| 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 In that day there shall be a fountain open to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: for the washing of the sinner, and of the unclean woman. | |
| 2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will destroy the names of idols out of the earth, and they shall be remembered no more: and I will take away the false prophets, and the unclean spirit out of the earth. | No more. After the Machabees, the people were free from idolatry, and magical arts were repressed. Osee ii. 16. Ezec. xxxvii. 22. C. --- "Idolatry and heresy are punishable by death, in the law of Christ." W. --- To judge in these matters belongs only to the Church. H.
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| 3 And it shall come to pass, that when any man shall prophesy any more, his father and his mother that brought him into the world, shall say to him: Thou shalt not live: because thou best spoken a lie in the name of the Lord. And his father, and his mother, his parents, shall thrust him through, when he shall prophesy. | Not live. The law condemned those prophets to death, who attempted to lead the people into idolatry. Deut. xiii. 1. People shall be so zealous for God's honour, that the parents of the seducer shall themselves (C.) bring him to judgment. H. --- Through, or make some mark upon him, as fugitive slaves, &c. were stigmatized. C. --- Sept. "shall shackle." H. --- These before interpreted dakar, danced, or insulted. The others have in both places, "pierced." S. Jer. --- The person was not slain. v. 6.
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| 4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be confounded, every one by his own vision, when he shall prophesy, neither shall they be clad with a garment of sackcloth, to deceive: | Vision. They shall have no appearance of truth. --- Sackcloth. Heb. "hairy skin;" adereth. Such were used by kings. Jon. iii. 6. The people shall not be deceived by such appearances, so that these garments will not be used. The Jews have always been ready to receive impostors. Mat. vii. 15. Yet they shall not be so frequent, or dangerous. The prophets used coarse hairy garments. 4 K. i. 8.
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| 5 But he shall say: I am no prophet, I am a husbandman: for Adam is my example from my youth. | Husbandman. Worldly occupations were incompatible with the office of prophets. 3 K. xix 20. Amos vii. 15. Mat. iv. 20. The (C.) false (H.) prophets will become so odious, that people will excuse themselves from taking up the calling. --- Example. I am condemned like him to labour. Gen. iii. 17. Sept. "a man begot me." Heb. "taught, or bought me, (C.) or caused me to work." De Dieu.
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| 6 And they shall say to him: What are these wounds in the midst of thy hands? And he shall say: With these I was wounded in the house of them that loved me. | Loved me. My parents marked me thus. v. 3. C. --- Some have understood this of Jesus Christ. Rupert. S. Tho. --- But the context excludes this interpretation, which would be injurious to him. C. --- The false prophet is reformed by his parents' correction, so that he applies to agriculture, and owns that he had been justly punished. S. Jer. H.
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| 7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that cleaveth to me, saith the Lord of hosts: strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand to the little ones. | Sword. This address rouses attention. C. --- The sword implies all the torments which Christ endured. W. --- He explains this of himself; only instead of strike, he says I will strike, (Mat. xxvi. 31.) as the sword was directed by God. H. --- Patris voluntate percussus est. S. Jer. --- Cleaveth. Heb. hamithi, "my amiable one;" (H.) "of the same tribe with me;" (Aq.) "of my people." Sym. S. Jerom observes, that Sept. and Th. have read v for the last i, and render "his neighbour," or citizen. Yet some editions of the Sept. retain "my fellow-citizen." H. --- Little ones. Sept. Arab. &c. "shepherds," (C.) which "many ill apply to the Jewish princes." S. Jer. --- Tsoharim means also "the little." Mic. v. 2. Christ takes care of his little flock, (Lu. xii. 32. H.) and is always one with the Father. Jo. viii. 29. and x. 30. C. --- He recalled the flying apostles, and gave them courage. W.
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| 8 And there shall be in all the earth, saith the Lord, two parts in it shall be scattered, and shall perish: but the third part shall be left therein. | Third. The greatest part of mankind will be lost. H. --- The few Jews who embrace the faith will be absorbed in the Gentile converts, and suffered to live, though proved by persecutions, while the rest shall be exterminated. Both shall lose their name, and be styled Christians. C. --- Those who adhere to Judaism, or to paganism, cannot be saved. This is the privilege only of Christian Catholics, who live piously, and are selected by God's grace. W.
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| 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined: and I will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say: Thou art my people: and they shall say: The Lord is my God. |
Fire.
The Church was persecuted during the first centuries; but always became more pure, and the blood of martyrs increased her numbers. C. --- She faithfully adhered to
God.
H. --- The Jews say this will not take place at last: "but we assert that it is already accomplished." S. Jer.
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