“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,”
Back. The people were just returned when the nations around fell upon them, and were miraculously defeated. (Theodoret) — We shall follow the system respecting Gog, given [in] Ezechiel xxxviii. (Calmet) — Most people, with St. Jerome, suppose that the general judgment is described, though some explain it of the captives delivered from their enemies. (Worthington)
“I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”
Josaphat, “the judgment of the Lord,” (Haydock) marks the place where the Judge will sit, on the east of Jerusalem, between the temple and Olivet, whence our Lord ascended into heaven. (Worthington) — There also he had been seized and treated contumeliously. (Haydock) — But many of the Fathers assert that the whole world will be the scene of judgment, and the first author who determines the situation of Josaphat, is one in the works of Ven. Bede. Here it may denote the great plain reaching from Carmel to the Jordan, where the army of Cambyses perished with its chief. People of almost all nations were there, Ezechiel xxxviii. — Land. The Chaldeans, now governed by a Persian, had scattered the Jews, and the Idumeans had seized part of their land.
“And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.”
Boy, to gratify their brutal passions; (Lamentations v.) or, they have exchanged such for harlots, (Calmet) and paid the latter with captive boys. (Septuagint) (Haydock)
“Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;”
Me. These cities and nations had rejoiced at the ruin of the Jews, Ezechiel xxv. (Calmet) — Coast. Septuagint, “Galilee of strangers.” (Haydock)
“Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: pleasant: Heb. desirable”
Temples, or palaces. The Chaldeans had done so, and perhaps had sold some to others.
“The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians , that ye might remove them far from their border. the Grecians: Heb. the sons of the Grecians”
Greeks: the Ionians carried on such a traffic, Ezechiel xxvii. 13. Tyre and the Philistines were ready to sell, Ezechiel xxvi. 2., and xxv. 15.
“Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:”
Them, particularly under Hystaspes and Artaxerxes.
“And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.”
Sabeans; probably at the bottom of Arabia. (Calmet) — Thirty thousand Tyreans were sold by Alexander. (Arrian ii.) — The Jews would not fail to purchase. (Calmet)
“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Prepare: Heb. Sanctify”
Prepare. Literally, “sanctify.” (Haydock) — God sends Cambyses to chastise Egypt. His turn will then come.
“Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. cause: or, the LORD shall bring down”
Down. Many perished in Egypt, the rest in Judea, ver. 2.
“Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.”
Valley, at Jezrahel, the valley of destruction, ver. 14.
“Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.”
Harvest, the time of vengeance, Matthew xiii. 30., and Apocalypse xiv. 15. (Calmet)
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. decision: or, concision, or, threshing”
Nations. Hebrew hamonim, “multitudes.” (Haydock) — This alludes to the place Amona, where Gog was buried, Ezechiel xxx. 15, 18. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “sounds have been heard in the vale of justice,” where sentence has been pronounced and executed. (Haydock) — The repetition of peoples and destruction, shews the crowds (Haydock) which shall be judged and cut in pieces like fuel for the fire, Psalm cxxviii. 4. (Worthington)
“The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.”
Shining. All shall be amazed at the fall of Cambyses, chap. ii. 30., and Ezechiel xxviii. 30. A storm shall overwhelm his army. (Calmet)
“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. hope: Heb. place of repair, or, harbour”
Roar, in thunder, Jeremias xxv. 30., and Amos i. 2. (Haydock)
“So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. holy: Heb. holiness”
No more, for a long time. Antiochus and the Romans again profaned the temple. But the Church of Christ is always holy.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. flow: Heb. go”
Sweetness; oil and honey. (Calmet) — Fountain, &c., viz., the fountain of grace in the Church militant, and of glory in the Church triumphant; which shall water the torrent or valley of thorns, that is, the souls that before, like barren ground, brought forth nothing but thorns, or that were afflicted with the thorns of crosses and tribulations. (Challoner) — Septuagint have, “bands.” Hebrew shittim. (Haydock) — Abundance shall ensue after the death of Cambyses, as a figure of the graces which shall be granted to Christians, Ezechiel xlvii. 2.
“Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.”
Desolation. Cambyses laid it waste for three years, as Ochus did afterwards. — Edom. Judas and Hircan punished them for their former barbarity, Psalm cxxxvi. 7., and 2 Machabees x. 16., and Ezechiel xxv. 12. (Calmet)
“But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. dwell: or, abide”
Judea and Jerusalem. That is, the spiritual Jerusalem, viz., the Church of Christ. (Challoner) — Judea was unmolested for a considerable time.
“For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion. for the: or, even I the LORD that”
Which must be supplied in Hebrew. The Idumeans had been spared for a long time. But they shall not escape. (Chaldean, &c.) (Calmet) — The rites of the law could not purify, as the sacraments of Christ do. (St. Jerome) — God will cleanse his people, and will chastise the Ammonites, &c., who had injured them. Septuagint, “I will seek (or avenge) their blood, and will not pronounce innocent;” athooso. (Haydock) — Sion, in heaven, (Menochius) and in the tabernacles of the Catholic Church, from the beginning of the world unto eternity. (Haydock)