“Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. bright: or, lightnings”
Snows. Protestants, “Bright clouds,” or “lightnings.” (Haydock) — God will presently grant your requests, after the persecution of Epiphanes. (Calmet) — The latter season is when fruit ripens, the acceptable time to sue for grace. (Worthington)
“For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. idols: Heb. teraphims were: or, answered that, etc”
Vanity. Jason prevailed on many to imitate the Gentiles, 1 Machabees i. 12.
“Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. punished: Heb. visited upon”
Goats; the leaders of the people, Jeremias l. 8. (Calmet) — Vir gregis ipse caper. (Virgil, Ec. vii.) — Jason died in exile, Lysimachus was slain in the temple, Alcimus perished miserably, and Menelaus was hurled among ashes, 2 Machabees v. 5., and iv. 39., and xiii. 4., and 1 Machabees ix. 54. — Battle. The apostates have suffered: God will not abandon his flock, but raises up Mathathias, &c.
“Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.”
Corner, to connect the building. The Machabees were not of the tribe of Juda; but it was the chief, and gave name to the rest. Judas was also a figure of Christ, the chief corner-stone, and he should be born of that tribe. — Pin, to fasten down the tent, or to hang things upon. These comparisons were not deemed mean, 1 Esdras ix. 8., and Isaias xxii. 23. — Exactor. The term may have a good as well as a bad sense. Taxes must be paid for the support of lawful governments. Judas forced other nations to pay tribute. (Calmet) — The same term in Ethiopia, means “a king.” (De Dieu)
“And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. the riders: or, they shall make the riders on horses ashamed”
Riders. The Syrians, with (Haydock) all their cavalry, were routed by a few ill-armed infantry. (Calmet)
“And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.”
Joseph. All the tribes shall embrace the gospel at last. (Worthington) — Back, from the caverns to which they had fled.
“And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.”
Valiant. Ephraim was a powerful and valiant tribe, Deuteronomy xxxiii. 17. (Calmet)
“I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.”
Whistle. Christians are sweetly drawn by inspirations, without clamorous words. (St. Cyril) (Worthington) — This expression shews the sovereign dominion of God. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “I will give them a sign.” (Haydock)
“And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.”
Me. The Jews were spread throughout the world, and adhered to their own customs. (Philo) See Acts ii. 8. — While they enjoyed the greatest prosperity, they kept together in a small territory. It is wonderful how they have since increased.
“I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.”
For them. They returned from the places to which they had been dispersed during former wars, when Judas had liberated his country. (Calmet)
“And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.”
Sea. The Jews pretend that the Bosphorus’ straits were dried up, to afford them a passage. (St. Jerome) — But they must produce some stronger text to prove such a miracle. No obstacles shall be able to retard God’s people, Isaias xi. 16. — Assyria. After Epiphanes, the kingdom subsisted only about seventy years. — Egypt. The Ptolemies excluded the natural princes, who have never regained the throne. They who had so often disturbed the Jews, were deprived of their power over them by the Syrians, and never could prevail there again after the Machabees. (Calmet) — When the faithful are confirmed in their religion, the enemy cannot hurt them. (Worthington)