“Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.”
Eyes of the soul. (Menochius) — Volume. That is, a parchment, according to the form of the ancient books, which, from begin rolled up, were called volumes. (Challoner) — Such are still used in the synagogues. They were usually written only on one side. (Calmet) — Septuagint have read e at the end of megilla, and render “a scythe,” (Haydock) indicating chastisement. Aquila and Theodoret have Diphthera, and Symmachus Kephalis. (St. Jerome) — The latter denotes the roller (Haydock) to which the parchment was sewed. (Menochius) — The former signifies a book written on vellum, particularly that in which the poets say Jupiter marks the sins and punishments of mankind. The prophet saw a volume of this nature. (Calmet) — The sins of the people, and the punishment designed for them, were described. It appeared flying, to shew that the decree came from heaven. (St. Chrysostom, Il. xxvii. ad pop.) (Worthington)
“And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.”
Cubits, alluding to Judea, which was twice as long as it was broad. (Menochius) — Many explain this vision and that of the woman, (ver. 7) of the Jews, (Calmet) after St. Jerome. (Haydock) — But is seems rather to denote the Chaldeans, whose sentence had been long pronounced, and who were punished by the Persians, and by the Greeks, as by two women. If we understand the Jews, their iniquity was chastised by the Assyrians and Chaldeans. (Calmet)
“Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. every one that stealeth: or, every one of this people that stealeth holdeth himself guiltless, as it doth”
In like. Protestants, “shall cut off as on that side standing to it.” (Haydock)
“I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.”
Thief. Nabuchodonosor is often so styled. (St. Jerome iv. 7.) This title comprises all the injuries done to man, as he that sweareth falsely refers to those where God’s honour is concerned (Calmet) more immediately. (Haydock)
“And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.”
Vessel. Hebrew epha. (Calmet) — Eye. This is what they fix their eye upon, or this is a resemblance and figure of them, viz., of sinners. (Calmet) — Protestants, “resemblance.” (Haydock) — This is their picture. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “wickedness;” áunom. (Haydock) — U is often mistaken for i. (St. Jerome) Yet here the Septuagint seems equally intelligible, ver. 8. (Haydock)
“And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. talent: or, weighty piece”
Talent, or weight, (Haydock) called a stone, ver. 8. — Vessel, like the idol Canopus.
“And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.”
He cast. Hebrew (Calmet) according to Theodotion, (St. Jerome) “She cast herself into the epha,” &c. (Haydock)
“Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.”
Women. They often represent nations; and here the Jews understand the Medes and Greeks, who punished the Chaldeans. St. Jerome rather thinks that the Assyrians and Chaldeans are meant, carrying away Israel and Juda. Yet the former supposition seems preferable, as the woman in the vessel signified the wickedness of Babylon. — Kite. Moderns have, “stork:” the true sense is uncertain. (Calmet) — The Jews became blind and hardened on account of their avarice and perjuries. (Worthington)
“And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.”
The land of Sennaar, where Babel or Babylon was built; (Genesis ix.) where note that Babylon, in holy writ, is often taken for the city of the devil, (that is, for the whole congregation of the wicked) as Jerusalem is taken for the city and people of God. (Challoner) — Antichrist will begin his reign at Babylon. (Worthington) — Yet this is not clear. (Haydock) — The Chaldeans are driven from the countries which they had seized, and confined to their own territory, by the Persians and Greeks; or, if we explain it of the Jews, many of them remained at Babylon, and did not return to defile their own country. Only those whose hearts were touched by God returned, 1 Esdras i. 5. (Calmet) — Sennaar means “excussion.” The Jews have been driven by the Chaldeans and Romans into all parts. (Menochius)