Shame. We are justly punished with exile, (Calmet) and death. (Menochius) CHAPTER III. Blocks; idols, (Calmet) and other occasions of sin. (Haydock) Swear, when requisite. (Calmet) --- Thus thou wilt learn to confess one God. (Theodoret) --- If all were upright, oaths would be unnecessary, Matthew v. 34. But as they are not so, (Calmet) this may be a religious act. (Worthington) --- Justice. These three conditions are essential. (Haydock) --- Him; the people, (Calmet) or God. (St. Jerome) --- An oath must attest God, and be used when a thing is true and of moment. (Worthington) Thorns. Your misconduct hinders your advancement. (Calmet) Hearts. Understand, and act with purity. (Haydock) Cities. Nabuchodonosor is at hand. Robber. Nabuchodonosor attacks unjustly, (Calmet) though he be God's scourge. Heart; counsel and vigour. --- Prophets of falsehood. Alas! Protestants, "Then I said: Ah! Lord God, surely thou hast deceived," &c., (Haydock) by permitting the people to follow false prophets, Isaias lxi. 17., and Psalm xliii. 19. Desert of Arabia. It may designate Nechao, (2 Paralipomenon xxxv. 20.) who slew Josias, after whose death all fell to ruin. Ephraim. At Bethel and Dan the calves were adored. (Calmet) --- But they were now no more. (Haydock) --- The irruption of Nabuchodonosor is announced. He set himself up for a god. Guards. The Chaldeans will besiege the city, and prevent provisions from entering, 4 Kings xxv. 1. (Calmet) My. God, (St. Jerome) the people, (Grotius) or rather Jeremias speaks. Moment. The cities are destroyed as easily as a tent. Me, practically. They have not honoured me as they ought. (Calmet) --- If they were indeed devoid of sense, they would be excused. (Worthington) Void. Hebrew, " Thohu and bohu, " like chaos, Genesis i. 2. (Haydock) CHAPTER IV. Gone. Beasts feel the wrath of God, and in a land uninhabited; not even birds will remain, Osee iv. 3. (St. Jerome) Carmel: the beautiful country of Palestine, (Haydock) Jerusalem, (Theodoret) or the mountain so called. Destroy, when Jechonias was led captive. God allowed the people still eleven years to repent; and he afterwards restored the Jews. (Calmet) --- He will never suffer his church to perish. (Worthington) Repented. Only a finite being can do this. God's resolution is here unconditional and fixed. Stone, or antimony, like Jazabel, (4 Kings ix. 30.) to darken and enlarge the eye-lids. --- Lovers. Infidel nations of Egypt, &c. Child. Hebrew and Septuagint, "a first-born," when the pains are most acute. (Calmet) Go, Jeremias, and you who publicly adhere to me. --- Man. Sodom would have been spared for the sake of ten just people, Genesis xviii. 32. Before the reform of Josias, Jerusalem was strangely corrupted, though these expressions be hyperbolical, and spoken as it were in the heat of debate. Josias, Holda, and others, were living at this time, and renowned for their piety. Falsely. Some may confess my name. But they swear falsely, chap. iv. 2. (Calmet) --- Unless the requisite conditions be observed, an oath is unlawful. (Worthington) Return. The miseries with which, Achaz, &c., were afflicted, produced no amendment. Foolish idiots, (Calmet) who have had no means of receiving instruction. (Haydock) --- Such might be more excusable; but when the chiefs offend, the evil is irremediable. Lion. Nabuchodonosor. --- Wolf. Cambyses, (Calmet) and leopard. Epiphanes. (Haydock) --- The Chaldeans, Persians and Greeks afflicted them. (St. Jerome) --- The first beast may designate Nabuc: the second Nabuzardon: the third, Alexander [the Great?] or Epiphanes. (Worthington) How can. I have only the character of judge left. (Calmet) Stallions. Hebrew mashcim, (Haydock) "stretching out," as others translate, Ezechiel xxiii. 20. (St. Jerome) --- The horse is the most intemperate of all animals but man. (Aristotle, Hist. vi. 22.) Destroy, at the first taking of the city, ver. 18., and chap. iv. 27. --- Branches. Children of Jechonias, (chap. xxii. 30.) and the people. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "her battlements," (Haydock) Chaldean, "palaces." Them. The evil shall fall on the head of these impostors. So the wicked deride the prophets (Calmet) impugning the known truth. (Haydock) Fire. Thou shalt declare their impending ruin. Ancient. Nemrod founded the empire of Ninive and of Babylon, Genesis x. 10. Nabopolassar had succeeded to the ancient Assyrian and Chaldean sovereigns. Under his son, Nabuchodonosor, the dominions were much enlarged. --- Say. 4 Kings xviii. 26. Devour. Hebrew, "destroy." They did not eat human flesh. Own. You shall thus know the difference between the masters. (Calmet) Understanding. Literally, "heart," chap. iv. 22. (Haydock) It. Nature and chance are improper terms. God regulates all, and has established those laws which preserve the world. Rain, in autumn and in spring, Deuteronomy xi. 14. (Calmet) --- Fulness. Hebrew, "the weeks for harvest." (Haydock) --- That of barley began at the Passover, and that of wheat ended before the feast of weeks, (Exodus xxxiv. 22., and Leviticus xxiii. 10.; Calmet) or Pentecost. (Haydock) Away. The rain comes unseasonably. Man. As some tyrants have done, though this implies (Calmet) the eagerness with which the wicked strive to corrupt mankind. (Haydock) Of the widow, is not in Hebrew. (Calmet) --- Fatherless. Protestants add, "yet they prosper, and they, " &c. (Haydock) Nation? It is contrary to God's justice not to punish the guilty. (Worthington) CHAPTER V. Clapped. Hebrew, "came down to, or received in, or domineered by their hands." The priests concurred with these impostors for their own ends. (Calmet) Strengthen. Hebrew also, "Flee, Benjamites, from the midst," &c. Jerusalem belonged partly to this tribe, which prided itself on its valour. --- Thecua was in the lot of Juda, 15 miles south of Jerusalem. --- North. The Chaldeans approach, chap. i. 13. (Calmet) Shepherds. So captains are styled, because they feed and govern soldiers. (Worthington) Prepare. Literally, "sanctify." Observe the usual formalities of demanding reparation, offering victims, &c. The Chaldeans thus encourage one another, and will allow themselves no rest day or night, ver. 5. Cold. Hebrew, "come forth." All the citizens imitate her vices. Instructed, by afflictions and prosperity, by public and internal admonitions. Willful ignorance is criminal, and drives God away, chap. li. 9., and Psalm lxxx. 12. Basket. Chaldeans, destroy all. Nabuchodonosor took Joakim twice, and afterwards Jechonias and Sedecias, chap. xxix. 2. Uncircumcised. Impure and deaf. (Calmet) --- Non vocat impossibilitas supplicio qu\'e6 de contemptu et infidelitate descendit. (St. Jerome) In. Jeremias is indignant. The Lord then orders him to pour, or declare what will ensue. (Calmet) Prophet. Septuagint, "false prophet," chap. iv. 31. (Haydock) Disgracefully. They shall be ashamed, when the contrary to what they declared shall come to pass, chap. viii. 11. Paths, of patriarchs, and of Moses. Avoid novelty in religion. (Calmet) --- This advice is very applicable to the present generation. (Haydock) Watchmen. Prophets, Ezechiel iii. 17., and xxxiii. 2. Congregation. Septuagint, "shepherds feeding their flocks have heard." The Chaldeans are apprised of my resolution against Juda. (Calmet) --- After the Jews had been called repeatedly in vain, the Gentiles obey, Matthew x. 5. (Worthington) To me. For want of proper dispositions; otherwise the offerings of the best things were enjoined, and commendable. The Jews are taught not to depend on external observances, while they neglect the heart. (Calmet) North. As Babylon lay with respect to Jerusalem, (Worthington) or rather to the east. (Haydock) Only son. Let thy grief be extraordinary, Amos viii. 10., and Zacharias xii. 10. Trier of my people, as of gold in the furnace, Job xxii. 25. Bellows, or crucible. --- Lead, which was intermixed to purify the dross (St. Jerome) of gold and silver. But brass and iron could not be thus purified. All would be lost labour. Afflictions do not correct the obstinate. (Calmet)