River. Hebrew, "the division," or all the seas and fountains (Berthier) of consequence, (Menochius) particularly the Jordan, which overflows, like the Euphrates, about Pentecost, Josue iii. 15., and Jeremias xii. 5. (Calmet) --- Its, the earth's, after a plentiful rain. (Haydock) --- God has wrought many wonders by water, and hath fed his people, (Exodus vii. 14., and xvi. 3., &c.) to prefigure the graces conferred in baptism, the holy Eucharist, &c. (Worthington) PSALM LXIV. (TE DECET.) God is to be praised in his Church, to which all nations shall be called. Showers. This gives the sense, rather than the words of the Hebrew. (Berthier) --- Pastors are still preserved to feed the faithful; and all the just receive the crown of justice, at the end of their life, 2 Timothy iv. (Worthington) Crown. The crops shall succeed each other, and be abundant, Leviticus xxvi. 5, 10., and Amos ix. 13. This fertility was foretold, Aggeus ii. 20. (Calmet) --- "By the blessing, the year shall roll along, and thy steps shall distil fatness." (St. Jerome) (Haydock) Wilderness. Or, of such places are were not ploughed. Little hay was collected, as cattle might almost always pasture. --- Hills, covered with vine-trees, &c., Joel iii. 18., and Job xx. 17. (Calmet) --- The most barren will bring forth fruit, and the perfect shall advance in merit. (Worthington) Clothed, with fleeces, (Haydock) or rather, shall be surrounded with sheep. Hebrew also, "the pastures shall be covered with sheep." Houbigant would read e for c, and translate, "the mountains shall be clothed with flocks." But such changes require some proof, and the sense is the same. (Berthier) --- All nature (Menochius) praises God in its own manner, when it answers the designs of God. Yet man is chiefly invited to sing. (Haydock) --- The pastors, (Worthington) like rams, lead the way; but all the just, without exception, shall be happy in their celestial mansions, and with the utmost content, shall join the hymns of Sion. (Haydock) Psalm. Cassiodorus, &c., add, "of David." But it is thought, he was not the author of this and the following piece, as his name is not in the original. (Calmet) --- This argument is, however, of small weight. --- Resurrection. Hebrew, Origen's Septuagint, &c., omit these words, (Berthier, T. iii.) which seem to have been added by some Greek Christian, who thought he perceived some allusion to the resurrection of Christ, ver. 9. The Fathers have well explained it in this sense, though they also apply it literally to the return of the captives, (Theodoret; Calmet) and to the general resurrection, the end of all the miseries of the elect, (Bellarmine) as well as to the conversion of the Gentiles, (Genebrard) and the resurrection of a soul from the state of sin. (Haydock) Lie. Prove faithless to thee, (Psalm xvii. 46., &c.) notwithstanding the evidence of thy wonders, and their deceitful professions. Thus the Samaritans pretended they wished to assist the Jews to build the temple; yet soon after obtained an order from court to hinder it, 1 Esdras iv. 1., and viii. 36. (Calmet) --- Pharao frequently promised to let the people go, but as often broke his word. (Worthington) --- They had been moved with servile fear. (Menochius) --- The sight of God's judgments upon the world was enough to inspire terror. (Worthington) Men. Choosing some, and rejecting others, (St. Jerome) calling the Gentiles, while he casts off the Jews. (St. Augustine) In him. God, (Haydock) Jesus, (Eusebius) or "on it," the river Euphrates, which we shall pass over with as much ease, as our ancestors did the Red Sea. So the prophets frequently speak in a figurative sense, Isaias xi. 16., and l. 3., and Zacharias x. 10., and 4 Esdras xiii. 41. (Calmet) --- As Josue led the Israelites across the river Jordan on dry land, (Haydock) so wel shall extol thy wonders. (Worthington) --- There, reflecting on these prodigies, both past and present, we shall rejoice. (Menochius) Provoke him. The faithless Jews, or Gentiles; particularly those of Babylon; or those among God's people, who neglected his service, Aggeus iv., and 1 Esdras ix., &c. (Calmet) --- These often gave way to murmuring, and are therefore exhorted not to be proud, lest they should be brought low. Gentiles. By this invitation, he predicts their conversion. Moved. The apostles were most courageous. Only those Jews returned, who had separated themselves from impure idols, 1 Esdras v. 21. The Church never fails. If some apostatize, others embrace the faith. (Worthington) Tried. So Daniel was treated, Daniel iii. 21. The Babylonian captivity is compared to a furnace, as well as all severe trials of virtue, Proverbs xvii. 3., and Zacharias xiii. (Calmet) Back. Hebrew, "loins." The Captives had experienced the greatest miseries, as the martyrs of Christ have done since. (Calmet) --- The Church is put to the most severe trials. (Worthington) --- Yet God brings no one into the net of sin. This is solely the effect of man's corruption. (Haydock) Fire and water, which the Egyptians considered as the emblem of purity, (Horus. xli.) and which here denote the greatest tribulations. (Calmet) --- The just still overcome by God's grace, (Worthington) notwithstanding all the efforts of tyrants who may be set over them. (Menochius)