_Asaph, who might live during the captivity. (Calmet) --- If the ancient (Haydock) Asaph, or David, composed this psalm, it must be considered a prediction of the ruin caused by Nabuchodonosor, or by Epiphanes. (Berthier, T. v.) --- The author of 1 Machabees (vii. 17.) accommodates it to the sufferi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saints. The Assideans, who were the most esteemed for piety, 1 Machabees ii. 42. In the worst of times, there were always some pious Israelites, and the generality of them were less wicked than their enemies, who exercised a horrid barbarity in refusing them burial, after destroying vast numbers, 2... [ Continue Reading ]
_Us. The Idumeans, &c., are hence blamed by the prophets, Ezechiel xxv. 12., and Abdias 10. (Calmet) --- Christ and his disciples have been treated with scorn, (Berthier) being styled Galileans, Papists, &c. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zeal, or jealousy, as God has the greatest affection for his people, and resents their infidelity as a kind of adultery. (Calmet) --- Sin is the source of misery. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Name. Their ignorance was of course culpable. (Berthier) --- This prayer is prophetical, (St. Augustine) or insinuates that those infidels were still more deserving of punishment. (Berthier) --- By destroying Israel, the number of God's worshippers would be lessened. (Calmet) --- Yet this considera... [ Continue Reading ]
_They have devoured. So Pagnin ventured to translate the Hebrew. But Montanus substitutes the singular, though it be evidently incorrect, (Haydock) and contrary to all the ancient versions and the parallel passage, (Jeremias x. 25.) as well as to Manuscript 3, Lambeth 435, &c., (Kennicott) v being l... [ Continue Reading ]
_Former iniquities, which we and our fathers have committed. The Hebrews generally pray for the remission of their parent's faults, Lamentations v. 7., Baruch iii. 5., and Daniel ix. 5. (Calmet) --- But here the penitents' own transgressions may be meant. (Berthier) --- God is ready to pardon such.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Help. The necessity of grace, and the co-operation of free-will, are here plainly asserted. (St. Augustine)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Their God. Let him rescue his people. Cicero (pro Flacco) speaking of the Jewish nation, says, "How dear it was to the immortal gods, appears from its being overcome, enslaved," &c. --- Shed. He speaks not of revenge; (Calmet) but in order that chastisement may open the eyes of the infidels, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Put. Chaldean, "consigned." (Calmet) --- Protect the successors of the martyrs. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bosom. Punish them severely (Calmet) in this world. (St. Jerome) --- Many of the surrounding nations were subdued by Nabuchodonosor, five years after he had conquered the Jews. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] x. 10.) (Jeremias xlix. 7., &c.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM LXXVIII. (DEUS VENERUNT GENTES.) The Church in time of persecution prayeth for relief. It seems to belong to the time of the Machabees.... [ Continue Reading ]