Bible Commentaries

Genesis 47:21 — People, "he transplanted" from, &c., as the Hebrew, Arabic, &c., now read, by the change of one letter. Herodotus, ii. 108, says, the same person has never a field there two years together. Didorus 1, also attests, that individuals have no property in Egypt, the land being divided among the priests, the king, and the military. Tradesmen always follow their father’s profession, which makes them very skilful.

Exodus 18:11 — I know. I am now more convinced of this truth. Jethro instructed his family in these principles. The Rechabites were his descendants. (1 Paralipomenon ii. 55; Jeremias xxxv.) (Menochius) --- Proudly. Hebrew, "because in the thing in which they did proudly, he was against, or above them." Something must be supplied. God turned the wisdom and arms of the Egyptians to their own confusion. (Calmet)

Exodus 2:15 — Madian. A city and country of Arabia, which took its name from Madian the son of Abraham, by Cetura, and was peopled by his posterity. (Challoner) --- There were, perhaps, some of the descendants of Cham, by his son Chus, intermixed with them; (Haydock) and hence Aaron reproaches the wife of Moses for being a Chusite, Numbers xii. 1. Jethro was a Cinean, descended from the same stock.

Exodus 20:24 — CHAPTER XX. Earth, which may be destroyed with ease, to prevent any profanation. --- Place. Where the tabernacle shall be fixed, you shall offer sacrifice, and I will hear you. The ark was afterwards deposited in the temple, where alone the Jews were, consequently, allowed to sacrifice. (Haydock) --- Samuel offered victims at Mespha and Ramatha, by the dispensation of God, 1 Kings vii. 9, 17. (Menochius)

1 Kings 13:24 — the generality of divines[theologians] are of opinion, that the sin of this prophet, considered with all its circumstances, was not mortal. (Challoner) --- He had received a positive order, and ought to have tried spirits, whether they were from God, 1 John iv. 1., and Galatians vi. 18. Every prophecy which contradicts the word of God, comes from an evil principle. (Calmet) --- The prophet might suppose, however, that some cause had intervened, which authorized him to eat with this his brother, (ver.

1 Kings 14:3 — Cracknels. Hebrew nikkudim, "cakes full of holes," &c., Josue ix. 12. (Calmet) --- Septuagint give a double translation, "cakes and raisins." Arabic, "fruits." Syriac adds "dried." It was customary to make presents to the prophets, 1 Kings ix. 7. (Calmet) --- But these were mean, that the woman might not be known. (Du Hamel) --- It is not said that Ahias deigned to receive them. (St. Jerome in Mic. iii.)

Psalms 67:7 — De una manera. Es decir, estar de acuerdo en la fe, unánimemente en el amor y seguir la misma forma de disciplina. Se verifica en los siervos de Dios viviendo juntos en su casa, que es la Iglesia, 1 Timoteo iii. 15. (Challoner) &mdash- El hebreo puede significar, "Él hace habitar en una casa a los que estaban solos (estériles)", Salmo cxii. 9. Él edifica su casa y les da hijos. (Flaminius) (Éxodo i. 21.) &mdash Yechidim significa "el solitario"

Leviticus 1:5 — He, by the hands of the priests, (chap. x. 1,) as the Septuagint express it, "they shall immolate;" (Menochius) though we might infer from this text, that the person who offered the victim, had to slay it; (Calmet) while the priests alone could pour the blood upon and around the altar. Without the effusion of blood remission is not made, Hebrews ix. 22. (Haydock)

Leviticus 18:7 — quien las hijas no deben tener ninguna conexión, como Myrrha tenía con Cymoras. (Metam. X.) (Haydock) &mdash- Todas las relaciones en línea recta están excluidas para siempre, según el emperador Justiniano. La razón de estos diversos impedimentos es: 1. Que el pueblo de Dios no se parezca a los infieles que permitieron tales cosas, ver. 3. Los persas se casaron con sus propias madres, hijas y hermanas. (Clemente de Alejandría, strom. 3.) Semiramis se casó con su hijo Justin. Cleopatra era madre y

Leviticus 26:26 — Bread; or that which supports you. You shall be deprived of the necessaries of life. --- One oven shall be used by 10 families, so little bread shall be baked, and even that little shall be delivered out by weight. I will also deprive it of its nutritive qualities, so that it shall not satisfy your craving appetite. (Calmet) See Psalm civ. 16., and Isaias iii. 1.

Jeremiah 15:1 — (Calmet) --- Ezechiel (xiv. 4.) specifies Noe[Noah], Daniel, and Job, who were eminent for sanctity. Daniel was still alive. Yet God will not grant their request; and he forbids his prophet to pray for those who were resolved not to repent, chap. xiv. 11. (Haydock) --- Their punishment was fixed, and God will not remit it at the request either of the living or of the dead. Hence it is evident, that the dead could and did sometimes make intercession, otherwise they would not here be mentioned. To evade

Jeremiah 15:1 — especifica a Noé [Noé], Daniel y Job, quienes fueron eminentes por su santidad. Daniel todavía estaba vivo. Sin embargo, Dios no les concederá su pedido; y le prohíbe a su profeta orar por aquellos que estaban resueltos a no arrepentirse, cap. xiv. 11. (Haydock) &mdash- Su castigo fue fijado, y Dios no lo remitirá a petición de los vivos ni de los muertos. Por lo tanto, es evidente que los muertos podían interceder, y lo hicieron a veces, de lo contrario, no serían mencionados aquí. Para evadir

Jeremiah 31:22 — explain this of the incarnation. (Calmet) --- Christ had the perfect use of reason in the virgin’s womb. (Haydock) --- He was the brightness of his Father’s glory, Hebrew i. 3. Even some ancient Jews apply this to the Messias. (Galatin. vii. 14.) But the moderns understand that women would offer themselves in marriage; the times would be so happy. This was not so unusual in countries where polygamy prevailed, Ruth iii. 9., Isaias iv. 1., and Canticle of Canticles viii. 1. (Calmet) --- Hence

Deuteronomy 1:2 — Cades-barne. Toda la distancia entre Horeb y el Jordán, por el monte Seir, en el camino a Cades-barne, podría haberse recorrido en once días, siendo unas 300 millas; o los hebreos tardaron tanto en ir allí, Números xxxiii. 17. (Calmet) &mdash Es posible que hayan entrado en la tierra prometida cuando llegaron por primera vez a Cades-barne, desde el monte Horeb, (Números xiii. 1, 27,) que, incluso por el camino tortuoso del monte Seir, no los habría llevado más de once días.

Luke 1:13 — Ed. Ben.) that he was praying to have children, when his wife was so advanced in years; that he did not think possible; but he was praying for the people, and for the coming of the Messias. See St. John Chrysostom, hom. ii. de incomprehensibili, tom. 1, p. 454. Nov. Ed. Ben. (Witham) --- Zacharias so far despaired of having any offspring that he did not believe the angel, when he made him the promise. When therefore the angel says, thy prayer is heard, we must understand it of the prayer he offered

Judges 18:31 — In Silo. The ark was taken by the Philistines, (1 Kings iv.) after remaining at Silo 349 years, and 217 from the idolatry of Michas and of Dan. (Salien) (Haydock) --- In those. The Hebrew here commences the following chapter, which contains an account of another instance of licentiousness, which probably took place after the two former. Phinees was high priest; but there was no civil head. (Calmet)

1 John 1:1 — be taken by way of a parenthesis, and the sense is not complete till these words, we declare to you, &c. The whole may be expressed in this literal paraphrase: We declare and preach to you the eternal and always living word, which was from the [1] beginning, (for this word which was with the Father from eternity, hath appeared,[2] and manifested himself to us, when he took upon him our human nature, and was made flesh). This word I say, incarnate, we have seen with our eyes, we have heard him

2 Samuel 23:8 — Jesbaham, the son of Hachamoni. For this was the name of this hero, as appears from 1 Chronicles xi. 11. (Challoner) --- But then sitting, &c., should not be retained. (Haydock) --- Most tender, &c. He appeared like one tender and weak, but was indeed most valiant and strong. It seems the Latin has here given the interpretation

2 Samuel 7:14 — Men, who are not to be entirely destroyed, like the Chanaanites. (Calmet) --- This is not unlike the human temptation of which St. Paul speaks, 1 Corinthians x. 13. See Psalm lxxii. 5., and lxxxviii. 33. (Haydock) --- The rod of men denotes war, and stripes signify those punishments which God inflicts. (St. Jerome, Trad.) --- Some parts of this declaration regard Christ; others Solomon, Hebrews i. 5. (Du Hamel)

2 Samuel 8:4 — Mil. Los protestantes suministran carros, (Haydock) después de la Septuaginta y 1 Paralipomenon (xviii. 4.) que tienen 7000 jinetes. Vea cómo hemos intentado reconciliar estos textos, 1 Reyes xiii. 5. Quizás los números se expresaron con letras simples; y la n final hebrea , (700) se ha confundido con z, (7000) tanto aquí como [en]