Denials; refusing to adhere to my worship. (Haydock) --- They wished to unite it with that of idols, 3 Kings xviii. (Calmet) --- Saints. The priests and temple are preserved in Juda. Ezechias brought the people to serve God faithfully, while Israel was led captive. Septuagint, "the house of Israel and Juda with impiety. Now God hath known them lovingly, and it shall be called the holy people of God." Thus both kingdoms were criminal, and God exercised his mercy towards both. (Haydock) --- The Jews relate that when their ancestors were pursued by the Egyptians, and the people were desponding, Juda signalized his courage by entering the bed of the sea. (St. Jerome) --- These traditions are suspicious. (Calmet) CHAPTER XI. On. Literally, the wind. (Haydock) --- To trust in men is no less vain. (Worthington) --- Septuagint, "Ephraim is an evil spirit," &c. --- Heat. Hebrew, "eastern or burning wind." (Haydock) --- Manahem attempted to engage Egypt on his side, but he was frustrated in his hopes, (4 Kings xv.; St. Jerome) as Osee was likewise; to which king the sense conducts us better, chap. xiii. 15. --- Oil. That of Palestine was very excellent, Ezechiel xxvii. 17. Judgment. Hebrew, "trial." What follows refers to all the people, whose impiety is contrasted with Jacob's virtue. Brother Esau, thus foreshewing what would happen, Genesis xxv. --- Angel. Septuagint, "God," whose place this angel held. Elohim implies both, ver. 4., and Genesis xxxii. 24. Wept. Septuagint, "they wept, and besought me." Other interpreters agree with the Vulgate. --- Us. By changing a vowel point, in Hebrew, it might be, "He spoke to him." (Cap.[Cappel?;] Grotius) --- The most magnificent promises were made, at Bethel, regarding the Israelites: this made the profanation of the place more horrible. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "They found me in the house of On, and there the word was addressed to them." --- Bethaven was the name of Bethel, among the pious Jews, in the days of Osee. (Haydock) Memorial, and the object of worship; or this great Jehovah spoke to Jacob. Chanaan. The Ph\'9cnicians were so called, and all merchants. Here the title is given reproachfully (Calmet) to all the posterity of Jacob. (Haydock) --- None more ignominious could be used, Daniel xiii. 56. Thus Rome is styled Babylon. Idol. Hebrew also, "vanity." Riches are vain, and lead to idolatry when people place their affections on them, Matthew xiii. 22., and Ephesians v. 5. --- Committed. I am conscious of no injustice. (Calmet) --- Yet he had used a deceitful balance, and his judgment is equally perverse. (Haydock) --- "What rich man shall be saved?" (Clement of Alexandria) Egypt. At Sinai the covenant between God and Israel was chiefly ratified. The former ceased not to perform the conditions, but the latter repaid him with ingratitude. --- Feast. The people shall be brought back, (Calmet) or they shall again be forced to dwell under tents. (Theodoret) --- "Shall I still cause?" &c. (Tournemine) Prophets. They have represented me as it were under visible forms, that you cannot plead ignorance. The prophets prefigured Christ, the end of the law, &c. (Calmet) Idol. That is, if Galaad, with all its idols and sacrifices, be like a mere idol itself, being brought to nothing by Theglathphalassar, how vain is it to expect that the idols worshipped in Galgal shall be of any service to the tribes that remain. (Challoner) --- Will these idols be more powerful? Septuagint copies vary. Roman edition has Galaad, and Complutensian Galgal in both places. But that of St. Jerome and of Theodoret is better. --- Heaps of stones. They are in ruins, or very numerous: (Calmet) yet have not secured the country. (Haydock) CHAPTER XII. Jacob. The history of the patriarch, and of his posterity, serves to place the ingratitude of the people in the clearest light. (Worthington) --- The prophet had interrupted the account of Jacob, (ver. 4.) who had signalized his piety in Galaad, Genesis xxxi. 46. Prophet. Josue put the people in possession of the country, and offered sacrifice at Galgal, where the rite of circumcision was performed. This place is now defiled. What perfidy (Haydock) and ingratitude. (Calmet) Him. He shall suffer for his crimes. (Menochius) --- He can blame only himself. (Calmet) Spoke. When Jeroboam proposed to erect the golden calves, people were seized with horror; yet they consented, and soon after Baal and other idols were worshipped. (Worthington) --- Ephraim was one of the greatest tribes, and by its example the rest were drawn into idolatry. Achab principally introduced the worship of Baal, which caused God to decree the misery of his people, 3 Kings xvi. 31. Calves. A cutting reproach! Those who could stoop to adore a calf, might be so blind as to sacrifice men! Hebrew, "sacrifice, ye men who," &c. Jeroboam issues this edict. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "immolate men; calves are wanting." (Haydock) Away. Chap. vi. 4. --- Chimney, or hole, at the side or top of the room. (Calmet) --- Hebrew arubba, (Haydock) means also "a locust," as the Septuagint render it, though here it affords no sense. Knew: treated thee with kindness, or tried thee. (Calmet) Pastures: the more they were indulged. (Haydock) (Deuteronomy xxxii. 15.) Lioness. Septuagint, "panther." I will pursue them even in their captivity. Whelps; with the greatest fury, 2 Kings xvii. 8. --- Inner. Hebrew, "what encloses the heart;" or, I will break their hard heart. (Calmet) Own. Evils are brought on by the sins of men, which God does not cause. (Worthington) --- Septuagint, "who will aid to prevent thy perdition, O Israel." (Haydock) --- God alone is the author of salvation. He also punishes, (Amos iii. 6.) but for man's amendment in life. (Worthington) Princes. It was on this pretext that a king was demanded, 1 Kings viii. 20. Will any now save you? (Menochius) King; Saul, Jeroboam, or the Assyrian. --- Away. Osee, (Calmet) so that you shall have no more kings of Israel. (Haydock) --- Septuagint alone have, "I took (Calmet) or had him in," &c. (St. Jerome) Hidden. He thinks to escape. (Haydock) --- But I keep it like pieces of silver, bound up in my treasury. (St. Jerome) (Calmet) Him. He shall be taken when he least expects it. His fruit shall come forth, Jeremias iv. 31. --- Children. He shall have no share in the division of property, or shall not escape when the father shall bring his children to an account. The Chaldean, &c., insinuate, that the infant affords no help to come forth, as it would if it had sense. (Calmet) CHAPTER XIII. Death. This must be understood of eternal misery, from which the just are preserved. All must die, and many suffered a violent death from the Assyrians. (Worthington) --- After denouncing the severest judgments, the prophet promises redress and a sort of resurrection, which was a figure of the real sufferings and rising of Jesus Christ. The apostle applies this text to him, but follows not the Hebrew or Septuagint, 1 Corinthians xv. 55. (Calmet) --- Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? Protestants read, O grave, instead of the latter death. Hebrew ehi has been twice placed for aie, I will be instead of where? (Haydock) as the Greek, Arabic, and Syriac versions, as wll as the context, evince. All the versions prove the same corruption to be [in] ver. 10. Kennicott, Aquila, and the 5. edition read where? Symmachus I will be: (St. Jerome) so that the change probably took place between the year of the Lord 130 and 200. Septuagint, "Where is thy cause gained, ( in a lawsuit, or thy justice; Greek:dike .; Haydock) O death?" &c. --- Eyes. I can find no consolation, (St. Jerome) because the people cause dissension by their perseverance in evil. Hebrew also, "repentance," &c. I will utterly destroy Ephraim; or rather, "vengeance....because he shall flourish," &c. If Ephraim would repent, this should not take place; but now, the Lord will bring Salmanasar, a burning wind, ver. 15. (Calmet) Springs of death; or the sins which Christ, born of a virgin, shall destroy, and liberate the vessels of election from hell. (St. Jerome) (Haydock) Perish, because she hath stirred up her God to bitterness. It is not a curse or imprecation, but a prophecy of what should come to pass (Challoner) to Israel, in Assyria. Many such expressions occur, Psalm lxviii. 25., &c. (St. Jerome) --- Sometimes they are the efforts of zeal, conformable to divine justice, Psalm cxl. 6. (Worthington) --- Hebrew, "Samaria has sinned, or shall perish." (Calmet) --- Bitterness. Septuagint, "she hath resisted her God." (Haydock) Words. In captivity, legal victims cannot be offered. (Calmet) --- But a contrite heart is always acceptable, Psalm l. --- Good. While engaged in sin, (Haydock) "we can offer thee nothing good." --- Calves: victims of praise. (St. Jerome) --- Hebrew parim. Septuagint omit m, (Haydock) and render fruit. They are followed by the Arabic and Syriac as well as by the apostle, Hebrews xiii. 15. (Calmet) --- We will offer what victims we please. (Estius) (Psalms lxix. 23., and lxv. 13.) Gods. The Assyrians, instead of protecting, oppress us; while Egypt, famous for horses, sits unconcerned. (Calmet) --- But the source of all our evils are the idols, which we will follow no more. --- In thee: adheres to the true faith in practice. (Haydock) --- Israel was like an orphan during the captivity, Lamentations i. 1. (Calmet) Breaches, when Israel shall be converted, as some were to Christ, and many will be at the end of the world. (Worthington) --- Hebrew, "their return." Septuagint, "dwellings." They shall be purified. --- Freely. I have been forced to chastise, My heart dilates. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "I will love them manifestly." Syriac, "accept their free offerings." (Haydock) Dew. Israel has been like a plant dried up, chap. xiii. 15. --- Libanus. The cedars were tall and bulky, being well rooted. Glory. Septuagint, "he shall be as fruitful as the olive-tree." --- Libanus, or incense. (Calmet) --- The term has both meanings. (Haydock) His. This may refer to the tree, or to God. The captives shall return, and be happy. But in a more sublime sense it refers to the nations which shall embrace the gospel. --- Libanus, or fragrant. Such wine was esteemed in which certain odoriferous herbs were infused, Canticle of Canticles vii. 2. (Calmet) --- Libanus was also famous for generous wines. (Siconita 11.) Idol? or God will no more reproach them, as their conversion is sincere. --- Make. Hebrew, "be to him like," &c. (Calmet)