Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 12:8 — Him. They were young, compared with the former, though they might be 40 years old. (Menochius) --- It was frequently the custom in the eastern courts, to educate young noblemen along with the heir to the crown. Such formed the captains of Alexander, (1 Machabees i. 7,) and the warriors of Sesostris, whose father ordered all the male children who were born on the same day in his dominions, to be brought to court, to be educated with his son. (Diodorus i.) --- The Persian nobility were brought up at

1 Kings 14:10 — Wall. Every male child, or every dog. See 1 Kings xxv. 22. (Haydock) --- The Hebrew word mashtin, in Spanish and French, signifies a "shepherd’s dog." --- Israel. This proverbial expression signifies, that even those who keep at home, and meddle not with the affairs of war, will

1 Kings 21:9 — Fast, as in a case of the greatest importance, where the welfare of the king and of the state are concerned. We have frequent mention of such extraordinary fasts, 2 Paralipomenon xx. 3., 1 Esdras viii. 21., and Joel i. 14, &c. Some would translated, "Call the assembly." (Vatable) --- But the Chaldean, &c., are for the fast. Josephus joins both. All the people were collected, (Calmet) and Naboth was (Hebrew) "set

1 Chronicles 6:28 — (Calmet) --- This person had therefore either two names, or Joel has been omitted, and we should translate "Joel and the second, Abia." (Menochius) --- These brothers acted so ill as judges, that the people took occasion to demand a king, 1 Kings viii. 3.

2 Chronicles 17:6 — work of banishing all abuses out of his dominions, seeing that the people were well affected, and the Lord urged him forward. H. --- He trusted no so much to his great army or riches, as to a good conscience, (T.) which made him fear no difficulties; (1 John iii. 21,) doubting not but God would grant him success, as he endeavoured to keep his laws. C. --- Groves of idols, (M.) though he tolerated the high places, which had been consecrated to God, C. xx. 33., and 3 K. xxii. 43. H. --- Good works, rewarded

Esther 1:11 — "to be crowned queen." --- Beautiful. "The Persian ladies were noted for beauty," (Ammian) insomuch that Alexander called them eye-sores, oculorum dolores. (Curtius) --- Only prostitutes appeared publicly at feasts. (Macrobius vii. 1.) (St. Ambrose, de Elia. i. 15.) --- In effect, Vasthi’s refusal conformable to the laws of the country. (Josephus) (Plutarch in Themist.) --- Her offence consisted, therefore, rather in her haughty carriage or words. (Haydock) --- For the proposal

Esther 10:11 — lots. (Haydock) --- This became more intelligible after the event, (Tirinus) like other predictions. (Haydock) Rose up. A bright sun (Tirinus) represented God, (Calmet) or the king. (Grotius) Not idols, as they are often here designated, (Calmet and 1 Corinthians viii.) being only the imaginations of men. (Worthington) --- Destroy. Greek, "Make an example of the man, who had begun (Haydock; evils. Calmet) against us." (Haydock) --- She throws the blame upon Aman, and not upon her husband.

Job 11:6 — double of what has come against thee, and then thou wouldst know that thy sins are justly requited." Protestants, "that they are double to that which is: Know, therefore, that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth," 1 Esdras ix. 13. (Haydock)

Job 33:14 — our business to be attentive. We cannot expect that he should speak twice, though he does so frequently in his great mercy. Hebrew, "God speaketh once, and he regardeth not a second time." (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "But the second time, (15) a dream," &c. (Haydock) --- Eliu specifies three methods by which God declares his will; (ver. 26) 1. By vision; 2. by afflictions; 3. by the voice of angels, or of preachers, ver. 19, 23.

Psalms 35:2 — (Haydock) --- I am inwardly convinced how great the malice of the wicked may be. It touches me to the very heart. Both senses are good. The wicked are bent on evil, and this fills the virtuous with grief. (Berthier) --- Eyes. They sin publicly, (Psalm xiii. 1.; Calmet) and on purpose, preferring vice before virtue, (Worthington) and constantly bent on doing evil, so that they become odious to all. (Menochius)

Psalms 36:13 — (Berthier) --- God cannot indeed mock at any one. (Calmet) --- But the wicked "deserve scorn and vengeance." (Haydock) --- Digni sunt ut irrideantur in vindicta. (St. Jerome) --- The day of their judgment or condemnation is at hand, (Ezechiel xxi. 21., and 1 Kings xxvi. 10.; Haydock) when they will be sought for in vain (ver. 10.; Calmet) by their foolish admirers. They will seek to hide themselves from the indignation of the Lamb.

Psalms 37:1 — For a remembrance, viz., of our miseries and sins; and to be sung on the sabbath-day. (Challoner) --- This sabbath might also allude to the indolent rest which occasioned the fall of David, 2 Kings xi. 1. (Haydock) --- Hebrew mentions not the sabbath; and it is not known (Calmet) why the Septuagint made this addition. The prophet may have Christ suffering for our sins in view, (Berthier) though he probably composed this psalm, when he was afflicted

Psalms 85:13 — dangers. (Berthier) --- If it be understood of Christ, it must refer to limbo. (Bellarmine) (Menochius) --- It seems equivalent to the lower pit, Psalm lxxxvii. 7. (Haydock) --- The Jews admit seven regions in hell, (Genebrard) and our theologians four: 1. Of the damned; 2. of unbaptized infants; 3. of purgatory; and 4. of the saints in Abraham’s bosom. St. Augustine mentions the first and last here: but he speaks clearly of purgatory in other places. (De Gen. contra Manch. ii. 17. in Psalm vi.)

Psalms 85:17 — condemnation of mankind. See St. Augustine. (Worthington)        Quod precor eveniet, sunt certa oracula vatum,         Nam Deus optanti prospera signa dedit. (Ovid, 2 de Ponto 1.) --- Comforted. St. Cyprian was in sorrow while suffering, but was comforted when crowned. "All the martyrs, with Christ, pray for us." (St. Augustine) (Du Hamel)

Jeremiah 48:1 — xvi., and xxiv.) are adopted, though he speaks of what happened under Ezechias. --- Nabo, a town at the foot of that mountain, where Moses died, Deuteronomy xxxiv. It might have been famous for some pretended "oracle," Isaias xv. 2., and xlvi. 1. This chief city, with the rest, shall be destroyed. (Worthington) --- Cariathaim. This city, and most of the others, were repossessed by Moab after the Israelites were led into captivity. (Calmet) --- City. Hebrew Hammisgab, a fortress. (Vatable)

Ezekiel 44:2-3 — pure virgin. (St. Augustine, &c.) (Worthington) --- Shut, even for the prince. Some (Haydock) kings of Juda claimed the privilege of entering by it at any time, and passed through a part of the court assigned to the priests, 2 Paralipomenon vi. 12., and 4 Kings xvi. 18. This shall be no longer tolerated. The gate might be opened in the week days if the prince wished to offer sacrifice, but not else, except on the sabbaths, chap. xlvi. 1, 12. --- Lord, in peace offerings and religious feasts.

Daniel 10:1 — Cyrus then reigned in Persia, and the king is here often mentioned, as the vision happened near it, on the banks of the Tigris. Only twenty-one days had elapsed since the former. --- Strength. Hebrew: "warfare," or determinate time. (Job vii. 1.) This shall surely take place, but not soon. (Calmet) --- For. Protestant: "and had understanding," &c. (Haydock) --- He was informed of the meaning, or strove to know what the preceding vision denoted. (Calmet) --- Pharao and Baltassar

Amos 7:7 — ferro         Cœlicolæ valeant. ----- (Æneid vi.) --- God appearing on such a wall, intimated that the separation between him and his people was complete. (Calmet) --- Hic murus aheneus esto. (Horace, i. ep. 1.)

1 Samuel 22:3 — after, by the admonition of Gad, (ver. 5.; Calmet) left those who could not follow him under his care. In the mean time he lived on plunder, taken from the surrounding enemies, (Tostat) and was joined by 200 men from the tribes of Benjamin and of Juda, (1 Paralipomenon xii. 16,) with Amasai, his nephew, by his sister Abigail, at their head. (Salien, the year before Christ 1079.)

2 Samuel 5:3 — The high priest, Abiathar, received the oaths of allegiance from the people, and of the king, who promised to govern according to the laws of God. The ark was probably present, and innumerable sacrifices offered on this solemn occasion, as was usual, 1 Paralipomenon xii. 26. Hebron continued to be a place of sacrifices, chap xv. 7. (Calmet) --- David had erected here a temporary altar and tabernacle, where Abiathar officiated in his pontifical robes, as it was not safe for the people to go into the