_Face, O Juda. Septuagint, "who blows on thy face, (Genesis ii. 7.) freeing from misery." Here St. Jerome's Greek copy ends the chapter. (Haydock) --- Watch. Behold Nabopolassar is about to attack thy enemies. Some think that Nahum addresses Ninive ironically. (Calmet) --- Nabuchodonosor wasted all... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pride, &c. He hath punished Jacob for his pride; and therefore Ninive must not expect to escape. Or else, rendering the pride of Jacob means rewarding, that is, punishing Ninive for the pride they exercised against Jacob. (Challoner) --- After the Assyrians had seized the ten tribes, they became mo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mighty men. He speaks of the Chaldeans and Medes sent to destroy the Ninivites. (Challoner) --- This is the common opinion. Yet it seems rather that the Ninivites are designated, as they were asleep and stumbled, &c. (Calmet) --- Stupified. That is, they drive on furiously, like men intoxicated wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Streets. The Ninivites are disordered at the enemy's approach. (St. Jerome)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Muster. Literally, " remember" (Haydock) the ancient heroes, Salmanasar, &c. (Calmet) --- Stumble, by running hastily on. (Challoner) --- Prepared to defend the city. (Haydock) --- All this represents a city surprised. It attempts to defend itself; but God renders all efforts vain. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gates; floodgates or channel of the Tigris overflowing, chap. i. 8. --- Temple. Septuagint," palace."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Soldier. Hebrew hutsab, (Haydock) "the station" or guard; the queen, or the statue of the idol, with the women (Calmet) who prostituted themselves in its honour. (Sanct. xxxi.) --- Ninive and its dependances are taken. (Grotius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Waters: multitudes, (Apocalypse xvii. 15.) and riches; (Calmet) or the flood bursting upon them makes them flee. (Haydock) --- The citizens run away when the enemy had made a breach, as water does when the dam is broken down; and though some more valiant will exhort them to tarry, they will not suc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kettle. In mourning they blacken their face. (Tav. Perse.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lions. The kings of Assyria had plundered various nations, (Haydock) and had brought the spoils to Ninive. But all shall be lost. (Worthington) --- These princes followed no law but their own will. --- The lion, Nabopolassar, or his son: though it seems rather to relate to the Assyrian monarchs. (C... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chariots. Septuagint, "multitude." Some wild beasts were thus suffocated in their dens. (Theodoret) --- More, like that of the impious Rabsaces, 4 Kings xviii. 17. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]