ARGUMENT

ARG. THOMAS. That CHRIST is a convenient bulwark in trouble. The Voice of the Apostles in the Passion of CHRIST. The Voice of CHRIST to the FATHER touching the Jews, and that of every believer. Concerning the devil, and sins, and the evil man. CHRIST prays that the enemies may not prevail to hurt Him. The Voice of the Apostles, when CHRIST suffered. The Prophet, concerning the Person of CHRIST.

VEN. BEDE. To the end. He means that in CHRIST the SAVIOUR. For them that shall be changed, doubtless in the manner of which the Apostle speaks, “Ye were sometime darkness, but now light in the LORD.” And in what manner they can be changed to this end is explained in order. In the inscription of the title, denotes JESUS CHRIST the King. So then they shall be changed, that deserting the devil, they will put their necks under CHRIST the King. He adds, for doctrine, to wit, Christian, for it is not enough to believe that CHRIST is a King, unless His doctrine also be kept. When he wasted with fire Mesopotamia of Syria and Syria of Sobal. These victories of David imply the triumph of CHRIST over the Gentiles, whom, kindling them with the fire of His love, He delivered from the kingdom of the ancient enemy (which Hadarezer denotes,1) and made them tributary to His Faith. And inasmuch as Syria, which in Hebrew is called Aram, and is interpreted Lofty,2 implies the pride of the Gentiles, He burns up two tribes of Syria, Who corrects at once the words and deeds of the Gentiles, that they may bring the tribute of faith and works to the One true King. And Joab returned and smote of Edom in the valley of salt-pits, twelve thousand. The Valley of Salt-pits, which in Hebrew is called Ge-mélach, denotes weak and earthly wisdom, wherewith Gentile philosophy and Jewish obstinacy are armed against CHRIST. But by the turning again of Joab (who, by interpretation, is He is a father,)1 both are smitten, as the teacher of the Faith presses more vigorously on them. Ge-melach, then, as it is a region of the Edomites, may denote the savour of Gentile knowledge; but it is better taken of the Jews who shall believe at the end of the world, either because of the twelve thousand, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, or because of the name of Edom, which often means the Jews, whence under its person is said of them, “The elder shall serve the younger.” Therefore that people, which is changed from its old errors to the Faith, intreats in the first division that it may be restored by new benefits after the affliction which it has suffered by way of satisfaction: O GOD, Thou hast cast us out, &c. In the second place, after the Diapsalma, it asks that after the tribulation it has endured, it may be led by the LORD into the well-fenced city, seeking that help in trouble may be granted it, which is proved to be possible to GOD only, (That Thy beloved may be delivered,) and so forth.

EUSEBIUS of CÆSAREA. The rejection of the Jewish people, and the calling of the Gentiles.