Prevail. God does not promise peace, but victory. (Worthington) CHAPTER I. Espousals. He speaks ironically. (Theodoret) --- Yet the Israelites at first shewed greater proofs of love than they did afterwards. It is true they often prevaricated, in the wilderness, Exodus xxxii. 1., and Amos v. 25., and Psalm lxxvii., &c. (Calmet) --- The Lord declares his gratuitous love, and then upbraids his people. (Haydock) --- He had caused them to multiply in Egypt, and gratuitously made choice of them. (Worthington) Increase; most desirable, Osee ix. 10. God punished those who attempted to injure his people: yet they abandoned his service. Vanity; idols, whom he will not mention, to spare their shame. (Calmet) Carmel. That is, a fruitful, plentiful land. (Challoner) (Worthington) --- All Palestine is thus designated. (Menochius) Priests were silent, or abandoned themselves. --- Pastors; "princes." (Chaldean) Manasses, Amon, &c. --- In Baal, promoting his worship. (Haydock) --- The land was full of false prophets, and none stood up for the Lord. Children; the Israelites, under Moses, and their posterity transgressed. Cethim; Macedon. It here denotes the western nations, as Cedar does those of the east. Glory; the true God and his ark, Psalm iii. 4., and 1 Kings iv. 21. Gates; angels, or the temple. Water. The idols and nations, to which they have had recourse, injure them. (Calmet) --- The Jews did just the reverse to what God commanded. (Worthington) Slave. From such, labour and tribute were required, Matthew xvii. 24., and John viii. 33. Lions; kings of Assyria, &c. The decree for the devastation of Juda had already passed, though it was not put in execution. Taphnes, 16 miles from Pelusium, in Egypt. The nation proved only detrimental to the Jews, by engaging them in their abominations, instead of affording relief. Troubled. Hebrew shichor, or Nile water, (Josue xiii. 3.) which was thought as good as wine, and grew better for keeping. (Strabo xvii.) --- Hence the people adored it. (Vitruvius viii.) --- God often reproached the Jews for distrusting in his protection, and seeking aid from the Egyptians, who deceived them. We know not that Josias did so. (Calmet) --- He even opposed them, and lost his life in defending the country, 4 Kings xxiii. 29. (Haydock) --- He was probably obliged to pay tribute to the Assyrians, whom Achaz had called in, 2 Paralipomenon xxviii. 23. These alliances the Lord condemned. CHAPTER II. Thou. Septuagint. Yet Hebrew and Chaldean have, "I have permissively broken," or foretold this infidelity. Chosen. Hebrew, Sorek, Judges xvi. 4., and Isaias v. 2., and xvi. 8. (Calmet) --- God created all things good, planted his Church in justice, and no evil proceeds from Him. (Worthington) Borith. An herb used to clean clothes, and take out spots and dirt, (Challoner) like kali, soda, (Calmet) or soap. (Langius.) --- Protestants, "and take thee much soap." (Haydock) Valley of Hinnom, under the very walls of Jerusalem. (Calmet) --- Runner. Hebrew, "dromedary," which takes its name from its swiftness. (Haydock) --- The female camel continues all day with the male, and cannot be approached. (Aristotle; Pliny, [Natural History?] x. 63.) --- Juda is represented as no less libidinous. (Calmet) Away. The female may easily be found by the poisonous hippo-manes. (Georg. iii.) --- Thus Jerusalem is an impudent prostitute. (Haydock) Foot, and the parts which modesty covers. My exhortations are slighted. (Calmet) --- Despair opens the door to every sort of impurity, Ephesians iv. 19. (Haydock) Taken. Juda affected still to be very pious, ver. 23. Cities. All were abandoned, Ezechiel xvi. 24., and Osee x. 1. Prophets; Zacharias, (2 Paralipomenon xxiv. 21.) Isaias, &c., Matthew xxiii. 34. (Calmet) --- Punishment is designed by God to cause people to repent. (Worthington) See, or hear. The sword seems to be animated. (Calmet) --- Lateward. Hebrew, "darksome land." Have I not heaped blessings on my people? --- Revolted. Protestants, "Lords." (Haydock) Thou who. Hebrew, "Therefore have I." (Calmet) --- Protestants, "hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways." (Haydock) --- Thou hast opened a school of vice. Innocent children, immolated to Moloc, or people murdered, whose blood thou hast not concealed, 4 Kings xxi. 16. Head, like the violated Thamar, 2 Kings xiii. 19. The king of Egypt was routed, when coming to assist Sedecias, chap. xxxvii. 3, 10. (Calmet) It. Hebrew, "a saying." Septuagint, "If," &c., Deuteronomy xxiv. 1. (Haydock) --- Woman. Hebrew, "land." --- Lovers. Septuagint, "shepherds," (Calmet) seeking aid from idols and foreigners. High. Literally, "straight forward." (Haydock) --- On the hills, idolatry and immorality prevailed. --- Ways, where harlots used to sit, Genesis xxxviii. 14., and Proverbs vii. 9., and xxxiii. 27. --- Robber; "Arab," (Chaldean, &c.) or "crow." (Septuagint) (Calmet) --- No sin is so great as to be irremissible to the true penitent. (Worthington) Rain; about November, Deuteronomy xi. 14. This drought happened under Josias, (chap. v. 24.) and was different from that specified, chap. viii. 13., and xiv. 1. Guide. Husband, Proverbs ii. 16., and Joel i. 8. Wilt. Hebrew, "will he," &c. The faithless people will not use this language, but do all the evil possible. Days, before the 18th year. God now pronounces sentence (Calmet) on all. (Haydock) --- Rebellious, a faithless wife. The kingdom of Israel gave way to idolatry first. But the people were less favoured than Juda, which had many prophets and good kings, the temple, &c. Moreover, the misfortunes of Israel did not open the eyes of their brethren. (Calmet) --- Both the ten tribes, and the two tribes (Worthington) which adhered to the line of David, prevaricated. (Haydock) Falsehood. Their reform was only apparent, under Joas, &c. (Calmet) Soul, and appeared comparatively innocent, ver. 6., and Ezechiel xvi. 51. (St. Jerome) --- Yet neither of them was excusable. (Worthington) North. Samaria, or rather Assyria, where the people were captives. --- Face, in anger. Ways, dividing thy love, and adoring idols with me. Kindred. Only few Israelites returned under Cyrus. The rest came by degrees, though it was more fully accomplished by the conversion of the Gentiles. Pastors. Zorobabel, &c., but more particularly Christ and his apostles. Ark. It was no longer at Jerusalem. The law and its figures cease. All. Many might embrace the Jewish religion. But the predictions of the prophets on this head, were not verified, till the gospel was preached. (Calmet) --- Then many embraced the faith: several captives also returned to God. (Worthington) North. Septuagint add, "and from all places" where the Jews were in captivity. (Haydock) --- Many thus returned to their own country, ver. 14. (Calmet) --- Israel had been led into captivity sooner, but all were released at once. (Theodoret) (Worthington) Gentiles, which they all covet, or to which they are invited in the Church. (Calmet) --- Me. On these conditions thou shalt be restored. (Haydock) God. Hence proceed these miseries and lamentations. Liars, unfruitful; and the idols have left us empty. (Calmet) --- They were placed on the hills. (Houbigant) Confusion. Thus Baal was styled Boseth, contemptuously, Jeremias xi. 13. Shame. We are justly punished with exile, (Calmet) and death. (Menochius)