Assembly. Literally, "the collect." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "the day of retention;" the people being kept at the temple. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "the dismission;" as they were afterwards permitted to depart. (Haydock) --- See Leviticus xxiii. 26. --- It was probably on this occasion, that the sacred fire was found again; (2 Machabees i. 18.; Calmet) and also the ark, the tabernacle, and the altar of incense, which had been hidden by Jeremias, 2 Machabees ii. 4. (Torniel, the year of the world 3610.) (Cano, &c.) --- But this is not so certain. (Haydock) (Calmet, Diss.) CHAPTER VIII. Month; Tizri, the day after they had sent away those women, (Calmet) whose company now covered them with confusion. (Haydock) --- They were moved to compunction, by the hearing of the law, read by Esdras. (Menochius) Stranger; idolatrous women. (Haydock) --- True repentance requires the works of mortification, and particularly the removal of all occasions of sin and disorderly pleasures. (Worthington) --- The reformation had been commenced under Esdras, but some had relapsed, 1 Esdras x. 3. (Calmet) --- The true born Israelites would have no society with the sons of infidels. (Tirinus) --- Fathers, that they might not be punished for them, Exodus xx. 5. (Calmet) Stand, to hear the law, out of reverence; (Menochius) or the Levites ascended the pulpit to read, four times in the day. (Tirinus) --- After each lecture psalms were sung, (Calmet) to praise God, and to declare the sins of the people, and their sincere repentance. (Haydock) --- On days of mourning, the Jews assembled four times to pray, and thrice on other days, by the institution of Esdras. (Maimonides) See Acts iii. 1. --- On their fasts, they refrained from all meat, as well as from work, spending their time in prayer. They began at the first hour, and continued their exercises of devotion till the third, when they recommenced for other three hours. They did the like at the sixth and ninth hours; hearing the law, then prostrating themselves to confess their sins. Afterwards they rose to join with the Levites in praising the Lord. (Calmet) Step, erected by Esdras, chap. viii. 4. --- Josue, &c. These Levites are mentioned again, (ver. 5.) with some variation. Bani is called Bonni; Sebania, is Hasebnia. (Calmet) --- Perhaps some of them might be different, as there seems to be no reason for thus changing their names so soon. There are eight persons in both places. Septuagint have, "Jesus and the sons of Kadmiel, Sachania, son of Sarabaia, the sons of Chanani, &c. and the Levites, Jesus and Kadmiel said, Arise, &c. and Esdras said, Thou," &c. (Haydock) To eternity. Existing. (Sa) --- Bless him continually. (Menochius) --- Let one generation after another praise his holy name. (Haydock) Of heavens. The highest, (Calmet) and most glorious (Haydock) residence of the Eternal. --- Host. Stars (Calmet) and angels, (Menochius) which are like his guards. --- Life, or being. If the Levites had adopted the sentiments of the Persians, that the stars were animated, this does not prove the truth of that opinion, which has nevertheless been maintained by many, Genesis i. 18. (Calmet) --- The expression is used for preserving, (Psalm xl. 3.; Menochius) re-establishing, &c., chap. iv. 2. (Calmet) The fire of the Chaldeans. The city of Ur, in Chaldea, the name of which signifies fire. Or out of the fire of tribulations and temptations, to which he was there exposed. The ancient Rabbins understood this literally, affirming that Abraham was cast into the fire by the idolaters, and brought out by a miracle without any hurt. (Challoner) --- The Chaldeans adored fire, (St. Jerome, q. Heb. in Genesis xi. 31.) and the Persians probably imitated them. (Strabo xv.) --- The emperor Heraclius destroyed their Pyreia. (Suidas.) --- St. Jerome translates Ur of the Chaldeans, in all other places. (Amama) --- Septuagint, "the country of," &c. (Calmet) --- It is supposed that he sacred fire preserved in this city, gave name to it, ( Ur, "fire,") as Heliopolis was so called, from the particular worship of "the sun." (Haydock) --- Abraham, to imply some mystery, Genesis xvii. (Worthington) --- See Isaias xliii. 27. A name, Glorious, (Menochius) and to be feared by all, Exodus xiv. Sabbath. Which it seems had not been observed by them before, (Exodus xvi. 23.; Calmet) at least not with such exactitude. (Haydock) Hand. Promising with an oath, (Genesis xiv. 22.; Menochius; and xxii. 16.; Calmet) or displaying thy power. (Haydock) Their head. Or appointed a leader instead of Moses, (Numbers xiv. 4.; Menochius) or an idol, Exodus xxxii. 1. Septuagint, "they gave a beginning, or a chief to return." Syriac, "their heart returned to their crimes." (Calmet) --- Protestants, "and tin their rebellion appointed a captain to," &c. They turned their back upon the promised land, and set their faces to return into Egypt. (Haydock) --- Sinners are not deprived of free-will. (Worthington) CHAPTER IX. Blasphemies. By attributing the perfections of God to a senseless idol. Protestants follow the Septuagint, "provocations." Neatsoth (Haydock) properly implies words of an insulting nature. (Calmet) Spirit. The conducting angel. (Menochius) --- God enlightened and moved the hearts of the people, by his grace; which he gave in abundance to Moses. (Calmet) Worn. So as to be sore, (Haydock) or without shoes. (Menochius) See Deuteronomy viii. 4. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "their feet swelled not." Lots. Hebrew, "them (the Chanaanites, or as it is more commonly understood, the Israelites,) into corners." (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "by lot they possessed," &c. (Haydock) --- Sehon was king of Hesebon, Numbers xxi. 26. (Calmet) Land. From which most of their fathers were excluded by death. Goodness. Prosperity was their ruin, (Haydock) as Moses had foretold, Deuteronomy xxxii. 15. (Calmet) --- "Empire is easily retained by the same arts by which it was procured: but when idleness takes the place of industry, when lust and pride banish continence and equity, fortune is changed with manners." (Sallust; Grotius) Earnestly. Literally, called to witness" (Haydock) themselves, (Josue xxiv. 21.) or heaven and earth, Deuteronomy iv. 26., and xxx. 19. (Calmet) --- Blasphemies. See ver. 18. (Menochius) Saviours. Josue, (Calmet) and more particularly the judges, (Menochius) David, &c. (Calmet) Rest from their enemies. (Haydock) --- The interval between their relapses was very short. (Calmet) Shoulder. Slipping from under the burden of the law. (Haydock) --- It seems this and the following verses chiefly regard the ten tribes, which proudly rebelled against Juda, (Calmet) and against the Lord. (Haydock) Years, 254; during which time God had not ceased to recall his people to a sense of their duty, but all in vain. Labour. Receive it in satisfaction. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "let not all the trouble seem little before thee;" as if it were not enough to appease thy anger, when borne with proper dispositions and faith. (Haydock) --- Assur. Theglathphalassar, who led some of the tribes into captivity, as Salmanasar did the rest. During this period, the whole nation was involved in misery, (Calmet) from which they had not been liberated even when the author wrote, ver. 36. (Haydock) (1 Paralipomenon v. 26.) (Menochius) Truth, fulfilled thy promises. We have broken the covenant. In it. Tributary to Persia, chap. v. 4., and 1 Esdras vii. 24., and ix. 9. (Calmet) Tribulation. As we cannot enjoy the fruits, being so heavily taxed, and obliged to work in person for the king of a foreign country. (Calmet) Because. Or "considering all these things," as chastisements due to our transgressions, we are resolved now to reform our conduct, (Haydock) and to comply more exactly with the covenant, which we will now solemnly renew. A copy was probably deposited in the temple, signed by the princes, (Calmet) in the name of all. (Haydock) --- Malachy (Malachias i. 4.) seems to allude to this covenant. (Calmet) Athersatha. Hebrew hatirshatha. Protestants, "the tirshatha," cup-bearer, or governor, highly (Haydock) "privileged" and honoured by Artaxerxes. (Worthington) --- Hebrew, "And over those who were sealed, (Calmet; Septuagint; or who sealed the deed. Haydock) Nehemias, the cup-bearer." Esdras, Eliasib, &c., were also princes. (Calmet) --- It is not easy to account for the omission of their names. (Menochius) --- They may be designated by different titles. An aristocracy, mixed with oligarchy, was the present form of government. The advice of the ancients, and of the people, was taken. (Calmet) --- Hachelai, is less properly styled Helchias; (chap. i. 1.) where the Septuagint read Chelchias, or Achalia, as well as here. Priests. All, at least after Nehemias. (Haydock) Pharos. Many of these are mentioned as returning from Babylon, chap. vii. 8, 11, &c. Lands. Idolaters, (Haydock) namely, the proselytes. (Menochius) --- Daughters. These did not all subscribe in person, but by the hands of the intelligent, and chief men, (ver. 29.) or, (Calmet) as the Septuagint seem to understand, these went through the different ranks of the people, and received their oaths. (Estius) (Menochius) Understand. Hebrew mebin, "the teachers," or Levites, 1 Esdras viii. 16. (Menochius) --- Promising. Hebrew, "clave to their brethren;" and they promised with a curse to transgressors, and with an oath to walk, &c. (Haydock) And. In all covenants, the articles which have been chiefly broken, are specified. (Worthington) Holy day. The contrary practice is therefore sinful. (Haydock) --- Year. Not cultivating the land, Leviticus xxv. 4. --- Hand. No debts were to be demanded, Deuteronomy xv. 1. (Menochius) Third part. About 9 d. , (Haydock) on account of the poverty of the people. (Calmet) --- They afterwards paid half a sicle, or 1 s. 2 d., conformably to the law, Exodus xxx. 13., and Matthew xvii. 23. (Haydock) --- Before the captivity, the kings of Juda provided sacrifices, (2 Paralipomenon xxxi. 3.) and after, the Persian monarchs supplied what was requisite, in favour of Zorababel and Esdras, chap. vi. 8., and vii. 21. But these grants had been recalled, or were not well executed. Wood. The Nathinites had performed this office till the captivity. But not their numbers were too small. (Calmet) --- The people therefore brought the wood. The Levites, with the Nathinites, carried it into the temple, and the priests laid it upon the altars; all being regulated by lots. (Lyranus) --- Hence the feast called Xylophoria, was instituted about the month of August, as we may gather from Josephus. The Rabbins say that the priests cut the wood, from March till the 15th of July. Every tree, of seven species; the pear, apple, fig, apricot, olive, palm, and vine trees; besides wheat, legumes, &c. (Calmet) --- For three years the fruit was deemed unclean, Leviticus xix. 23. (Menochius) Meats. Hebrew, "paste," Numbers xv. 20., (Calmet) and xxiii. 17. --- Ground, or the produce. (Menochius) CHAPTER X. With. To observe that all is done according to the law, Numbers xviii. 26. (Calmet) Lots. Those who had a mind to fix their abode at Jerusalem, received every encouragement. But some were compelled, that the city might regain its ancient splendour, and become the bulwark of the nation. Josephus ([Antiquities?] xi. 5.) says, that Nehemias built at his own expense houses for the priest and Levites, who chose to reside there. Blessed. Applauding their zeal and disinterestedness, as the city was yet only a heap of ruins. (Calmet) --- Some from the other ten tribes returned; but the transactions of three tribes are more particularly noticed. (Ven. Bede) (Worthington) Solomon. See 1 Esdras ii. 55., and 1 Paralipomenon ix. 2. Benjamin, as well as of Ephraim and Manasses, 1 Paralipomenon ix. 3. The difference between this last record and the present, arises from Nehemias including many who returned with Esdras and with himself. (Calmet) Silonite. Of the son of Sela, 1 Paralipomenon ix. 5. (Tirinus) Second. Vicegerent of Joel, (Calmet) or commander of a second part of the city. (Syriac) Achitob had the inspection over the Levites and treasures. Eliasib was then pontiff. (Calmet) Amassai. Or (1 Paralipomenon ix. 12.) Maasai, the son of Adiel, the son of Jezra, the son of Mosollam, the son of Mosollamoth, the son of Emmer. The mighty, for riches and power; on which account this family was conspicuous. Semeia. The ancient Latin manuscripts read Sebenia. (Martinay.) Outward. For repairs of the temple, cultivation of the lands given by vow; also to buy provisions, sacred vestments, &c. Praise. Master of music. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer." Syriac, "leader of the Jews in prayer." (Haydock) Gaspha, were chiefs of the Nathinites. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "over the," &c. Ophel was their place of residence, chap. iii. 26. Overseer. Literally, "bishop." Hebrew pekid, which has the same meaning. (Haydock) --- Christians styled him who was at the head, bishop; as the Athenians did their chief justice. (Grotius) (Estius) (Calmet) King's. David's, (chap. xii. 24,) or perhaps the Persian monarch, who had appointed a maintenance for the priests, &c., 1 Esdras vi., and vii. (Calmet) --- Order. Hebrew, "that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day." (Protestants) People. They addressed themselves to him, (Haydock) and he gave an exact account to the king (Calmet) of Persia. (Menochius) The houses. Hebrew, "and for the dwellings, (Calmet) or villages." (Pagnin) (Menochius) --- Villages. Literally, "daughters," which is often used in this sense. (Haydock) Jesue. This, and many of the other critics, had changed names, or were not built in the time of Josue. (Calmet) Bersabee. The southern extremity of Juda, (Menochius) unto the valley on the east of Jerusalem. (Adrichomius186.) Lod. Built by Samad, 1 Paralipomenon viii. 12. It is called Lod-Hadid, chap. vii. 37. --- Ono had the same founder, and stood in the valley of craftsmen, chap. vi. 2., and 1 Paralipomenon iv. 14. Portions. The Levites dwelt in the cities assigned to these two tribes. (Calmet)