Sanctified to the Lord. This alludes to the conversion of the Gentiles. (Challoner) --- Before, the Tyrian were great enemies to the Jews, 2 Esdras xiii. 16., and 1 Machabees v. 15. Our Saviour wrought a miracle in favour of one of this country, Matthew v. 22., and Zacharias viii. 20. (Calmet) --- Continuance. Literally, "old age." Aquila, "with changes of dress." (Haydock) CHAPTER XXIII. Earth. After the ten preceding threats, the prophet denounces destruction to the whole world, (Worthington) at the day of judgment; though he may also allude to the desolation of the promised land, as our Saviour joins both in the same prediction, Matthew xxiv. (Calmet) Priest. All distinctions shall be disregarded. (Worthington) --- When Jerusalem was taken, all became captives. Weakened: Joakim, &c., are made prisoners. The greatest monarchs must come before God's tribunal. Sin. Towards the end of the world iniquity will abound, and men shall rage against each other, Matthew xxiv. (Worthington) --- They will also feel the effects of sin. --- Mad: abandoned to their passions, (Deuteronomy xxviii. 28.) excepting only the elect. (Menochius) --- Few. The Chaldeans permitted only a few of the poorest sort to remain, 2 Paralipomenon xxix. 10. The drink. Hebrew shecar, "palm wine." Vanity. Jerusalem, (Calmet) or any other city, will be all in confusion. (Haydock) --- In, as was the case in times of mourning, Jeremias ix. 21. (Calmet) Sea. The few elect (ver. 13.) being rescued from the misery of the world, shall praise God. (Haydock) --- They are exhorted to lift up their heads, Luke xxi. 28. (Menochius) Instruction. The Church is like an island, compared with the rest of the world; or it preaches the gospel to all nations, and to the islands, like Great Britain. (Worthington) --- Apostolic men are required to preach incessantly to all sorts of people. Hebrew, "in light;" or Pagnin, "in vales." (Menochius) I said. The prophet, or any other, may speak thus in the latter days. (Calmet) --- Myself. I cannot recount what horrid pains I beheld. (St. Jerome) (Menochius) (2 Corinthians xii. 4.) Snare. He alludes to the methods of taking wild beasts, Job xviii. 11. --- Opened, as they were in the days of Noe[Noah]. (Calmet) --- All sorts of misery hang over us. CHAPTER XXIV. Night, unexpectedly, (Haydock) and with the utmost speed. (Calmet) High. The stars, which in many places of the Scripture are so called. Some commentators explain that these words here signify the demons of the air. (Challoner) --- The apostate angels will be judged, 1 Corinthians vi. 6., and Matthew xxiv. 29. Visited. Hence Origen (Prin. iii. 6., &c.) took occasion to assert, that the damned would one day be released, though the Scripture so often declares the contrary. The prophet speaks of the future liberation of the Jews; (Calmet) or he intimates that after many days, yea throughout eternity, the reprobate will still be punished. (Menochius) Blush: he[be] turned into blood, Joel ii. 10. Dreadful calamities shall ensue, to usher in the great day of judgment. (Calmet) Amen. He approves of God's judgments (Haydock) against Jerusalem. (Worthington) City; Jerusalem, or rather Babylon, (chap. xxi.; Calmet) or every city (Haydock) in the world. (Menochius) --- Strangers: the temples of idols. People; the Chaldeans, or their conquerors. Poor; Juda, whom Nabuchodonosor's fury could not exterminate. Away. Cyrus (Calmet) shall reduce Babylon the great. (Haydock) Mountain of Sion, a figure of the Church, and of heaven. The Jews shall feast: yea, some of all nations shall partake of the blessed Eucharist, and obtain heaven. The expressions are too grand for a corruptible feast. (Calmet) --- Wine. Literally, "of vintage," (Haydock) on which occasion great rejoicings were made. (Hesiod, Hercul. 297.) --- Protestants, "of wines on the lees." (Haydock) --- In the East, the wines were very thick, Psalm lxxv. 9. (Calmet) --- On the rejection of the Jews, the Gentiles were converted. (Worthington) Tied. He will open their eyes to the truth of the gospel. They shall be no longer as criminals, expecting death, or mourning. Ever. Hebrew, "he shall swallow up death in victory," 1 Corinthians xv. 54. Christ, by dying, conquered death, and rescued us from its power, if we do not voluntarily subject ourselves to it again. This was faintly represented by the liberation of the captives. Mountain: the Church. (Calmet) --- Moab. That is, the reprobate, whose eternal punishment, from which they can no way escape, is described under these figures. (Challoner) --- The Machabees probably executed this vengeance on Moab, 1 Machabees v. 6. Hands. All his exertions and fury will prove useless. (Haydock) --- Moab shall lie prostrate.