Strength. Hebrew, "rock," the king. --- Jerusalem, to protect it, (Calmet) and punish the guilty. (Chaldean) CHAPTER XXXI. King. Ezechias or Josias, as figures of Jesus Christ, who is meant. (Calmet) --- They and their counsellors only foreshewed the advantages derived from Christ and his apostles in a more abundant manner. (St. Jerome) --- Judgment and justice. These words have a higher meaning than what is assigned to them by philosophers. In God, the former implies the preparation of the means for man's redemption, as the latter does the execution; and in man, judgment denotes the selection of what is right, and justice implies the putting it willingly in practice. Thus Christ will fulfill all the he has graciously purposed, with the two other divine persons; and the princes, his pastors, shall discern what is good for their own and people's eternal welfare. (Worthington) Land. Ezechias and Josias were both a defence to their subjects. Dim. True prophets shall speak, while false ones shall be silent. (Calmet) Plain. Some parts of the prediction relate literally to the Old Testament. But this alludes to the New, when the mysteries of religion are clearly confessed in the Catholic Church. (Worthington) --- Even the most illiterate are guided with security, if they will but hear the Church. (Haydock) Deceitful. Hebrew, "miser be called liberal," Luke xxii. 25. These good princes are contrasted with Achaz, who had oppressed his subjects. Vessels. Arms, (Calmet) or all the words and actions of the miser are bent on evil. (Haydock) --- The ministers of wicked princes resemble them. (Menochius) CHAPTER XXXII. Women. Great cities. He announces the impending dangers. Year. After a long time; or the prophet speaks two years before the arrival of Sennacherib, after the vintage was ended, chap. xxx. 20., and 4 Kings xix. 29. (Calmet) Mourn. Septuagint, "beat." (Haydock) --- Breasts, suckling infants. In mourning, women beat and uncovered their breasts, which, on any other occasion, would have been deemed very indecent. (Calmet) (Ezechiel xxiii. 34.) (Herodotus ii. 84.) Up. Being uncultivated for two years. This was still more the case during the captivity. (Calmet) --- How. Septuagint, "from every house joy shall be taken away, thou rich city." (Haydock) Ever. Some palaces had been demolished by Sennacherib, though this seems to refer to the Babylonian captivity. High, as Ezechiel (xxxvii. 10.) saw the dry bones rise again. Under this idea prosperity is frequently described. The rest of the chapter may very well be explained of the propagation of the gospel. --- Forest. Carmel was a fertile spot. Judea shall flourish, and Assyria shall be laid waste. The synagogue will be rejected, while the Gentiles, (Calmet) formerly so barren, shall embrace the faith and true piety. (Haydock) Peace. The just shall enjoy peace, under Ezechias. Hail. God's judgment shall overtake Babylon, or rather Ninive. Waters. Fruitful soils, abounding with cattle. (Calmet) --- Both Jews and Gentiles shall submit to Christ. (Clement of Alexandria, Strom. vi.) (St. Jerome) Spoilest. This is particularly directed to Sennacherib. (Challoner) --- He was a figure of persecutors of the Church, to which many passages here allude. (Calmet) --- Remota justitia quid sunt regna nisi magna latrocinia? (St. Augustine, City of God iv. 4.) --- Sennacherib plundered Samaria and Juda, and despising God, was himself contemned. (Worthington) Morning. Speedily. Hebrew, "mornings," or every day. Ezechias thus addressed God. Them. The neglect of burying these insects has often brought on the plague. (St. Augustine, City of God iii. 31.) Faith. Sincerity and justice adorn the reigns of Ezechias and Christ. Without. The people of the country, and the envoys of Ezechias, 4 Kings xviii. 14. Hebrew, "Behold their Ariel, cried they without," insultingly, (Calmet) pointing at Jerusalem, chap. xxix. 1. At which (Haydock) the envoys rent their garments, &c., chap. xxxvi. 22. (Calmet) --- "Behold I shall appear to them." (Aquila) (St. Jerome) --- Angels. Messengers or deputies sent to negotiate a peace, (Challoner) who wept because they could not obtain it. (Worthington) Void, though Sennacherib had received what he demanded, 4 Kings xviii. 14. Confounded. Its trees were cut down, chap. xxxvii. 24. Myself, when all human aid fails. You, Assyrians, are bringing destruction upon yourselves. (Calmet) Of you. Hebrew, "of us." (Haydock) --- They are seriously alarmed at the sight of the fires prepared to burn the dead bodies of the Assyrians, (chap. xxx. 33.) and begin to think of hell, (Calmet) which their sins deserve. (Haydock) Blood. Avoiding revenge, and punishing the guilty, without respect to persons. Such was Ezechias, and therefore his enemies could not hurt him. Sure. Never failing. (Calmet) --- This was a great advantage in those dry regions. (Haydock) King Ezechias, or he shall be one of his courtiers. --- Off. Their limits shall be extended. Those who believe in Christ, shall cast their eyes up towards their heavenly country, Hebrews ix. 13. Ones. These questions were put by the people, when the enemy approached; or they now rejoice that their severe masters were gone. Shameless, unjust Assyrians, Luke xviii. 2. When shame is gone, people give way to every excess. --- Profound. Unknown to the Jews, 4 Kings xviii. 26. --- No wisdom, manners, or piety. CHAPTER XXXIII. Broken. It was taken 125 years afterwards. The Church remains till the end of time, (Calmet) whereas both the prophets and history assure us, that Jerusalem was subject to destruction. (Worthington) Of rivers. He speaks of the rivers of endless joys that flow from the throne of God to water the heavenly Jerusalem, like a deep river. (Calmet) Thy tacklings. He speaks of the enemies of the Church, under the allegory of a ship that is disabled. (Challoner) --- Sennacherib shall attempt invasion no more than a ship without masts would put to sea. Feeble. All were obliged to collect the plunder, to be afterwards divided. None shall plead illness. The inhabitants of Jerusalem will not feel the effects of sin (Calmet) on this occasion. (Haydock) Come. Both Gentiles and Jews are admonished of the world's end before judgment. (Worthington) Away. These strong expressions denote great misery, chap. xiii., and Joel ii. 10., and Ezechiel xxxii. 27. (Calmet) --- Book. Hebrew, "roll." (Haydock) --- Some thence foolishly inferred that the destiny of every one might be read in the heavens. (Huet.; Eusebius, pr\'e6p. vi. 11.; Philoo. xxiii.; Pic. Astrol. viii. 5.) --- The prophet only means that the heavens shall be devoid of beauty, (Calmet) and covered with darkness. (Haydock) Heaven. Casting down the rebel angels. (St. Jerome) --- The resolution to destroy the Idumeans, for their cruelty to the Jews, has been taken long ago. All these expressions allude to the last judgment. (Calmet) --- Idumea. Under the name of Idumea or Edom, a people that were enemies of God and his Church. (Challoner) --- Assaradon fell upon Edom two years after Sennacherib's death. (Calmet) --- No strong place like Bosra, shall rescue any from destruction at the last day. (Worthington) The unicorns. That is, the great and mighty. (Challoner) Recompenses. When the persecutors of Sion, that is, of the Church, shall receive their reward. (Challoner) --- The Idumeans had frequently shown their ill-will towards the Jews, 2 Paralipomenon xxviii. 17., and Amos i. 11. (Calmet) --- Sion shall perish as the wicked in hell shall be tormented. (Worthington) Pitch. The soil was sulphureous, and became neglected, (ver. 10.) like the territory of Sodom. The people are now no more, and only a few miserable Arabs pitch their tents there. Line. Intimating entire destruction, Lamentations ii. 8., and 4 Kings xi. 13. (Calmet) --- Yet God will not punish more than people deserve. (Menochius) Dragons, Thannim, chap. xiii. 22. (Haydock) --- Ostriches, or swans. Monsters. Literally, "Ass-centaurs." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "fishermen shall find islands," chap. xiii. 21. --- Ones. Goats. --- Lamia. Hebrew lilith. Chaldean, "owl," the bird of Minerva, or the Moon, which the Arabs style Alilat. (Calmet) --- Dicodorus (20) relates that Lamia was an African queen, who having last her children, was changed into a beast, and destroyed all the children she could catch; and the Jews deal still more in fables, (Calmet0 asserting that Lilith was the first wife of Adam, &c. (Buxtorf. Syn. 2.) Ericius. Hebrew, " kippoz, (Haydock) hath its nest." It may denote the serpent, acontias. (Bochart) --- All this shews the desolation of the country. Read what I have written. --- The other. All these beasts will be there, (Calmet) or all these declarations will be verified. (Haydock)