“And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Asadias, the son of Chelcias, wrote in Babylon,”
Babylonia. Septuagint, “Babylon,” where Jechonias was in prison, (Haydock) now the 5th year, ver. 2. Baruch accompanied his brother Saraias, Jeremias li. 59. (Calmet) — Cappellus supposes that the author confounded them together, which is not probable. (Houbigant)
“In the fifth year, and in the seventh day of the month, what time as the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire.”
Month, in which the king was taken. (Calmet) — This was the fifth anniversary. (Haydock) — Fire: but soon extinguished. (Usher) — The taking of the city was effected at intervals, (Haydock) during eleven years, in the fifth of which this book was written. Jerusalem was at last reduced to ashes. As yet there were priests, a temple, &c., ver. 7, 14. (Worthington) (Calmet)
“And Baruch did read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias the son of Joachim king of Juda, and in the ears of all the people that came to hear the book,”
Jechonias. He was in prison, where the Jews met to hear the words of Jeremias; (li. 59., &c.; Calmet) or the king might hear the letter in private. (Houbigant)
“And in the hearing of the nobles, and of the king's sons, and in the hearing of the elders, and of all the people, from the lowest unto the highest, even of all them that dwelt at Babylon by the river Sud.”
Sodi. Hebrew zud, (Haydock) means “pride,” and probably denotes the great river Euphrates. (Calmet) — Bochart reads Sur, (Houbigant) or Sori. The city Sura was there. (Calmet)
“And they sent it to Jerusalem unto Joachim the high priest, the son of Chelcias, son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,”
Joakim, or Eliacim, high priest under Manasses, &c., Isaias xxii. 20. (Calmet) — The text only says that he was priest, and Cappellus asserts there was no pontiff then. (Houbigant)
“At the same time when he received the vessels of the house of the Lord, that were carried out of the temple, to return them into the land of Juda, the tenth day of the month Sivan, namely, silver vessels, which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Jada had made,”
Siven; a Syriac month, corresponding with our May. (Menochius) — Vessels; or, “the vessels were of silver.” (Haydock) — By retrenching a, which, it would seem that they asked for the golden vessels. Sedecias had made silver ones to supply their place. These also might have been taken away. (Calmet) — Baltassar had still those of gold, (Daniel v. 2.; Menochius) or at least some of them. (Haydock) — Sedecias, now in favour, only asked for what he had made while a private man. (Houbigant)
“After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and the people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them unto Babylon.”
All. Cunctos should be vinclos, according to the Greek, “prisoners.” (Calmet)
“And they said, Behold, we have sent you money to buy you burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;”
Meat. Literally, “manna,” as Septuagint express Hebrew monee; (Haydock) or as it is pointed, mincha; which properly means an “oblation” (Jeremias xvii. 26.; Menochius) of bread, wine, &c. (Calmet) — And offerings. Literally, “offer.” — Greek has for sin before frankincense. (Haydock)
“And pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven:”
King. Gratitude and duty prompted them, Jeremias xxix. 7., and 1 Timothy ii. 2. — Baltassar. Evilmerodac, his elder brother, was in disgrace. (Lyranus) (Jeremias lii. 31.) (Calmet) — Heaven, as long and prosperous as possible. (Haydock) — It was a customary salutation to say, O king, live for ever, Daniel ii. 4., and Psalm lxxxviii. 30. (Calmet) — Cappellus says Baltassar was not yet born. But how does he know this? It might be the title of the heir apparent, (Haydock) or of the king’s sons. We need not decide in a point of such antiquity. (Houbigant)
“And the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we shall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favour in their sight.”
Eyes, putting an end to our captivity, (Badwell) or causing us to detest our sins. (Calmet) — Days. This they knew was God’s decree, and they submit. (Haydock) — They prefer serving the Chaldeans before other foreign nations. (Worthington)
“And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.”
Proper festival days. (Calmet) — Hebrew mohed, or muad. They were still observed (Haydock) in the temple.
“Wherefore the evils cleaved unto us, and the curse, which the Lord appointed by Moses his servant at the time that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that floweth with milk and honey, like as it is to see this day.”
Curses against transgressors, Leviticus xxvi., and Daniel ix. 11. (Calmet) — Day. We feel the effects of sin. The land of Juda was not flourishing, though not yet laid waste. (Haydock)
“But every man followed the imagination of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord our God.”
Serve, or sacrifice unto: (Sanctius) operata Deo: (Tibul.) or to worship, chap. ii. 21. (Calmet)