“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.”
Midst. The obstinate Jews shall be destroyed. They became their own enemies. (Calmet) — The Zealots committed the greatest excesses during the siege. (Josephus, Jewish Wars v. 1.) — Tacitus also refers to these transactions, having written thirty volumes on the Cæsars, from Augustus to Domitian’s death.” (St. Jerome)
“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished ; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”
I will gather, &c. This seems to be a prophecy of what was done by Antiochus, (Challoner) or of the last siege, (Worthington) by the Romans. (St. Jerome; Theodoret; Eusebius, Dem. vi. 18.) (Calmet) — Vespasian collected numerous forces. (Josephus, Jewish Wars iii. 1.) — Titus had six legions and many auxiliaries, Arabs, &c. (Tacitus, Hist. v.) — Various nations composed their army. (Worthington) — Rifled, or demolished. None was left standing. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vii. 6.; Heges. v. 49.) — St. Jerome and others think that the city on Sion was spared, (Calmet) and 40,000 were permitted to dwell where they had a mind. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vii. 15.) — But it is not said that they continued at Jerusalem. Half the Jews therefore perished, and those who maintained the siege found a grave in the city. (Theodoret) — Half only denotes a considerable part, as [in] ver. 8. Those who followed our Saviour’s admonition, retired before, and were safe (Calmet) at Pella, chap. x. 11. Septuagint, “the rest of my people shall not be destroyed out of the city.”
“Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.”
Shall. Septuagint, “will stand in battle array among,” &c. (parataxetai en) though he will one day punish the victorious Romans. (Haydock) — Now he fought with them as [the] Hebrew may signify. (Calmet) — Various prodigies made this clear: (Josephus, Jewish Wars vii. 12, 16.) so that Titus would not receive the crown which was presented to him, as he looked upon himself only as the instrument employed by divine justice. (Philost. vi. 14.) — This sense is given by St. Cyril, &c. (Calmet) — In the days of Epiphanes, God defeated his projects. (Haydock)
“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”
Olives. Here the tenth legion was stationed, (Josephus, Jewish Wars vi. 3.) on the spot where Christ had denounced this judgment, and ascended into heaven, Luke xix. 41., and Acts i. 12. — South. We cannot shew the literal accomplishment. If it regard the latter times, this must be hidden. But it suffices that some great earthquake should take place, according to most interpreters; or rather, (Calmet) the Romans removed vast quantities of earth and stone. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vi. 12.) (Grotius) — Olivet has three tops; the southern one is the lowest. But whether this was caused by an earthquake we know not. The rocks are said to split, &c., when God displays his power and affords some miraculous assistance, Psalm xvii. 8., and Isaias xxiv. 8., and Habacuc iii. 10.
“And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. the mountains: or, my mountains for the: or, when he shall touch the valley of the mountains to the place he separated”
Flee. While the siege was forming many escaped, according to Josephus. Hebrew, Septuagint, &c., “The vale of my mountains shall be filled up, for,” &c. (Calmet) — Yet Protestants agree with us. (Haydock) — Those should be “my.” (Ribera) (Menochius) — The next. Protestants and Septuagint, “reach unto Azal.” (Haydock) — You shall. Septuagint, &c., “and it shall be filled, as it was filled at the earthquake,” &c. (Calmet) — The Romans had to raise many works in the vale of Cedron, so that the trees all round were cut down, and the garden walls removed thither. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vi. 4, 14.) — Ozias, when he attempted to offer incense. (Josephus, Antiquities ix. 11.) (Amos i. 1., and 4 Kings xv. 15.) — Yet the earthquake is not specified in the sacred historical books. (Worthington) — On that occasion, the people retired into the vale formed by the separation of Olivet; or, if we follow the Septuagint, part of that mountain fell into the valley of Cedron, which we find nowhere else specified. (Calmet) — With him. Protestants, “thee.” (Haydock) — God is attended by his angels; though the Romans may be called his saints, or people destined to execute his decrees in this war, Isaias xiii. 3., and Sophonias i. 7., and Deuteronomy xxxiii. 3., and Joel iii. 1. (Calmet)
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark : that the: that is, it shall not be clear in some places, and dark in other places of the world clear: Heb. precious dark: Heb. thickness”
No light; viz., in that dismal time of the persecution of Antiochus, when it was neither day nor night, (ver. 7.) because they neither had the comfortable light of the day, nor the repose of the night. (Challoner) — Darkness denotes distress. The citizens shall be in despair, Matthew xxiv. 29., and Ezechiel xxii. 8., and Joel ii. 2., and Apocalypse ix. 2. Hebrew seems to be corrupt: “no precious light, but thick,” or a cloud. (Calmet)
“But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. it shall be: or, the day shall be one”
In the time of the evening there shall be light. An unexpected light shall arise by the means of the Machabees, when things shall seem to be at the worst. (Challoner) — At one period of the last siege, it was dubious what would be the event, particularly (Calmet) when Titus was separated from almost all his attendants, and when the besieged burned the works of the enemy. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vi. 2., and 12.)
“And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. former: or, eastern”
Living waters; viz., the gospel of Christ. (Challoner) — Last: Mediterranean. (Haydock) — The prophet now turns to the figurative Jerusalem. The earthly city was not well supplied with water. (Calmet) — It was in the most dry and barren part of the country. (St. Jerome in Isaias xlix.) — As much as the Mediterranean excels the Dead Sea, so much do the Gentiles surpass the Jewish converts in numbers. See chap. xiii 1. (Calmet) — The true faith is Catholic in all places, and at all times. (Worthington)
“And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”
One Lord. The apostles justly gave this title to Christ, John xiii. 14. He is possessed of all power, Matthew xxviii. 18., and Philippians ii. 10. Pastors are all subject to him. (Calmet) — The Pope styles himself, “servant of the servants of God,” since St. Gregory’s time. (Haydock)
“All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. turned: or, compassed inhabited: or, shall abide”
Return. This in some measure was verified by means of the Machabees; but is rather to be taken in a spiritual sense, as relating to the propagation of the Church and kingdom of Christ, the true Jerusalem, which alone shall never fall under the anathema of destruction, or God’s curse. (Challoner) — The limits of Jerusalem were never so extensive. — Hill, or Gabaa to Remmon,” or the pomegranate. The situation is not ascertained.
“And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. shall be: or, shall abide”
Anathema. It shall not be sentenced to utter ruin. The Church may suffer losses, but cannot perish. (Calmet)
“And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.”
Consume. Such judgments as these have often fallen upon the persecutors of God’s Church, as appears by many instances in history. (Challoner) — This has partly been verified in persecuting emperors, (St. Jerome) and in others, and will befall the wicked when the day of judgment shall draw near. (Worthington) — Herod, who made war on Christ, and Agrippa, who attacked his Church, (Calmet) were both devoured by worms. (Josephus, Antiquities xvii. 9., and xix. 7.) (Acts xii. 13.) — Nero slew himself; Maximian was eaten to death by an inward ulcer; and his colleague’s (Maximinus) eyes fell from his head. (Eusebius in Constantine i. 57., and 59.) — It would seem as if Zacharias beheld them. He may also speak of the attempts of God, and of Epiphanes, chap. ii. 8., and xii. 9.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.”
Them. The Church shall be alarmed at these wars, seeing enemies on all sides. But those days shall be shortened, Matthew xxiv. 21. — Hand. Christians shall assist each other; or rather the nearest relations will persecute them, Matthew x. 21, 36. (Calmet)
“And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. Judah: or, thou also, O Judah shalt at: or, against”
Even Juda, &c. The carnal Jews, and other false brothers, shall join in persecuting the Church. (Challoner) — The Jews shewed themselves the most virulent, 2 Corinthians xi. 24., and Acts viii., &c. They insisted on the death of St. Polycarp. — Riches. Converts shewed their generosity so much, (Calmet) that Julian and Felix, apostates, complained of this profusion in sacred vessels. (Theod.[Theodoret,?] Hist. ii. 11, 12.)
“And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.”
Shall be like this destruction. That is, the beasts shall be destroyed as well as the men; the common soldiers as well as their leaders. (Challoner) — History does not specify the death of cattle, (Calmet) though in plagues this would inevitably follow; and the pagans complained that they were become more common since the propagation of the gospel. (Haydock) — The reverses which the troops of Dioclesian, &c., sustained, were to punish their enmity to religion. (Calmet)
“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”
Left. That is, many of them that persecuted the Church shall be converted to its faith and communion, (Challoner) particularly after Constantine. (Calmet) — Tabernacles. This feast was kept by the Jews, in memory of their sojourning forty years in the desert, in their way to the land of promise. And in the spiritual sense, is duly kept by all such Christians as in their earthly pilgrimage are continually advancing towards their true home, the heavenly Jerusalem, by the help of the sacraments and sacrifice of the Church. And they that neglect this, must not look for the kind showers of divine grace to give fruitfulness to their souls. (Challoner) — Out of the Church there is no salvation. (Calmet) — Other things may be obtained. (St. Cyprian) (Haydock) — The converts shall celebrate the Christian festivals, and merit great rewards, while infidels shall remain barren and devoid of eternal happiness. (Worthington) — We have no solemnity of tabernacles; but Gentiles keep the Epiphany in thanksgiving for their vocation to God’s admirable light, 1 Peter ii. 9. (Calmet)
“And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.”
There. Septuagint, “these shall also be added to them” who perish. (Haydock)
“This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. punishment: or, sin”
Sin, or punishment. Formerly various nations were excluded from the religion or assemblies of Israel, Leviticus xxii. 25., and Deuteronomy xxiii. 1. Now all are invited and compelled to enter the Church, so that they can have no excuse, Luke xiv. 24. (Calmet) — Those rejected by the Jews might still have true faith. (Haydock)
“In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. bells: or, bridles”
Bridle. The golden ornaments of the bridles, &c., shall be turned into offerings in the house of God. And there shall be an abundance of cauldrons and phials for the sacrifices of the temple; by which is meant, under a figure, the great resort there shall be to the temple, that is, to the Church of Christ, and her sacrifice. (Challoner) — It is of a different nature, being the body and blood of Christ. But it shall not be confined to one place, nor the priesthood to one family, ver. 21. Hebrew, “they shall inscribe on the stables, Holy,” &c. The most filthy places shall be purified and changed into temples; or, “what is upon the little bells for horses shall be sanctified;” or, on these “bells shall be inscribed, sacred to the Lord.” (Calmet) — Metsilloth may signify a bell or bridle, &c. (Haydock) — The bits were often of gold. (Virgil, Æneid vii., and viii.) (Calmet) — St. Jerome’s master said the word should be motsiluth, “trappings” and armour. (Haydock)
“Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.”
Merchant; or, as some render it, the Chanaanite shall be no more, &c., that is, the profane and unbelievers shall have no title to be in the house of the Lord; or, there shall be no occasion for buyers or sellers of oxen, or sheep, or doves, in the house of God, such as Jesus Christ cast out of the temple. (Challoner) (John ii. 16.) — All former distinction of Jew and Gentile shall cease in the Church. Past faults shall be forgotten. (Calmet)