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Ver. 2. Heaven. After the death of Josias, the nation was exposed to the greatest misery. Its kings were imprisoned by the Egyptians, and then by the Chaldeans; and surprising changes took place, all during the space of eight or nine years. Ver. 3. Daughter. This is not mentioned in sacred history to have happened when this was written, (Calmet) except in the siege of Samaria. Some of the captives of Israel might be now at Babylon, as the places to which they had been sent were under the same king; and they confess their common transgressions and chastisements. All distinction of the kingdoms was now at an end. Some might also have been reduced to this extremity, when Joakim or Jechonias were besieged and taken. (Haydock) --- We should not know that a similar distress prevailed under Sedecias, if it had not been specified [in] Lamentations ii. 20., and iv. 10. This prayer greatly resembles that of Daniel ix. 4.Ver. 4. Kings of Egypt and Babylon, while the Ammonites, &c., derided us.Ver. 5. Under; a proverbial expression, Deuteronomy xxviii. 13.Ver. 9. Watched, to punish. When he spares, he seems to slumber, Jeremias xliv. 27. (Calmet)Ver. 12. Justices. So God's law is frequently called, (Psalm cxviii.) because its observance makes us just. (Worthington)Ver. 16. House: the temple, or from heaven. (Calmet)Ver. 17. Justice, &c. they that are in hell shall not give justice to God: that is, they shall not acknowledge and glorify his justice, as penitent sinners do upon earth. (Challoner) --- And all in the grave are incapable of making known God's perfections. An appeal to his glory is thus often made, Isaias xxxviii. 18., Psalm cxiii. 17., and Ecclesiasticus vii. 24.Ver. 18. Of evil is not in Greek. A soul which bears grandeur with pain, like Esther, and humbles itself before God, is most graciously received. (Haydock) --- Fail, by fasting. Such are the dispositions required for prayer, Psalm lxviii. 3.Ver. 19. Fathers. Greek adds, "and kings." --- Prayers. Greek, "mercy." We boast not of our good works. (Haydock) --- Mercy may denote prayer or humiliation. Theodoret gives a better sense: (Calmet) "We trust not in the just works of our fathers, or of ourselves, to receive any pity." (Haydock)Ver. 21. Serve, as Jeremias (xxv. 9., and xxvii. 7., and xxviii. 14.) repeatedly admonished.Ver. 23. Footstep. It shall become a desert, Isaias xxxiii. 8., and Lamentations i. 4.Ver. 24. Place. The soldiers ransacked the tombs in hopes of plunder. Joakim was left unburied. This would be very affliction to the Jews, Jeremias viii. 1., and xxii. 19., and xxxvi. 30. (Calmet)Ver. 25. Banishment. Syriac, "captivity;" (Theodoret) or "by pestilence inflicted by God:" Greek: apostole. (Grotius) (Jeremias xxxii. 36.)Ver. 26. Day. Its vessels were taken away, (chap. i. 8.) and few were left to attend. (Calmet) --- Grotius answers this difficulty. (Houbigant) --- The prophet foresees the event. (Worthington)Ver. 30. Heart, and be seriously converted, (Haydock) as the prophets had foretold, Osee ii. 7., &c.Ver. 33. Neck. Literally, "back," insensible of stripes. (Calmet)Ver. 34. Thereof. Literally, "of them;" eis. But ei is more (Haydock) conformable to the Greek. (Calmet)Ver. 35. Another. Greek, "an everlasting covenant," (Haydock) by Christ, (Maldonat) prefigured by that which Nehemias renewed, 2 Esdras ix. 38. (Calmet) --- The law of Moses was in force till Christ came. His law continues unto the end. (Worthington) |