Baruch 6 Commentary

“Angelus enim meus vobiscum est : ipse autem exquiram animas vestras.”

Angel Michael, the conductor of Israel in the desert, &c., Daniel x. 13., and Exodus xxxiii. 2. (Calmet) — He protected them also in Babylon. (Worthington)

“Et sicut virgini amanti ornamenta, ita accepto auro fabricati sunt.”

Gay. Nothing could be more despicable. (Calmet)

“Dant autem et ex ipso prostitutis, et meretrices ornant : et iterum cum receperint illud a meretricibus, ornant deos suos.”

The harlots. Their hire was rejected by the Lord. But idols suffered themselves to be despoiled or adorned at pleasure. Greek, “But they will give of them even to harlots under the same roof, while they adorn them (idols) like men with garments, gods of gold, silver, and wood.” (Haydock)

“Opertis autem illis veste purpurea, extergunt faciem ipsorum propter pulverem domus qui est plurimus inter eos.”

Them, on account of the many votaries, ver. 16. Arnobius (6) ridicules such gods. (Calmet) — Protestants adopt similar arguments against the real presence as if we believed that Christ was hurt when the sacramental species were broken or devoured by vermin. A little more boldness will prompt them to reject the divinity of Christ, who was pleased to give up his body to those who treated him shamefully. Almost every argument which is levelled against Christ’s real presence in the blessed Eucharist, may be turned against the incarnation; and hence so many now become Socinians, being unwilling to submit their understanding to the mysteries of religion. To apply these texts to holy pictures, would be nugatory. See Isaias xl 18. (Haydock) — The absurdities here specified, shew how foolish are those who serve idols or take any images to be gods. (Worthington) — Calvin represents the pagans as adoring God under the images, as if they used them in the same light as Catholics do; which is contrary to this epistle, &c. (Tirinus)

“Sceptrum autem habet ut homo, sicut judex regionis, qui in se peccantem non interficit.”

Judge, or ruler. (Calmet) — The sceptre and spear were badges of power. (Eustath.) — Mars had a sword, Hercules a club. We know little of the idols of Babylon.

“non ergo timueritis eos. Sicut enim vas hominis confractum inutile efficitur, tales sunt et dii illorum.”

Vessel; armour, or any utensil. (Calmet)

“Lucernas accendunt illis, et quidem multas, ex quibus nullam videre possunt : sunt autem sicut trabes in domo.”

Candles. Literally, “lamps.” (Haydock) — Some temples in Egypt were famous for their numbers. (Herodotus ii. 62.) — The Lord prescribed them to be used. But who ever imagined that he stood in need of them to see, as the idolaters supposed their idols did?

“Corda vero eorum dicunt elingere serpentes qui de terra sunt, dum comedunt eos, et vestimentum ipsorum, et non sentiunt.”

Hearts: the wood is worm-eaten. (Calmet)

“Ex omni pretio empta sunt, in quibus spiritus non inest ipsis.”

Price, foolishly believing that they have divine power. (Worthington)

“Propterea si ceciderint in terram, a semetipsis non consurgunt : neque si quis eum statuerit rectum, per semetipsum stabit : sed sicut mortuis munera eorum illis apponentur.”

Gifts. The Chaldeans supposed that Bel could eat, Daniel xiv. — Dead. Food was placed on the tombs. St. Augustine abolished this custom in Africa.

“Hostias illorum vendunt sacerdotes ipsorum, et abutuntur : similiter et mulieres eorum decerpentes, neque infirmo, neque mendicanti, aliquid impertiunt.”

Take. Greek, “salt.” They give none to the poor, for fear of their imposture being detected, though they allow even the unclean to eat, ver. 28., Leviticus xii. 2., and Deuteronomy xiv. 29.

“Unde enim vocantur dii ? quia mulieres apponunt diis argenteis, et aureis, et ligneis :”

Women. They make gods. (Calmet) — Qui rogat, ille facit. (Martial viii. 24.)

“et in domibus eorum sacerdotes sedent habentes tunicas scissas, et capita et barbam rasam, quorum capita nuda sunt.”

Shaven, as in mourning, contrary to the custom of Israel, Leviticus xxi. 10. (Calmet) — Heads. The Jewish priests wore mitres or caps.

“Rugiunt autem clamantes contra deos suos sicut in cœna mortui.”

Dead, even of Adonis, (Haydock) whose worship is here ridiculed. (Calmet) — At Biblos people bewailed his death, and the next day proclaimed that he was alive. All cut off their hair, as the Egyptians do for Apis, except such as submitted to prostitute themselves to strangers. The hire they consecrated to Venus. (Lucian, Dea Syra.) — At funerals a feast was usually made, as is still the custom in Syria, (Roger, ii. 14.) and near Bagdad. (Chardin. ii. 7.)

“Similiter neque dare divitias possunt, neque malum retribuere. Si quis illis votum voverit et non reddiderit, neque hoc requirunt.”

Requite. Greek, “brass,” much less gold. (Haydock)

“Adhuc enim ipsis Chaldæis non honorantibus ea : qui cum audierint mutum non posse loqui, offerunt illud ad Bel, postulantes ab eo loqui :”

Chaldeans. The priests themselves despise the idols most, (Calmet) and expose them to contempt, by pretending that they work miracles. (Haydock) — “Those who first set up representations of the gods, deprived cities of reverential awe, and increased the error,” said Varro; “prudently supposing that gods might easily be contemned, when like stupid images.” In simulacrorum stoliditate. (St. Augustine, City of God iv. 26.)

“quasi possint sentire qui non habent motum ! Et ipsi, cum intellexerint, relinquent ea : sensum enim non habent ipsi dii illorum.”

They. Greek, “he could perceive. And they reflecting on this, cannot still abandon them; for they have no sense.” (Haydock) — They are so stupid, that they will not quit such impotent idols. (Calmet)

“Mulieres autem circumdatæ funibus in viis sedent, succendentes ossa olivarum :”

Women. Aristophanes calls harlots, “corded bodies.” (Eccles. Act. i.) The women of Babylon “prostituted themselves once, in honour of Venus, (Haydock. Mylitta. Calmet) sitting with crowns on their heads in the temple, till some stranger selected them, and took them from their partition, made with cords,” (Haydock) to some more secret place, where they broke their bands. (Herodotus i. 199.) (Calmet) — That some deluded women, led by various desires, should think thus to honour that impure deity, by an action which some modern casuists have not scrupled to rank among simple venial sins, cannot excite our astonishment so much, when we reflect on the tenets of the ancient Gnostics, and of Antinomians at the present day, whom J. Wesley, the late founder of the Methodists, applauded and followed even in the meridian of the gospel light! See Deuteronomy xvi. 22., and xxiii. 17. Yet these men read and perhaps distributed the Bible! — Stones. Literally, “bones;” (Haydock) or the refuse of what had been crushed, (pitura. Atheneus ii. 14.) to excite impure love. (Menochius) (Tirinus) — Theocritus (Phar.) represents a witch doing the like; and Sanchez tells us, that some were taken in the fact in Spain. (Calmet) — Fumigation, used by the Babylonians after marriage, (Herodotus i. 198.) may be insinuated. (Grotius)

“A fabris autem et ab aurificibus facta sunt : nihil aliud erunt, nisi id quod volunt esse sacerdotes.”

To be. Isaias xliv. 14. Horace (i. Sat. 8) introduces Priapus thus ridiculously explaining his origin; “I was formerly an useless piece of a fig-tree; when the workman, not knowing whether to make a bench or a Priapus, chose rather that I should be a god. Hence I am a god, the greatest terror of thieves and birds.” Septuagint, “they are nothing but what the workmen wish to form.” (Haydock)

“Unde ergo notum est quia non sunt dii, sed opera manuum hominum, et nullum Dei opus in ipsis est.”

Them. Greek has simply, (Calmet) “Who then knows not that they are no gods?” (Haydock)

“Judicium quoque non discernent, neque regiones liberabunt ab injuria, quia nihil possunt, sicut corniculæ inter medium cæli et terræ.”

Daws. They have no greater influence (Calmet) than jackdaws.

“Itaque melius est esse regem ostentantem virtutem suam, aut vas in domo utile, in quo gloriabitur qui possidet illud, vel ostium in domo, quod custodit quæ in ipsa sunt, quam falsi dii.”

Gods. Septuagint repeat this after satisfied, or “will use;” and here add, “or a pillar of wood in palaces, than,” &c. (Haydock)

“Sol quidem et luna ac sidera, cum sint splendida et emissa ad utilitates, obaudiunt :”

Obedient to God. They were appointed to mark out the seasons, &c., (Genesis i. 14.) and if any creature were worthy of adoration, they would. (Calmet) — The Babylonians adored them as well as statues, and therefore their proper destination is specified here and by Moses.

“Nam sicut in cucumerario formido nihil custodit, ita sunt dii illorum lignei, et argentei, et inaurati.”

Scarecrow. Priapus answered this glorious purpose, ver. 45. (Haydock) — When birds become accustomed to such things, they mind them not. (Calmet)

“A purpura quoque et murice, quæ supra illos tineant, scietis itaque quia non sunt dii : ipsi etiam postremo comeduntur, et erunt opprobrium in regione.”

Scarlet. Greek, “marble” coloured wood. Grotius would substitute margarou, “a pearl,” which decays through age. (Calmet) — Greek also, “From the purple, which also shines upon them rotting, you shall,” &c. Marmarou means, “of marble or shining.”

“Melior est homo justus qui non habet simulacra, nam erit longe ab opprobriis.”

Reproach, provided he also avoid the idols of the mind and of the heart. (Haydock)