Israel. It shall no longer be a reproach. Cyrus shall restore my people to their own country. But Christ more full accomplished what is here declared respecting the establishment of his Church. (Calmet) CHAPTER XLVI. Virgin; delicate. (Menochius) --- Cyrus overthrew this empire, (Calmet) which now felt its share of misery. (Worthington) Shame. Hebrew tsammathec, Canticle of Canticles iv. 1, 4. Protestants, "thy locks, make bare the legs, uncover the thigh, pass," &c. (Haydock) --- Thou shalt be reduced to a state of the most abject slavery, Exodus xi. 5., and Supra[Isaias] iii. 17., and xx. 4. The Barbarians sold their slaves naked. Polluted; deemed or declared unclean. But thou hast sought to gratify thy vindictive temper, in punishing my people. (Calmet) --- The sins of both called down vengeance. (Worthington) Lady. Pride goes before ruin, Proverbs xvi. 18. Two. The empire and the people shall be removed at once. --- Enchanters; princes or magicians, who gave them evil counsel, ver. 12. Know. All this shews the vanity of magic, which cannot announce future events to do any good. (Calmet) CHAPTER XLVII. Months, to tell which would prove lucky, Esther iii. 7. Thereat, to warm themselves, (Haydock) or to adore. (Calmet) --- In Cappadocia are to be seen "Pyratheia,...in which the magi keep a perpetual fire, and sing hymns about the space of an hour." (Strabo xv.) --- These were a sort of open temples. (Calmet) Merchants. The city was well situated for trade, chap. xiii. 20. (Diodorus ii.) Waters; people, (Apocalypse xvii. 15.; Haydock) or from the stock of Juda, Proverbs v. 15. (Calmet) --- He claimed the sovereign power, but had not the fortitude or wisdom for Israel. (Worthington) City: citizens of Jerusalem, Daniel iii. 28., and Matthew iv. 5. Suddenly, when there was no human appearance of the event, as when I foretold the exploits of Cyrus and the ruin of Babylon so long before. Brass; unblushing, Jeremias iii. 3. (Calmet) --- Os tuum ferreum. (Cicero, contra Pis.) Them. Could you have believed them? --- Knowest not. He upbraids their ignorance and indocility. Knew. Therefore I did not speak of the liberation from Egypt, but from Babylon, which is represented as just taking place. (Calmet) Opened; docile, (Theodoret) or acquainted with these things. Isaias first made known the captivity of Babylon, and its end; and he insists so much, that people may discern the truth of his predictions, and of religion. No atheist can, with a good conscience, hold out against his arguments, chap. xl., &c. Bridle thee, like a headstrong beast, (Calmet) running to its own ruin. (Haydock) --- God pardons freely, that people may be saved if they will. (Worthington) Poverty, at Babylon. I have not treated thee with the utmost rigour, nor attempted to render thee free from every imperfection. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "Lo, I have sold thee, but not for silver; I have snatched thee from the," &c. (Haydock) Things, as I have done respecting Cyrus? (St. Cyril, &c.) who was a figure of Christ, ver. 15. CHAPTER XLVIII. Spirit. The Fathers here find the three Persons of the blessed Trinity specified. Isaias was not from the beginning, though the text may also speak of him (Calmet) as the spoke long before the event, by divine inspiration. (Chaldean) (St. Jerome) Name. The Jews were not forgotten, till they had rejected the Messias. Out. Their return was facilitated. This may easily be applied (Calmet) to the conversion of the Gentiles. (St. Jerome) Peace. Septuagint, "rejoicing," or prosperity for the Chaldeans or wicked Jews, ver. 18. (Calmet) --- It is promised only to the penitent. (Worthington) Give. This fresh discourse continues to chap. lvi. 9., relating to the Messias, who is introduced speaking to all the world, Acts xiii. 47., and 2 Corinthians vi. 2. Some apply a part to Cyrus, Isaias, or John the Baptist, as to his figures. (Calmet) --- The prophet has foretold the conversion of the Gentiles, as he now does, like an evangelist. (St. Jerome) --- Many Jews will embrace the gospel at the end of time. (Worthington) Sword, penetrating the very soul, (Hebrews iv. 12.) and slaying the wicked, Apocalypse i. 16., and 2 Thessalonians ii. 8. Without Christ, his ministers can apply this sword to little purpose. Cyrus cut asunder the bonds of the captives by his decree. (Calmet) --- Grotius improperly explains all of Isaias. (Houbigant) Glory. In the Church, God is adored in spirit and truth. Isaias is ordered thus to address the Israelites. God. He will reward the labours of his ministers, though the people be obstinate. The prophets and our Saviour frequently complain, chap. lxv. 2., and Mark ix. 18. Will not. Hebrew, Septuagint, &c., "to be gathered." (Haydock) --- The original text, independent of the Masorets, may have the sense of the Vulgate. Yet there are other proofs of the synagogue's rejection. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "though Israel be not gathered, yet," &c. Marginal note, or "that Israel may be gathered, and I may," &c. (Haydock) Earth. St. Paul, explains this of Christ, (Acts xiii.) who said, Go teach all nations, Matthew xxviii. Isaias was one of his first preachers. Despised, Christ, Cyrus, or Isaias; though it refer chiefly to our Saviour. Ways. The captives shall find every convenience. (Calmet) South. Hebrew Sinim; (Haydock) China, (St. Jerome) or rather Sin, or Pelusium, and Sinai, in Egypt and Arabia. Septuagint, "Persians." (Calmet) Sion, the Jews, who will at last be converted in great numbers. (Houbigant) Hands, which were nailed to the cross. Septuagint, "I have delineated thy walls on my hands, and thou art before me always." (Haydock) --- The Assyrians wore such characters on their hands or necks. (Lucian) (Leviticus xix. 28.) (Calmet) --- Christ will always love his Church, which is of all times and nations. (Worthington) Of thee. Sanballat, &c., shall yield to Zorobabel, Nehemias, &c. Inhabitants. The country was better peopled, (Calmet) and Jerusalem enlarged under the Machabees. (Josephus, Jewish Wars v. 6.) Barrenness, of which thou complainest. He alludes to the captives who returned, and to Christian converts. (Menochius) CHAPTER XLIX. Shoulders. Thus the Syrians commonly carried children astride. (Cotovic. xiv.) Nurses. The Persian kings favoured the captives. The greatest monarchs bow before the prelates of the Church, (Menochius) and kiss the Pope's toe. They venerate relics, (Haydock) and greatly enrich the Church. (Calmet) Strong. Can I force the Babylonians to yield? Surely, and the devil also, Luke xi. 21. --- Mighty. Hebrew, "just," in lawful war. Septuagint, "unjustly." Flesh. They shall attack one another. (Calmet) --- Neriglissor slew Evil-merodac. (Berosus, apud Josephus, contra Apion i.) --- Gobrias and Gadatas betrayed and killed Baltassar. (Xenophon iv. 5, 7.) (Calmet) --- In their fury they shall tear their own flesh. (Menochius) Away. Such a one could not be received again, if she had taken another husband, Deuteronomy xxiv. 3. Some explain this of the captives. But God restored them to favour. It seems rather to relate to the reprobation (Calmet) of the synagogue, which will never again become the true Church, (Haydock) though many of Israel will be converted, Romans xi. 25. --- Sold you, as a father might do, Exodus xxi. 1., and Matthew xviii. 15. St. Ambrose (Tob.[Tobias?] viii.) inveighs against such cruel parents, as the Christian religion had not then entirely repressed this inhumanity. (Calmet) --- God rejected the synagogue, not out of hard-heartedness or want, but because of her sins. (Worthington) Hear. My spouse had gone after other lovers. The people refused to hear the prophets; and the priests were become as corrupt as the rest, when the city was taken by the Chaldeans and by the Romans. (Calmet) --- Sea. Babylon, chap. xxi. (Haydock) --- I could work the same miracles, as I did when Israel came out of Egypt. Weary. Isaias speaks in the name of Christ, whose words carried conviction and comfort along with them, John vi. 69., and vii. 46. (Calmet) --- Wakeneth. Literally, "lifteth up." Cynthius aurem --- Vellit. ([Virgil?]Ec. vi.) --- Hear, or obey. (Haydock) --- Christ preached more powerfully than Isaias, and continues to do so by his pastors. (St. Jerome) (Worthington) Spit. The greatest indignity, Job xxx. 10., and Deuteronomy xxv. 9. Yet this was the treatment of our Saviour, Luke xviii. 31., and Matthew xxvi. 67. (Calmet) --- "The great Grotius, (I wish he were great in explaining the prophets)" applies this to Jeremias. (Houbigant) Rock. Christ heard the accusations of his enemies unmoved, as the had not been afraid to blame the conduct of the Pharisees. Light. The faithful are exhorted to take courage, while the Romans will destroy the rebellious Jews, (ver. 11.; Calmet) and the wicked shall dwell in hell fire. (Menochius)