“Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit. when: Heb. the gatherings of summer”
Figs, which are the worst. (St. Jerome; St. Ambrose in Luke vii. 3.) Yet they were eagerly sought after, before the other figs came to maturity. They had escaped the rigours of winter. Such Christ (Calmet) seemed to expect, Mark xi. 13.
“The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. good: or, godly, or, merciful”
Holy man. Hebrew chasid, (Haydock) “the pious” Assidean, 2 Machabees xiv. 6. The disorder of Israel was great, though some were religious. (Calmet) — Such expressions only mean that few could be found, and that the far greatest number rejected the prophet’s advice. (Worthington)
“That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. his: Heb. the mischief of his soul”
Giving. Septuagint, “speaks words of peace.” He flatters the prince, (Haydock) and dares not oppose the unjust. Syriac, “he says, bring presents.” — Troubled it; or, “have thy?” &c. Hebrew, “they confirm it.”
“The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.”
Brier. Hebrew chedek, or “thorn.” Septuagint, “a consuming moth.” — Inspection, or of thy chiefs (Haydock) and prophets. (Calmet)
“Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.”
Bosom. In times of general distress, even domestics are not trusted; because all are solicitous for themselves, even to the prejudice of others. (Worthington) — Before the ruin of Israel civil wars raged, 4 Kings xv. Our Saviour alludes to this passage, Matthew x. 35., Luke xii. 52., and xxi. 16. People will rise up to oppress true believers; and these must abandon their nearest relations, when they prove an obstacle to salvation. Thus is the moral, and the other the literal sense. (Calmet)
“Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. Then: or, And thou wilt see her that is mine enemy, and cover her with shame shall she: Heb. she shall be for a treading down”
She; Babylon, my enemy. (Challoner) — It was taken by the Medes and Persians, who set the Jews at liberty, to the great mortification of their enemies. (Worthington) — God thus displayed his justice or mercy, rescuing his people from the night of misery. — Streets. Cyrus treated the fallen city with contempt. It stood for some time afterwards. (Calmet)
“In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.”
Law of thy enemies, who have tyrannized over thee. (Challoner) — The walls of Jerusalem are ordered to be rebuilt, Aggeus i.
“In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. and fromcities: or, even tocities”
Fortified. Hebrew also, “Egypt, and from Egypt to the river Euphrates,” &c. The Jews shall occupy their ancient limits, Amos viii. 12. (Calmet) — The fenced cities may be Pelusium, Gaza, Tyre, &c. From all parts the captives shall return. (Haydock) — They were very numerous under the Machabees, and in the time of Christ. (Calmet)
“Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings. Notwithstanding: or, After that it hath been”
Land of Babylon, (Challoner) or “the land of Judea (Haydock) has been,” &c. It might also be again made desolate, because the captives built houses for themselves, and neglected the temple, Aggeus i. 10.
“Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. Feed: or, Rule”
Alone: destitute of all things, or in full security, Jeremias xv. 17., and Numbers xxiii. 9. God will feed his people (Calmet) in the most fertile places, designated by Carmel and Basan. (Haydock) — A pastor must maintain sound doctrine and discipline. (Worthington)
“According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.”
Wonders. The prophets speaking of the return, have Christ and his religion in view; so that they seem not to find terms sufficiently magnificent, Isaias ix. 15., and xliii. 16., and Zacharias x. 11. We know from Esdras that nothing so surprising attended the liberation of the people. (Calmet)
“The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.”
Strength, because they cannot overcome the Hebrews or Christians. (Menochius) — Deaf, being astonished, Job xxi. 5.
“They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee. worms: or, creeping things”
Serpents, (Genesis iii. 14.) out of respect or rage. (Calmet) — Converts shall humbly apply to the ministers of Christ to receive baptism and confirmation. (Theodoret; Sanct. lxvii.)
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”
No more, for past offences. Yet, if they transgress again, they must not expect impunity. The Jews still bleed for the murder of the Messias. (Calmet)
“He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
Away. Protestants, “subdue,” (Haydock) or trample upon. (Calmet)
“Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.”
Truth, performing what he had promised out of mercy to Abraham. (Worthington)