“Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. thee: or, for thy sake”
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)
“Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.”
Increase; most desirable, Osee ix. 10. God punished those who attempted to injure his people: yet they abandoned his service.
“Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?”
Vanity; idols, whom he will not mention, to spare their shame. (Calmet)
“And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. a plentiful: or, the land of Carmel”
Carmel. That is, a fruitful, plentiful land. (Challoner) (Worthington) — All Palestine is thus designated. (Menochius)
“The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.”
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.
“Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.”
Children; the Israelites, under Moses, and their posterity transgressed.
“For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. over: or, over to”
Cethim; Macedon. It here denotes the western nations, as Cedar does those on the east.
“Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.”
Glory; the true God and his ark, Psalm iii. 4., and 1 Kings iv. 21.
“Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.”
Gates; angels, or the temple.
“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
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)
“Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled? spoiled: Heb. become a spoil?”
Slave. From such, labour and tribute were required, Matthew xvii. 24., and John viii. 33.
“The young lions roared upon him, and yelled , and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. yelled: Heb. gave out their voice”
Lions; kings of Assyria, &c. The decree for the devastation of Juda had already passed, though it was not put in execution.
“Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. have: or, feed on thy crown”
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.
“And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?”
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.
“For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress ; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. transgress: or, serve”
Thou. Septuagint. Yet Hebrew and Chaldean have, “I have permissively broken,” or foretold this infidelity.
“Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?”
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)
“For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.”
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)
“How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; thou art: or, O swift dromedary”
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)
“A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure ; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. A wild: or, O wild ass, etc used: Heb. taught her pleasure: Heb. the desire of her heart turn: or, reverse it?”
Away. The female may easily be found by the poisonous hippo-manes. (Georg. iii.) — Thus Jerusalem is an impudent prostitute. (Haydock)
“Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. There: or, Is the case desperate?”
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)
“As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,”
Taken. Juda affected still to be very pious, ver. 23.
“But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. trouble: Heb. evil”
Cities. All were abandoned, Ezechiel xvi. 24., and Osee x. 1.
“In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.”
Prophets; Zacharias, (2 Paralipomenon xxiv. 21.) Isaias, &c., Matthew xxiii. 34. (Calmet) — Punishment is designed by God to cause people to repent. (Worthington)
“O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee? We are: Heb. We have dominion”
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)
“Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.”
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.
“Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. secret: Heb. digging”
Innocent children, immolated to Moloc, or people murdered, whose blood thou hast not concealed, 4 Kings xxi. 16.
“Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.”
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)