| Douay RheimsDouay-Rheims Bible -- The New Testament was published at Rheims (1582), the Old Testament at Douay (1609). The Douay Rheims served as the main English bible for the Catholic world for centuries. Bishop Challoner updated it extensively mid-18th century. Biblical scholar Rev. George Haydock compiled a Catholic commentary mid-19th century. This text set is from an approved 1914 U.S. printing. | Haydock CommentaryHaydock Catholic Bible Commentary - based on the Douay-Rheims Bible; originally compiled by Catholic priest and biblical scholar Rev. George Leo Haydock (1774-1849). |
| 1 Israel a vine full of branches, the fruit is agreeable to it: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath multiplied altars, according to the plenty of his land he hath abounded with idols. | Branches. Sept. "Wood." Sym. This is all: it yields no fruit. Prot. "empty." H. --- Heb. "plucked." The grapes are taken away, as the Israelites were; though they boasted of their numbers. C. ix. 16. They are often compared to a vine, the symbol of fecundity. Is. v. 3. Ps. cxxvii. 3. C. --- The greater benefits of God enhanced their ingratitude. W. --- On every noted hill (H.) profane altars were erected.
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| 2 Their heart is divided: now they shall perish: he shall break down their idols, he shall destroy their altars. | Divided between the Lord and idols. 3 K. xviii. 21. C. --- The Jews relate that Osee, the last king of Israel, gave the people leave to go to Jerusalem; (4 K. xvii. 2.) and as they would not take advantage of it, their ruin was decreed. S. Jer.
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| 3 For now they shall say: We have no king: because we fear not the Lord: and what shall a king do to us? | No king, in captivity; or they give this title to the golden calf. Manahem had destroyed one, so that they could not but see its vanity. The neighbouring nations looked upon their idols as their kings.
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| 4 You speak words of an unprofitable vision, and you shall make a covenant: and judgment shall spring up as bitterness in the furrows of the field. | Covenant with Phul, who seeks only your destruction. 4 K. xv. 19. C. --- Bitterness. Heb. "poison," (H.) or a bitter herb. C.
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| 5 The inhabitants of Samaria have worshipped the king of Bethaven: for the people thereof have mourned over it, and the wardens of its temple that rejoiced over it in its glory because it is departed from it. | The kine of Bethaven. The golden calves of Jeroboam, (Ch.) one of which (H.) was set up at Bethel. W. --- The feminine cows, is spoken in ridicule; as (C.) O verè Phrygiæ, Æn. ix. Isis was represented with a cow's head. Herod. ii. 41. --- Rejoiced. To avoid this apparent contradiction, the Jews relate that the priests had sent a brazen calf to the Assyrians, and secreted the golden one. While they rejoiced at their success, Salmanasar, (Seder. Olam.) or Sennacherib, discovered the cheat, and came to destroy the kingdom. S. Jer. --- This has the air of a fable. If (C.) we substitute e for g, in yagilu, (H.) we may give a good sense to the Heb. "The people shouting, or in black, ( cemaraiv ) have been in sorrow, because their glory is taken from them: so the idol is called. Ps. cv. 20. C.
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| 6 For itself also is carried into Assyria, a present to the avenging king: shame shall fall upon Ephraim, and Israel shall be confounded in his own will. | Itself also is carried, &c. One of the golden calves was given by king Manahem to Phul, king of the Assyrians, to engage him to stand by him. Ch. --- Avenging. C. v. 13. --- Will, or expectation of aid. C. --- He had recourse to this nation, without consulting God. H.
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| 7 Samaria hath made her king to pass as froth upon the face of the water. | Pass. Heb. "As for Samaria, it is undone. Its king is like froth, or a bubble," &c. C. xi. 1. The calf; (v. 3.) Zacharias or Osee may be meant.
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| 8 And the high places of the idol, the sin of Israel shall be destroyed: the bur and the thistle shall grow up over their altars: and they shall say to the mountains: Cover us; and to the hills: Fall upon us. | Us, as the Jews would do at the last siege, and sinners before the day of judgment. Lu. xxiii. 30. Apoc. vi. 14. Too happy, if they could by a speedy death escape eternal torments! C. --- People shall be in the utmost consternation at the approach of the Assyrians. H. --- They will not think themselves secure enough in their caverns.
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| 9 From the days of Gabaa, Israel hath sinned, there they stood: the battle in Gabaa against the children of iniquity shall not overtake them. | Gabaa. Sept. "high places;" or he alludes to the brutality of the citizens. Judg. xx. 13. --- Stood. Those of Gabaa were speedily punished by the other tribes. Now, all are perverse. At that time one tribe was guilty, and yet some were spared; but all Israel shall be now led into captivity. C. --- From the time that Dan adored Micha's idol, (Jud. xviii. 14.) the evil has spread among the rest of the tribes, which did not punish this transgression. Hence all shall at last suffer. W.
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| 10 According to my desire I will chastise them: and the nations shall be gathered together against them, when they shall be chastised for their two iniquities. | Their two iniquities. Their two calves; (Ch.) or because they have abandoned God, and followed idols. Jer. ii. 13. Many render, "when I shall have tied them, like oxen, in their two furrows." But the Vulg. is plainer, and adopted by most.
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| 11 Ephraim is a heifer taught to love to tread out corn, but I passed over upon the beauty of her neck: I will ride upon Ephraim, Juda shall plough, Jacob shall break the furrows for himself. | Neck. I will confine her to harder labour. While the oxen tred out corn, they may eat. Deut. xxv. 4. --- Himself. Juda shall be chastised after the ten tribes; so that none of my people shall escape.
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| 12 Sow for yourselves in justice, and reap in the mouth of mercy, break up your fallow ground: but the time to seek the Lord is, when he shall come that shall teach you justice. | Mouth. Heb. "in proportion to (C.) your piety." Sept. "gather a vintage of the fruit of life." H. --- Ground. Reform you conduct. C. --- Justice, when Christ shall appear, the source of all our grace and justice. S. Jer. &c. C. --- Sept. "Light up for yourselves the light of knowledge, for it is time; seek the Lord, till ye obtain the fruit of justice."
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| 13 You have ploughed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity, you have eaten the fruit of lying: because thou hast trusted in thy ways, in the multitude of thy strong ones. | Ploughed. Sept. "Why have you concealed impiety," refusing to confess? H. --- Iniquity, or punishment. --- Lying. Your hopes are frustrated, and no fruit is seen. C. --- Ways: idols. S. Jer.
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| 14 A tumult shall arise among thy people: and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed as Salmana was destroyed, by the house of him that judged Baal in the day of battle, the mother being dashed in pieces upon her children. | Tumult. Heb. shaon; the din of war, (H.) or cry of soldiers. C. --- Salmana, king of the Madianites, was destroyed by the house; that is, by the followers of him that judgeth Baal; that is, of Gedeon, who threw down the altar of Baal, and was therefore called Jerobaal. See Judg. vi. and viii. Ch. --- Of him. Sept. Rom. "of Jeroboam." But S. Jer. &c. have, Jerobaal. Theodoret, "in the house of Arbeel." Heb. "as Salmana ruined the house of Arbela." There were many places of this name; but none of great note, taken by Salmanasar. Some think that he took it before he was king. Yet this is all uncertain, and the Heb. seems rather changed, so that we should read with the Alex. MS. S. Jer. &c. Jerobaal, who defeated the Madianites, and treated Succoth with great severity. Judg. viii. 15. C.
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| 15 So hath Bethel done to you, because of the evil of your iniquities. |
Bethel.
This place, defiled by an idol, shall be the scene of your misery. Sept. "So I will treat you, O house of Israel," &c. (H.) which is not in Heb. (S. Jer.) but seems as good. H. --- Heb. adds here properly, (C.) "Presently,
or
in the morning, shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off," which we have in the next chapter.
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