Zephaniah 1:1
_Lord. Thus the prophets insinuate that they are not the authors but the ministers of God's word. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord. Thus the prophets insinuate that they are not the authors but the ministers of God's word. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gather, &c. That is, I will assuredly take away and wholly consume, either by captivity or death, both men and beasts out of this land. (Challoner) --- To gather commonly implies a benefit, but the sequel shews that the contrary is here meant. (Worthington) --- It often signifies to kill or bury, J... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sea: the waters and air shall be pestilential. (Haydock) --- St. Jerome frequently observes that when a country is depopulated, as the Roman empire was in his days, the most fertile regions were soon abandoned even by beasts and birds. --- Meet. Septuagint, "be weak." Hebrew, "I will gather (Calmet... [ Continue Reading ]
Baal. Josias had not yet begun his reformation, 4 Kings xxiii. 4. (Calmet) --- At least he had not brought it to perfection, though from his infancy he had encouraged religion. (Haydock) --- Wardens of the temples of the idols. \'c6dituos, in Hebrew, the Cemarim, that is such as kindle the fires or... [ Continue Reading ]
_Houses. The roofs were flat. Josias afterwards reformed this abuse, 4 Kings xxiii. 5. (Calmet) --- It continued among the Arabs. (Strabo xvii.) --- Melchom. The idol of the Ammonites. (Challoner) --- Those who join idols with God do not worship Him indeed. (Worthington) --- Swearing was an act of r... [ Continue Reading ]
_Silent. Hebrew has, (Haydock) an interjection, (St. Jerome) like our hush. (Haydock) --- This denotes the importance of what he is going to say. --- Guests. The blood of the wicked is his victim, Jeremias xlvi. 10., and Ezechiel xxxix. 17. (Calmet) --- The day of punishment is commonly styled the d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Victim. Hebrew, "sacrifice." But Manuscript 1. Camb. has, "in that day, says the Lord," eeva nam being substituted for zebach, (Haydock) which is "a very remarkable variation." In ver. 7, it has Jehovah Elohim printed Adonai Jehovah. (Kennicott) --- Princes. After the death of Josias all fell to ru... [ Continue Reading ]
_Entereth the temple, as if to shew themselves, Amos vi. 1. Hebrew, "jumpeth over," &c., denoting the Philistines. (Chaldean) (1 Kings v. 5.) (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "I will take vengeance on all openly before the gate in that day," (Haydock) on all who have cast themselves out of the Church. (St.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gate, looking towards Joppe. (St. Jerome) --- The news of the defeat at Mageddo came this way, or the cries of the Philistines were heard. (Calmet) --- Second. A part of the city so called, (Challoner) built by Manasses on the same side of the city, 2 Paralipomenon xxxiii. 14. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Morter: ( Maktesh) a valley in or near Jerusalem. (Challoner) --- All the people shall suffer in the city. (Sanctius) (Tirinus) --- Mactes was rendered famous by Samson, (Judges xv. 19.) and was in or near the country of the Philistines, who seem to be designated. The original is variously inte... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lamps, with the utmost diligence, (Luke xv. 8.) so that none shall escape even in the most filthy places. (Calmet) --- The Romans found many Jews in the common sewers. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vii. 16, 20, and 26.) --- Lees. That is, the wealthy, and such as live at their ease, resting upon their ric... [ Continue Reading ]
_Strength. Children or riches. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Near. When all these miseries shall overtake the wicked, (Worthington) after the death of Josias, 4 Kings xxi. 14. (Calmet) --- The mighty. Septuagint, "and dreadful, powerful is the day of," &c. --- Meet. Protestants, "cry bitterly." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Day, is a day. The repetition elegantly describes the great danger. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Trumpet, when Nachao came and deposed Joachas._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blind. Not knowing what course to take, Deuteronomy xxviii. 29., and Isaias lix. 10. (Calmet) --- Such will be the horror preceding judgment. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gold. Ezechiel vii. 19. Thus the Medes despised riches, Isaias xiii. 17. (Calmet) --- Jealousy. God regarded the synagogue as his spouse. (Menochius) --- "If he loved not the soul of man, he would not be jealous of it." (St. Jerome) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER I.... [ Continue Reading ]