Temples, or "palaces." (Calmet) --- Cities. The two tribes, witnessing the calamities of their brethren, will not avoid a similar conduct, but trust in their fortifications. (Worthington) --- Fire of war destroys both kingdoms. --- Thereof. Septuagint of St. Jerome adds, "and among the Assyrians they have eaten unclean things," which may be taken from chap. ix. 3. (Haydock) --- It is not found in the present Hebrew or Greek copies. (Calmet) CHAPTER VIII. Reward, or "present." The kings took the tithe, 1 Kings viii. 15. Other infidel nations rejoice in their wealth. Israel ought not to do so; and, in punishment of idolatry, it shall be despoiled. After Jeroboam II, all went to ruin. Deceive. The grapes shall yield no wine. (Calmet) --- Spem mentita seges. (Horace ii. ep. 2. and 3. ode 1. and 16.) Egypt, through distress, chap viii. 13. (St. Jerome, ver. 6.) (Worthington) --- Sua afforded no protection, and the country proved a grave to those who retired thither. --- Unclean. The people observed these prescriptions, though they neglected the more important duties. Only some pious souls, like Tobias, Daniel, &c., refrained from such meats in exile. (Calmet) --- Ezechiel (iv. 9.) foreshewed this by his bread. (St. Jerome) Wine. They shall be at a distance from the temple, and in a country where the wine will not be deemed pure. The Jews will drink none which they have not made; and they usually lift up the cup, and pour out a little in God's honour. This they could not do in Assyria, (Calmet) not having liberty to do all about the wine. --- Sacrifices. The Israelites had long neglected to offer any in the temple, (Haydock) though they had no hindrance. In exile, the fruits, &c., were all accounted unclean, like meats used in mourning, (Calmet) which defiled those who partook of them, Deuteronomy xxvi. 14., and Numbers xix. 11. "The sacrifices of heretics are the bread of mourning. They offer them not to God, but to the dead, to wicked heresiarchs." (St. Jerome) --- Soul. They have need enough of it. (Haydock) --- "Let them gratify their appetite; I love not what is unclean." (St. Jerome) Lord, when he shall punish you, Isaias xxxiv. 6. (Haydock) --- Israel did not go to the temple, but they kept the festivals and banquets in their own manner, the privation of which they would feel. Gather into the grave. Yet some shall escape, chap. xi. 11. --- Silver, which they buried at the approach of the enemy, hoping to recover it when they should depart. The Arabs do so still, (Calmet) and the Indians likewise, that they may have something to support them in the next world! (Bernier) --- Bur. Hebrew, "thorns." (Calmet) Mad. Israel shall promise itself all prosperity, not being inspired by God, but full of madness. (Worthington) --- There were many false prophets. The true ones were often accounted idols, 4 Kings ix. 11., and Ezechiel iii. 25. (Calmet) --- "What is said respecting Israel, in this prophet, must be understood of heretics, who being truly mad, utter falsehoods against God. (St. Jerome) --- Septuagint, "and Israel shall be hurt like the prophet beside himself, the man having ( or hurried away by) the spirit." (Haydock) My God. I am such; but the false prophets strive to seduce you. (Calmet) --- Jeroboam ought to have restrained the people, and he did the reverse, setting up a calf at Bethel, which proved more ruinous than the crime of Gabaa, (Judges xix.) or the election of Saul. "In ancient records, I cannot find that any have divided the Church but those who were appointed by God, priests and prophets, that is watchmen." (St. Jerome) --- Indeed, almost all heresies owe their rise to the pride or lust of some who have been in high stations. --- Madness. Hebrew, " and hatred in (marginal note: against) the," &c. (Protestants) (Haydock) --- Instead of standing up for the people, he provokes God. Sin. As they have imitated the citizens of Gabaa, they may expect a similar fate. (Calmet) Top. These are the best. (Haydock) --- The patriarchs were pleasing to God. He chose the Hebrews; but they began to worship Beelphegor or Adonis, even before the death of Moses. This worship was most shameful. What will not passion do when the gods shew the example! Conception. Their children, in whom they glory, shall be destroyed (Calmet) in the very embryo. (Haydock) When. Septuagint Theodotion, "my flesh is taken from them," which Theodoret, Lyranus, &c., explain of the incarnation; but Aquila, &c., agree with the Vulgate which is more natural. (Calmet) Tyre. The kingdom of Israel was no less proud, Ezechiel xxvi. (Worthington) --- It was in the highest prosperity under Jeroboam II. Osee saw this and the subsequent overthrow. Tyre was a most populous and wealthy city. (Calmet) --- Other interpreters have, "a rock;" Septuagint, "a prey." The latter read d for r. (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- The Vulgate seems best. (Calmet) --- Tsor denotes, "Tyre and a rock." (Haydock) CHAPTER IX. Children, as they have exposed them to the fury of the Assyrians, (Calmet) or to their idols. (Drusius) --- The prophet appears to demand vengeance through zeal; but it is only a prediction. (Calmet) Galgal: "heaped together." (Haydock) --- When they erected profane altars here, I could spare them no longer. (Calmet) --- No more, so as to suffer them to pass unpunished. (Haydock) --- He afterwards restored them to favour, chap. i. 10., and ii. 14. (Calmet) --- At Galgal they rejected the Lord's spiritual and temporal dominion. (Menochius) Dried up. They are compared to a vine, chap. x. 1. (Calmet) Branches. Septuagint, "Wood." Symmachus, This is all: it yields no fruit. Protestants, "empty." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "plucked." The grapes are taken away, as the Israelites were; though they boasted of their numbers, chap. ix. 16. They are often compared to a vine, the symbol of fecundity, Isaias v. 3., and Psalm cxxvii. 3. (Calmet) --- The greater benefits of God enhanced their ingratitude. (Worthington) --- On every noted hill (Haydock) profane altars were erected. Divided between the Lord and idols, 3 Kings xviii. 21. (Calmet) --- The Jews relate that Osee, the last king of Israel, gave the people leave to go to Jerusalem; (4 Kings xvii. 2.) and as they would not take advantage of it, their ruin was decreed. (St. Jerome) No king, in captivity; or they give this title to the golden calf. Manahem had destroyed one, so that they could not but see its vanity. The neighbouring nations looked upon their idols as their kings. Covenant with Phul, who seeks only your destruction, 4 Kings xv. 19. (Calmet) --- Bitterness. Hebrew, "poison," (Haydock) or a bitter herb. (Calmet) The kine of Bethaven. The golden calves of Jeroboam, (Challoner) one of which (Haydock) was set up at Bethel. (Worthington) --- The feminine cows, is spoken in ridicule; as (Calmet) O vere Phrygi\'e6, (Virgil) \'c6neid ix. Isis was represented with a cow's head. (Herodotus ii. 41.) --- Rejoiced. To avoid this apparent contradiction, the Jews relate that the priests had sent a brazen calf to the Assyrians, and secreted the golden one. While they rejoiced at their success, Salmanasar, (Seder. Olam.) or Sennacherib, discovered the cheat, and came to destroy the kingdom. (St. Jerome) --- This has the air of a fable. If (Calmet) we substitute e for g, in yagilu, (Haydock) we may give a good sense to the Hebrew. "The people shouting, or in black, have been in sorrow, because their glory is taken from them: so the idol is called, Psalm cv. 20. (Calmet) Itself also is carried, &c. One of the golden calves was given by king Manahem to Phul, king of the Assyrians, to engage him to stand by him. (Challoner) --- Avenging. Chap. v. 13. --- Will, or expectation of aid. (Calmet) --- He had recourse to this nation, without consulting God. (Haydock) Pass. Hebrew, "As for Samaria, it is undone. Its king is like froth, or a bubble," &c., chap. xi. 1. The calf; (ver. 3.) Zacharias or Osee may be meant. Us, as the Jews would do at the last siege, and sinners before the day of judgment, Luke xxiii. 30., and Apocalypse vi. 14. Too happy, if they could by a speedy death escape eternal torments! (Calmet) --- People shall be in the utmost consternation at the approach of the Assyrians. (Haydock) --- They will not think themselves secure enough in their caverns. Gabaa. Septuagint, "high places;" or he alludes to the brutality of the citizens, Judges xx. 13. --- Stood. Those of Gabaa were speedily punished by the other tribes. Now, all are perverse. At that time one tribe was guilty, and yet some were spared; but all Israel shall be now led into captivity. (Calmet) --- From the time that Dan adored Micha's idol, (Judges xviii. 14.) the evil has spread among the rest of the tribes, which did not punish this transgression. Hence all shall at last suffer. (Worthington) Their two iniquities. Their two calves; (Challoner) or because they have abandoned God, and followed idols, Jeremias ii. 13. Many render, "when I shall have tied them, like oxen, in their two furrows." But the Vulgate is plainer, and adopted by most. Neck. I will confine her to harder labour. While the oxen tred out corn, they may eat, Deuteronomy xxv. 4. --- Himself. Juda shall be chastised after the ten tribes; so that none of my people shall escape. Mouth. Hebrew, "in proportion to (Calmet) your piety." Septuagint, "gather a vintage of the fruit of life." (Haydock) --- Ground. Reform you conduct. (Calmet) --- Justice, when Christ shall appear, the source of all our grace and justice. (St. Jerome, &c.) (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "Light up for yourselves the light of knowledge, for it is time; seek the Lord, till ye obtain the fruit of justice." Ploughed. Septuagint, "Why have you concealed impiety," refusing to confess? (Haydock) --- Iniquity, or punishment. --- Lying. Your hopes are frustrated, and no fruit is seen. (Calmet) --- Ways: idols. (St. Jerome) Tumult. Hebrew shaon; the din of war, (Haydock) or cry of soldiers. (Calmet) --- Salmana, king of the Madianites, was destroyed by the house; that is, by the followers of him that judgeth Baal; that is, of Gedeon, who threw down the altar of Baal, and was therefore called Jerobaal. See Judges vi. and viii. (Challoner) --- Of him. Roman Septuagint, "of Jeroboam." But St. Jerome, &c., have, Jerobaal. Theodoret, "in the house of Arbeel." Hebrew, "as Salmana ruined the house of Arbela." There were many places of this name; but none of great note, taken by Salmanasar. Some think that he took it before he was king. Yet this is all uncertain, and the Hebrew seems rather changed, so that we should read with the Alexandrian manuscript. St. Jerome, &c., Jerobaal, who defeated the Madianites, and treated Succoth with great severity, Judges viii. 15. (Calmet) Bethel. This place, defiled by an idol, shall be the scene of your misery. Septuagint, "So I will treat you, O house of Israel," &c., (Haydock) which is not in Hebrew (St. Jerome) but seems as good. (Haydock) --- Hebrew adds here properly, (Calmet) "Presently, or in the morning, shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off," which we have in the next chapter.