HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTICUS 30

CHAPTER XXX.

Ver. 1. He. Gr. prefixes "on children." H. --- And not, &c. is omitted in Gr. It may signify, and not beg, (C.) or steal. H. --- The welfare of the country depends on the good education of children, which cannot be performed without correction, (C.) though this should never be used till more gentle means have been tried. Fenelon on Educ. --- The neglect of correction proceeds from a misplaced tenderness, (Prov. xiii. 24.) which in the end proves most prejudicial both to the child and to the public. H. --- See Plato, rep. ii. and vii. Arist. pol. vi. Cic. off. ii. C.

Ver. 2. Them. Gr. "his acquaintance." H. --- He sees himself re-born in his son. v. 4. C.

Ver. 7. Wounds. To which he has exposed himself for his child's welfare, (2 Cor. xii. 15. Raban.) or if he neglect correction, he will have to bewail the wounds which his son's imprudence shall occasion. Syr. Vat. Gr. Comp. "He who rubs, (Rom. edit.) cherishes his son," &c. C. --- The eldest brother must take care of the rest, so as even to expose himself to danger. W.

Ver. 8. Horse. A colt full of spirit, when properly broken in, will answer best, so a proper education corrects impetuous tempers. Plut. apop. in Them.

Ver. 10. Laugh. "Smiling he must be feared." S. Greg. Mor. xx. 3.

Ver. 11. Devices. Gr. "sins of ignorance." Youth is incapable of guiding itself, being destitute of experience, and too confident. Prov. xxix. 45.

Ver. 13. Thee. "Very few excel their father." Hom. Odys. E. --- This is sometimes to be attributed to the neglect of education. C. --- Gr. subjoins, "on health." H.

Ver. 14. Evils. Health is better than riches. Pythag. &c.

Ver. 15. Justice. This is the first of all advantages. C. --- Thales pronounced him happy who was healthy and rich, and whose "soul was well tutored." Laert. --- Gr. "health and a good constitution are preferable to all gold, and a," &c. H.

Ver. 17. Rest. In the grave. He speaks not of the soul. Job iii. 13.

Ver. 18. Grave. The dead cannot partake of them, (C.) so neither can the sick of their great possessions. H. --- It was customary to place meat on the tombs of the dead. C. --- The pagans invited them to eat; (S. Epip. Ancor.) but the faithful intended it for the poor, who might pray (C.) for the deceased. M. C. vii. 37. Tob. iv. 18. --- The kings of France were served at table till they were placed in the tomb, and in many monasteries the usual portion is assigned the dead for thirty days, and given to the poor. C.

Ver. 21. Sighing. Thus meat is useless to those whom God visits with sickness. See c. xx. 3.

Ver. 22. Sadness. For temporal things, but trusting in Providence. 1 Pet. v. 7. Grief for sin is alone of service. 2 Cor. vii. 10. C. --- Pusillanimity must be avoided. W.

Ver. 23. A never. Gr. "the joy," &c. Prov. xvii. 22. and 2 Cor. ix. 7.

Ver. 24. Have. Gr. "love thy soul, and comfort thy heart, and drive," &c. H.

Ver. 25. Many. Bringing on maladies, and driving people into despair, v. 22. It was thought that the sad could not prophesy. 4 K. iii. 15. Hermas ii. Mand. iii. More Neb. ii. 37. C.

Ver. 26. Envy. Or jealousy. These passions banish joy. Envy is like rust. C.

Ver. 27. Always. Gr. "will mind the meats which it shall eat." H. --- It will feast and enjoy content. This verse and the following chapters are in a much less natural order in the Gr. editions, till c. xxxvii. C.