Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 18:34 — (Haydock) --- Ana is probably a city (Du Hamel) built on both sides of the Euphrates, four days’ journey from Bagdat. Isaias does not specify these cities in the parallel passage, but they are found in the letter addressed to Ezechias, Isaias xxxvii. 13. --- Samaria, or the inhabitants who had come from distant parts, and had perhaps revolted. We do not however find the Sennacherib had conquered them, nor does the pretend that all these conquests were made by himself. (Calmet) --- He gives part of

Job 29:18 — have been given of this bird, of which only one is supposed to exist at a time, rising from its parent’s ashes; which, if true, (Calmet) would have been very (Haydock) beautifully applicable to a future resurrection. (St. Clement of Rome, ep. 1 Cor.; St. Ambrose, de fide Res. ii. 59, &c.) See Solin, xlii.; Tacitus, Ann. vi. This uncertain bird may have been confounded with the bird of Paradise. Palm-trees live a long time, and multiply shoots all round them surprisingly. (Pliny, [Natural

Psalms 16:14 — (Haydock) --- A numerous family was the great desire of the Jews. David is willing to forego every temporal advantage, and only prays that he may live in his own country, and attend the divine worship in the tabernacle. This was the glory of Israel, ver. 15., and 1 Kings iv. 21. (Calmet) --- He predicts the final separation of the wicked from the elect, which sometimes begins in this life. Their worldly joys are hidden or disapproved by God. (Worthington) --- The feed on the poor servants of our Lord,

Psalms 49:1 — and ten following psalms, bear his name, and it is observed, that the style is not so flowing as those which are attributed to the royal prophet [David]. (Moller.) --- It is certain, that Asaph was a prophet, and chief musician in the days of David, 1 Paralipomenon vi. 39., xxv. 2., and 2 Paralipomenon xxix. 30. (Berthier) --- But the psalms that have this title relate to the captives, and may have been composed by some of his descendants. This and the following seem designed to shew, that something

Leviticus 1:3 — were either offered in thanksgiving for blessing received, or by way of prayer for new favours or graces. So that sacrifices were then offered to God for four different ends or intentions, answerable to the different obligations which man has to God: 1. By way of adoration, homage, praise, and glory, due to his divine Majesty. 2. By way of thanksgiving for all benefits received from him. 3. By way of confessing and craving pardon for sins. 4. By way of prayer and petition for grace an relief in all

Ezekiel 5:2 — Third. Septuagint and Theodotion read "a fourth," as also [in] ver. 12., (Calmet) thus assigning half to be burnt by death (pestilence) and famine. The other half of the people falls a prey to the sword and to captivity. The pestilence, famine, and the sword, were the three usual scourges left to David’s choice,

Hosea 13:14 — --- After denouncing the severest judgments, the prophet promises redress and a sort of resurrection, which was a figure of the real sufferings and rising of Jesus Christ. The apostle applies this text to him, but follows not the Hebrew or Septuagint, 1 Corinthians xv. 55. (Calmet) --- Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? Protestants read, O grave, (marginal note: hell) instead of the latter death. Hebrew ehi has been twice placed for aie, I

Matthew 1:11 — Josías engendró [2] Jeconías, etc. La genealogía de Cristo, como aparece en el versículo 17, está dividida por el evangelista en tres veces catorce generaciones, por lo que debe contener 42 personas. La primera clase de catorce comienza con Abraham y termina con David. La segunda clase comienza con Salomón y termina con Jeconías. Se supone

Matthew 27:45 — or over the whole land, we find one kingdom or empire, by a common way of speaking, called the whole earth, or the whole world. Here, in the history of Christ’s passion, we should take notice of his seven last words, or sentences on the cross. 1. He prayed for his enemies, and those that put him to death, (Luke xxiii. 34.) Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 2. His mercy called the good thief, This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise, Luke xxiii. 43. 3. He recommended his

Matthew 27:45 — en toda la tierra, encontramos un reino o imperio, por una manera común de hablar, llamado toda la tierra, o el mundo entero. Aquí, en la historia de la pasión de Cristo, debemos prestar atención a sus siete últimas palabras u oraciones en la cruz. 1. Oró por sus enemigos y por los que le dieron muerte (Lucas xxiii. 34). Padre, perdónalos, porque no saben lo que hacen. 2. Su misericordia llamó al buen ladrón, Hoy estarás conmigo en el paraíso, Lucas xxiii. 43. 3. Recomendó a su amado discípulo a

Deuteronomy 24:4 — rejected by their former husbands without good reason, Leviticus xxi. 7. The an who cohabits with an adulteress, is deemed a fool; (Proverbs xviii. 22,) and some have believed, that it was necessary to put such away. But St. Paul advises a reconciliation, 1 Corinthians vii. 11. --- To sin, or to incur the punishment due to it. (Calmet) --- If the state connived at the transgression of the law, the judgments of God would fall upon the people.

John 1:1 — Al principio estaba la palabra: [1] o más bien, la palabra estaba al principio. La palabra eterna , la sabiduría aumentada , la segunda Persona de la Santísima Trinidad, el unigénito Hijo del Padre, como se le llama aquí (ver.14) de la misma naturaleza y sustancia, y el mismo Dios, con

Romans 9:3 — Quería ser un anatema de Cristo. [1] La palabra anatema, según su derivación, significa una cosa separada o apartada para un uso particular. Por lo tanto, se puso para significar cosas dadas y consagradas a Dios, que por lo tanto solían ser presentadas y colgadas en los templos. 2. La

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 — Now if any man build, &c. This is a hard place, says St. Augustine, lib. de fid. & Oper. chap. xvi. tom. 6. p. 180. The interpreters are divided, as to the explication and application of this metaphorical comparison, contained in these four verses. St. Paul speaks of a building, where it is evident, says St. Augustine, that the foundation is Christ, or the faith

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 — Ahora bien, si algún hombre construye, etc. Este es un lugar difícil, dice San Agustín, lib. de fid. & Oper. Cap. xvi. Tomás. 6. p. 180. Los intérpretes están divididos en cuanto a la explicación y aplicación de esta comparación metafórica contenida en estos cuatro versículos. San Pablo habla de un edificio, donde es evidente, dice San Agustín, que el fundamento es Cristo, o la fe

Joshua 8:2 — requirat? (Virgil) --- God was pleased to authorize it on this occasion, that his people might be less exposed, being under some apprehensions on account of the former defeat. Some nations have preferred to encounter the enemy openly. (Grotius, Jur. iii. 1, 20.) But their example is no law for others. "When the war is just, it matters not whether a person gain the victory by open fighting or by stratagem." (St. Augustine, q. 10.) "It is often prudent to conceal the truth." (contra

1 Timothy 4:3 — Prohibir casarse, abstenerse de comer carnes, etc. Aquí dice que San Juan Crisóstomo [1] fue predicho y denotado a los herejes llamados Encratitas, los Marcionitas, Maniqueos, etc. quien condenó todos los matrimonios como malvados, como puede verse en San Ireneo, Epifanio, San Agustín, Teodoreto, etc. Estos herejes tenían un dios que era

Hebrews 6:4 — Porque es imposible, [1] & c. Este es un lugar oscuro, expuesto de manera diferente, que muestra cuán temerario es para el ignorante pretender comprender las Sagradas Escrituras. Muchos entienden estas palabras, es imposible, etc. del sacramento de la penitencia, o de volver

Judges 9:9 — used, both in the worship of the true God, and in that of the false gods, whom the Sichemites served. (Challoner) --- The pagans burnt lamps in honour of their idols, and anointed their statues: unguentoque lares humescere nigro. (Prud., contra Sym. 1.) --- They also anointed their military standards at Rome. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xiii. 3.) --- The same author observes, that "two sorts of liquor are very delightful to the bodies of men: wine to drink and oil for the outside: intus vini,

1 Samuel 4:21 — which was but the symbol of God’s presence amongst them. How much more ought Christians lament the loss of God himself, when by sin they have drove him out of their souls? (Challoner) --- The ark is often called the glory of Israel, Isaias lxiv. 21., and Psalm xxv. 8. Ichabod might remind the people that the greatest loss had been sustained by them, as well as by his family. His mother had both in view the ark, Heli, and Phinees, her husband, (Haydock) when she exclaimed, ichabod, "Woe! or,