“Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. before: or, with”
The mountains, &c. That is, the princes, the great ones of the people. (Challoner) — But Hebrew intimates real mountains, which had witnessed the impiety of the people, (Calmet) and had been defiled with their altars, &c. Protestants, “Contend thou before the,” &c., (Haydock) as God’s advocate. He condescends to justify his conduct towards Israel, Isaias iii. 13. (Calmet) — He had shewn them great favours, but they were ungrateful. (Office for Good Friday) (Worthington)
“For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”
Slaves. Their prison, in Algiers, &c., is dreadful. (Calmet) — Mary. She taught the women. (Chaldean; Theodotion) — She was a figure of Christ’s mother, as Moses and Aaron were of himself. (Worthington)
“O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.”
From Setim to Galgal. He puts them in mind of the favour he did them, in not suffering them to be quite destroyed by the evil purpose of Balach and the wicked counsel of Balaam; and then gives them a hint of the wonders he wrought in order to bring them into the land of promise, by stopping the course of the Jordan, in their march from Setim to Galgal. (Challoner) — Galgala, “limits,” may denote those of the Jordan, between which river and Setim Israel was encamped, Numbers xxii., and xxv. — Justices. Symmachus, “mercies.” (Calmet)
“Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? of a: Heb. sons of a year?”
What shall I offer, &c. This is spoken in the person of the people, desiring to be informed what they are to do to please God. (Challoner) — They can answer nothing in their own defence.
“Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? body: Heb. belly”
Fat. Hebrew, “torrents of oil.” — First-born, like Jephte, or the king of Moab, Judges xi., and 4 Kings iii. 27. Saturn taught the Phœnicians this impiety. (Eusebius, pręp. iv. 16.) (Calmet)
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? walk: Heb. humble thyself to walk”
Solicitous. Hebrew also, “humbly.” (Haydock) — This was preferable to all other sacrifices of the old law, (Worthington) and was frequently inculcated, Deuteronomy x. 12., Psalm xlix. 9., and Isaias i. 11. Yet the carnal Jews always made perfection consist in exterior ceremonies.
“The LORD'S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. the man: or, thy name shall see that which is”
City, to all mankind. — Salvation. Hebrew, “wisdom shall consider thy name.” Syriac, “doctrine to those who fear his name.” — It? Who will attend? (Calmet)
“Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? Are: or, Is there yet unto every man an house of the, etc scant: Heb. measure of leanness”
Full of wrath, &c. That is, highly provoking in the sight of God. (Challoner) — False weights are often condemned, Deuteronomy xxxv. 13. (Calmet)
“Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.”
And thy. Septuagint, “I will cast thee away into thyself.” (Haydock) — Hold of some fruit. (Calmet) — Thy wife shall miscarry; (Vatable, &c.) or if she bring forth, the children shall perish by the sword.
“Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.”
New. Septuagint, “grave.” (Haydock) — “It is good for thee, when thou knowest thy error, to have no disciples.” (St. Jerome)
“For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people. For the: or, For he doth much keep the, etc desolation: or, astonishment”
The statutes of Amri, &c. The wicked ways of Amri and Achab, idolatrous kings. (Challoner) — They were the most infamous of Israel, 3 Kings xvi. 25, 30. (Worthington) — Hebrew, “the statutes of Amri are kept.” Septuagint, “The precepts (ami) of my people shall parish” (Haydock) — You, rich men. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “you shall receive the reproach of people.” (Haydock)