Alleluia. This word occurs at the end of the preceding psalm in Hebrew, and means, "Praise ye the Lord," though it is also used as an exclamation of joy; for which reason it is left untranslated. See Apocalypse xx. (St. Augustine, ep. ad Casulan.) (Calmet) --- It implies that we must praise God with... [ Continue Reading ]
_Glory. 2 Corinthians x. 17. (Eusebius) --- Literally, "be praised," (Haydock) knowing to what an honor you have been raised, (Deuteronomy xxx. 7., and Jeremias ix. 23.) and live accordingly._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Evermore. Be assiduous to obtain is favour, and present yourselves in his holy temple as often as you are able. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_His servant. Or "servants." (Septuagint) Vulgate is ambiguous. Hebrew declared for servant here; but, his chosen, is certainly plural, and refers to all the people, and [in] 1 Paralipomenon xvi. 13., we read, seed of Israel, his servants. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Generations. Or from the call of Abraham. But this was to be understood if the Israelites continued faithful, (Deuteronomy xxviii.) or the promise regards the spiritual children of Abraham, who are blessed for ever, (Berthier) and continue to the end of the world. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lot. Literally, "line," with which land was measured. (Calmet) -- The descendants of the patriarchs would never have lost this inheritance if they had observed the law. The promise was therefore conditional; though it was absolute, in as much as all were to be blessed in their seed: as they had beg... [ Continue Reading ]
_Very few. Hebrew, "as it were reduced to nothing," to avoid a tautology. (Berthier) --- But this version is not necessary. (Haydock) --- Jacob at this time was not married, (Berthier) and his parents had no part of the land. This manifests the power of God, and the faith of the patriarchs, (Calmet)... [ Continue Reading ]
_People. This seems to be a fresh obstacle to their possession of Chanaan. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prophets. The word anointed is thus explained, as the patriarchs were not kings over any but their own families, though they were equal in riches to many kings. They foresaw future events, and offered sacrifice to God, as priests, in which sense also they may be styled anointed. No visible unction,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And. The psalmist continues to mention the favours of God, till the Israelites entered the promised land, which the author of 1 Paralipomenon xvi., passes over. (Haydock) --- Bread. In time of famine, people are not strengthened with their food. (Eusebius) (Ezechiel iv. 16., and v. 16.) --- God per... [ Continue Reading ]
_He sent. Drawing good from the malice of Joseph's brethren, (Haydock) in which he had no hand. (Berthier) --- Who could have thought that this event would have tended to Joseph's exaltation, and to the safety of his father's house?_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fetters. Hebrew cebel, (Haydock) "a chain, or the stocks." The meaning is not ascertained. (Calmet) --- Soul. Luke ii. 35. He was in great distress, (Haydock) and in danger of perishing. (Theodoret)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_His word. By which he foretold his own glory, or what should befall the king's two officers, which brought him into notice, Genesis xxxvii. 9., and xl. 22. His word, may also refer to God's decree. (Calmet) --- Inflamed him. He received the gift of prophecy, (Haydock) and being inflamed with the lo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Instruct. Hebrew, "bind" by precepts or chains, (Berthier) as he had all power. --- Wisdom. Joseph was considered as the oracle of Egypt, and the prime minister. (Calmet) --- We cannot doubt but he would strive to undeceive the people with regard to many superstitions. (Theodoret) (St. Augustine)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cham. Who resided there, and was worshipped under the name of Jupiter Ammon. (Bochart, Phaleg. iv. 1.) (Calmet) --- Misraim was his son, and peopled the land, Genesis x. 13. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Exceedingly. In 215 years, 600,000 warriors sprung from seventy people, (Calmet) or from seventy-five, as Septuagint and St. Stephen read, comprising eight wives, Jacob, and sixty-six of his descendants. Seventy might naturally produce two million and a half in such a space of time. But the Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
_He turned their heart, &c. Not that God (who is never the author of sin) moved the Egyptians to hate and persecute his people; but that the Egyptians took occasion of hating and envying them, from the sight of the benefits which God bestowed upon them. (Challoner) (St. Augustine) --- He permitted t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He gave. Hebrew, "they placed in them the words of their signs." (Calmet) (Houbigant) --- But the Chaldean and St. Jerome are conformable to the Septuagint. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Grieved not his words. That is, he was not wanting to fulfil his words: or he did not grieve Moses and Aaron, the carriers of his words: or he did not grieve his words, that is, his sons, the children of Israel, who enjoyed light whilst the Egyptians were oppressed with darkness. (Challoner) --- He... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blood. In reality, so that the fishes were killed. (St. Athanasius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Land. Including the rivers, Exodus vii. 1., and viii. 3. --- Kings, or noblemen. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Flies. This was revealed to David, or known by tradition, as it is not recorded by Moses. (Worthington) --- Some copies of the Septuagint have, "the dog-fly," cinifes (Exodus viii. 16.) gnats, (Haydock) which are very common and tormenting in Egypt. The Jews understand lice. (Joseph and the Chaldea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rain. Which fall in Egypt, though less frequently. (Calmet) (Wisdom xvi. 17.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bruchus. An insect of the locust kind, (Challoner) or a worm which spoils corn, &c. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM CIV. (CONFITEMINI DOMINO.) A thanksgiving to God, for his benefits to his people Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Labour. This explains the first part of the verse, Genesis xlix. 3., and Psalm lxxvii. 51. (Haydock) --- The fifth and sixth plagues are not specified. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gold. Which the Egyptians gave to get quit of them, (Exodus xi. 1.) and that with joy, (ver. 38.) though they might at first only intend to lend. (St. Augustine) (Berthier) --- Feeble. This refutes the notion which the enemies of the Jews had propagated, saying that they were banished on account of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Asked. Chaldean and ancient psalters add, "for meat." Hebrew, "he (Moses or all the people) asked, and the quail came," at Sin, Exodus xvi. 13._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rivers. The waters from the rock were so abundant. (Calmet) (Exodus xvii. 6.) (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_People. Whose crimes have deserved death, Numbers xxxiii. 51., and Deuteronomy vii. 5. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_His justifications. That is, his commandments: which here, and in many other places of the Scripture, are called justifications, because the keeping of them make men just. The Protestants render it by the word statutes, in favour of their doctrine, which does not allow good works to justify. (Chall... [ Continue Reading ]