HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

BARUCH 3

CHAPTER III.

Ver. 3. Everlastingly. is such a short-lived creature an object worthy of thy eternal wrath? Job xiii. 25. and xiv. 1. Ps. cii. 13.

Ver. 4. Dead; banished, (v. 11. Ezec. xxxvii. 5.) or of the ancient patriarchs. This motive is frequently urged.

Ex. xxxii. 13. Lev. xxvi. 41. Deut. ix. 27. Dan. iii. 35. Jer. xv. 1. C. --- People in sin and misery seem dead, (v. 11.) yet may revive by grace. W.

Ver. 5. Hand. Save us by thy power, and for thy own name's sake. Jos. vii. 9.

Ver. 8. Offence. Gr. "debt." Parents might sell their children. Mat. xviii. 25. God threatens his rebellious people, that they shall be forced to borrow. Deut. xxviii. 44. C.

Ver. 9. Hear. God replies. H. --- The Church has long read this has holy scripture, on the eves of Easter and Pentecost. W. --- This second part contains an instruction respecting true wisdom; which is to be found in God alone, (C.) in in the people to whom he is pleased to communicate it. H.

Ver. 11. Grown. Houbigant, "growing." Five years had not elapsed: (Cappel.) yet they knew their captivity would be long. --- Dead. Some might yield to idolatry. Dan. iii. 7. 12. H. --- They were in a manner buried, (Ps. lxxxvii. 5.) and forced to dwell among people where they were exposed to many defilements, as if they had been near a dead body. Lev. xi. 25.

Ver. 13. Peace. There is none for the wicked; but only for the observers of the law. --- For ever. Many read, "upon the land," conformably to the Greek.

Ver. 15. Treasures? How few are truly wise and virtuous! The great men of the world have missed their aim. Israel has received the law. Yet where is the fruit of it? This is developed in the sequel.

Ver. 16. Nations of Assyria? &c. They esteemed themselves as lords of nature, and delighted in hunting. The beasts and birds are subject to them. Gen. i. 26. Jer. xxvii. 6. Dan. ii. 38. C.

Ver. 18. Unsearchable? Shall they not find the fruit of their works? W.

Ver. 20. Men; heirs of those conquerors, and equally in the dark. C.

Ver. 22. Theman, the capital city of Edom. Ch. --- Eliphaz was king. Jer. xlix. 7. --- The PhÅ“nicians, so famous for industry, had no idea of true wisdom, no more then the Ismaelites, &c. C.

Ver. 23. Agar, the mother of the Ismaelites. Ch. --- Merrha, probably in Arabia. --- Fables. This may be a reproach, or a commendation. Those nations delighted in enigmatical and sententious discourses. 3 K. x. 1. C. --- Instructors of mankind deserve praise, not those who devise false gods for lucre. S. Aug. de Civ. Dei. vi. 5. &c. W.

Ver. 24. Possession. All the world belongs to him: yet how few partake of his wisdom!

Ver. 26. Giants, before and after the deluge. Gen. vi. Noe and Israel were preferred before them.

Ver. 29. Clouds? No human industry can procure this blessing. God alone is the dispenser of it. Deut. xxx. 12. C. --- His grace makes the discovery easy. Mat. xi. 30. W.

Ver. 32. Evermore. Lit. "in the eternal time," or so long ago; (H.) designed to continue, while kingdoms shall change. Eccle. i. 4.

Ver. 33. Trembling. The sun stops, goes back, or withdraws its light, at his command. Jos. x. 12. and 4 K. xx. 9. Mat. xxvii. 45. Job xxxvi. 30.

Ver. 34. Watches. They are like his soldiers. Judg. v. 20. Eccli. xliii. 12. C.

Ver. 38. Earth, &c. by the mystery of the incarnation, by means of which the son of God came visibly amongst us, and conversed with men. The prophets often speak of things to come as if they were past, to express the certainty of the event of the things foretold. Ch. C. --- Most of the Fathers prove Christ's divinity from this text. W. See Tert. c. Prax. 6. S. Cyp. c. Jud. ii. 5. Eus. Dem. vi. 19. --- If we explain it of wisdom, it comes to the same purpose, as Christ is the wisdom of God. 1 Cor. i. 30. Compare Prov. viii. 30. Eccli. xxiv. 12. Wisd. ix. 10. which no one ever suspected to be interpolated. C. Pref.