My angel, viz., John the Baptist, the messenger of God, and forerunner of Christ. (Challoner) --- His purity and office procure him this title. (Worthington) --- Afterwards Christ himself shall come, for the ruin and for the resurrection of many, Luke ii. 34. Hence threats and promises are intermixe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Coming. This may be explained of [John] the Baptist, (Luke iii. 7.) or of the second coming of Christ; though his first coming shewed the hypocrisy of the Jews. They would not acknowledge him, but sought his death, and brought on their own condemnation. (Calmet) --- Fuller's. Septuagint, "washers'... [ Continue Reading ]
_Justice. This is spoken of the Christian priesthood, which far excels that of Levi, Hebrews v., and vii., &c. (Calmet) --- Many Jewish priests embraced the gospel, Acts vi. 7. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Years. So in the mass we beg that God would receive the sacrifice, "as he received the presents of Abel." (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judgment. He has answered (ver. 1, 2) the complaint of the Jews, chap. ii. 17. (Haydock) --- This he does here (Menochius) more pointedly. (Haydock) --- Christ condemned the world, as his spirit did likewise, John xvi. 8. He made an example of Jerusalem, which shewed that he would not leave crimes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Change. Hebrew also, (Haydock) "hate or recommence." I do not strike the fallen. Did I spare Sennacherib? &c. Have I not protected the posterity of Jacob? How then can you say that I am indifferent about human affairs? (Calmet) --- Consumed. Septuagint, "you depart not from the sins of your fathers... [ Continue Reading ]
_Afflict. Literally, "pierce." Septuagint, "supplant," (Haydock) or kick at, 1 Kings ii. 29. But the term applied to Heli is different. Here it signifies to nail or irritate. (Calmet) --- Tithes: the payment is most strictly commanded. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Want. Hebrew, "malediction." St. Jerome specifies the kind. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "and you obstinately turn away your eyes, and supplant me," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heaven; copious showers. --- Blessing; fertility._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Devour; locusts and other vermin. (Menochius) --- Malachias came later than Aggeus, and probably speaks of a different famine, to which the Jews were exposed for neglecting to pay tithes. (Calmet) --- How many now work on holydays, as if all depended on their labour and not on God's blessing! (Hayd... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vain. Murmuring against God is blasphemous and unsufferable. When the Jews were punished by famine, for neglecting to pay tithes, they laid the blame on God, as if he took more care of other nations which had abundance. (Worthington) --- Sorrowful: "humbled." Chaldean, "in mourning." (Junius) --- B... [ Continue Reading ]
_Proud. Septuagint, "strange." (Haydock) --- Z has been take for u. --- Built up: have a numerous family, (Calmet) and abundance. --- Tempted. Septuagint, "resisted."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then. Grabe changes Greek: tauta, these things, into Greek: tote, then. The Septuagint make the pious express the former sentiments. (Haydock) --- David, Jeremias, &c., had experienced such anxiety, Psalm lxxii. 2. (Calmet) --- According to the Hebrew, &c., the just hearing such blasphemies, doubt... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER III. _ Possession; ( peculium) the property of a slave. (Calmet) --- Such look upon the smallest things with eagerness. Hebrew segula, (Haydock) means some precious thing. (Calmet) --- Spare. Septuagint, "chose," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]