge soon after me. --- Consolation. Hebrew, "which thou hast appointed." (Haydock) (Chap. xlviii. 26., &c., and Ezechiel xxv., &c.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let. He prays not for their ruin, but predicts it; and wishes rather that they would be converted. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER I. [Preface] _And, &c. This preface was not written by Jeremias, but added by the seventy interpreters, to give the reader to understand upon what occasion the Lamentations were published. (Challoner) --- The author is not known, (Worthington) and few assert with Gretser that it is canonica... [ Continue Reading ]