Bible Commentaries

Genesis 36:31 — A king. See ver. 1. Moses might also add this with reference to the times, when he knew the Hebrews would petition for a king, for whom he gave particular laws. (Menochius) --- These kings were probably foreigners, who subdued the natives. They did not obtain the kingdom by succession. (Calmet)

Exodus 26:36 — Hanging, or veil, suspended on five pillars, before the sanctuary. (Haydock) --- It was the other veil, which was rent at the death of Christ. Baronius observes, that Christian temples were formerly built in imitation of the Jewish tabernacle. It was a figure of the Catholic church, 1 Timothy iii. 15.

1 Chronicles 8:1 — Benjamin. Some farther particulars of his genealogy are given, for the honour of Saul; (Calmet) and many of these, who returned from captivity, are mentioned, 1 Esdras x. 11. (Sanctius) --- Bale, &c., are called Bela, (Menochius; chap. vii. 6.) Jadiel, and Ahiram, or Echi, Numbers xxvi. 36., and Genesis xlvi.

2 Chronicles 26:19 — Forehead. So that it could not be concealed. According to the rigour of the law, such an offender was to be slain, Num. iii. 10., and xviii. 7. The leprosy was considered as equivalent, and is styled destruction, (v. 16,) and death, Isaias vi. 1. M. See 4 K. xv. 6.

Job 17:3 — Fight. I am secure under thy protection. Hebrew, "who will strike hands with me?" or stand bondsman for my debt? (Proverbs vi. 1.) Who will take my place? You accuse me of weakness and of impiety: but how would you act, if you were treated in the same manner? (Calmet)

Job 9:14 — What? Hebrew, "Much less shall I answer him, choosing even my words with him." (Haydock) --- This is the conclusion from the display of God’s power. (Calmet) --- No eloquence will persuade him. (Haydock) --- Though not conscious of any sin, Job will not justify himself (1 Corinthians iv.; Worthington) before God. (Haydock)

Psalms 118:98 — Enemies of salvation, (Berthier) or the Babylonians, whom Daniel far surpassed; thou we would not absolutely assert that it refers to him, Daniel i. 19., and xiii. 1., and Ezechiel xxviii. 3. (Calmet) --- David was no less enlightened (Berthier) by the prophetic spirit above his earthly instructor, how aged soever. (Haydock)

Psalms 5:4 — Morning. This hour of prayer is also specified, (Psalms lxii. 1., and cxviii. 147.) as that of the evening is, Psalms iv. 9., and liv. 19. We read also of noon being a time for prayer among the Jews, Acts x. 9. Daniel (vi. 10.) diligently observed these holy customs. (Calmet)

Psalms 56:4 — Sent his mercy, &c., (Calmet) above the power of man. (Worthington) --- Reproach. Saul was forced to entreat David to preserve his family, as he had just spared his own life; which would, no doubt, mortify his pride, (1 Kings xxiv. 18, 22.; Calmet) and seem a reproach to him. (Worthington)

Ecclesiastes 12:11 — In. The ground, (Haydock) to keep a tent in its proper place. He seemed before to have placed the wise on the same level with fools, chap. vi. 8, 11., and vii. 1. (Calmet) --- Shepherd. God, or Solomon. The Jews explain it of Moses, and his successors, who taught the people.

Ecclesiastes 5:9 — Money. Avarice is like a dropsy, (Calmet) or poison, infecting all the person. (Sallust.) --- The miser is the slave, and not the possessor, of his riches, (St. Chrysostom) like Tantalus, who could not drink, though in the midst of waters. (Horace, i. Sat. 1.) --- Nescis quo valeat nummus, quem præbeat usum.

Isaiah 47:2 — Shame. Hebrew tsammathec, Canticle of Canticles iv. 1, 4. Protestants, "thy locks, make bare the legs, uncover the thigh, pass," &c. (Haydock) --- Thou shalt be reduced to a state of the most abject slavery, Exodus xi. 5., and Supra[Isaias] iii. 17., and xx. 4. The Barbarians sold their slaves naked.

Jeremiah 21:13 — Valley. He speaks to Jerusalem, confiding in the strength of her situation, upon rocks, surrounded with a deep valley. (Challoner) --- Literally, "valley, solid and in a plain." (Haydock) --- Isaias (xxii. 1.) styles it ironically, "the valley of vision." (Calmet) --- Jerusalem was situated on many rocks. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vi. 6.)

Jeremiah 35:4 — Of God. Prophets are generally thus designated, 4 Kings iv. 7. We know nothing more of this holy man. --- Princes of the priests; or where princes made their offerings, or assembled to judge, chap. xxvi. 10. --- Entry. He was not removeable like the other Levites, 1 Paralipomenon ix. 19, 34. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 20:7 — Scandals, &c., (offensiones) that is, the abominations or idols, to the worship of which they were allured by their eyes. (Challoner) --- Moses found them in this condition in Egypt, and he could not entirely reclaim them. (Calmet) --- Many still secreted their idols, chap. xxiii. 1., and Acts vii. 42. (Haydock)

Ezekiel 34:4 — Healed. God alone can restore to life. But pastors will not be excused by ignorance if they know not the maladies and the remedies of their flock. --- Hand. This was blamed in the Pharisees, and is contrary to the spirit of the gospel, Matthew xxiii. 4., and 1 Peter v. 2.

Matthew 14:3 — Por Herodías, la esposa de su hermano. En las copias griegas comunes leemos, la esposa de su hermano Felipe, como está en el latín en San Marcos, vi. 17. (Witham) &mdash- Es una persona diferente de Felipe el tetrarca, mencionado en San Lucas. iii. 1. (Biblia de Vence)

Deuteronomy 16:20 — Just. Hebrew, "thou shalt follow justice." Thou shalt be guided solely by the dictates of justice, in passing sentence, Exodus xxiii. 1, 9. (Calmet) --- That judge who passes sentence according to truth, executes his office unjustly if he be actuated by the love of a temporal reward. (St. Gregory, Mor. 9.)

John 14:31 — Como el Padre me dio el mandamiento, así hago. &mdash- Vuelve a hablar de sí mismo, como hombre. Levántate, vámonos de aquí. Sin embargo, por el cap. xviii. ver. 1. Cristo todavía continuó las instrucciones similares, ya sea en el mismo lugar o en el camino a Getsemaní. (Witham)

1 John 3:4 — También comete iniquidad. [1] En el texto griego, la iniquidad se toma aquí por una transgresión o prevaricación de la ley, lo que aclara el sentido. (Witham) &mdash- Iniquidad; ( Griego: anomia) transgresión de la ley. (Challoner) [BIBLIOGRAFÍA] Et peccatum est iniquitas, griego: kai e amartia estin e anomia, transgressio.