Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Israel. God divided the kingdom, that by this chastisement the people might be converted. But Jeroboam set up calves, and caused them to grow worse. Worthington.—How often did God send his prophets to reclaim them!—Without. Most of the kings were of this stamp, while foreign nations invaded the land.
Verse 2. Face. I do not search ( Calmet.) into their past lives; they sin publicly, and without ceasing. I have been too indulgent. Bible.
Verse 3. Glad, and so forth To please Jeroboam and their other kings, they have given themselves up to the worship of idols, which are mere falsehood and lies. Challoner.—We do not find one good king of Israel. Calmet.—But Jeroboam principally caused Israel to sin. Bible.—His infernal policy changed the religion of his subjects.
Verse 4. Leaven. Jeroboam invited the people simply to a feast, and used no violence to make them adopt his novelties. But they soon prevailed, and brought on ruin. The cake, or whole nation, was burnt, (verse 8) as well as the princes. verse 7. Calmet.
Verse 5. Princes. The chief men joined in the schism and idolatry. Worthington.—Mad, with drinking at the king’s coronation, or at his coming to the crown. Calmet.—Bacchus presents three cups to the wise; the fourth is the cup of petulance, the fifth of shouts, the sixth of debauchery, and so forth Athen. Dipsc. ii. 1. Sirach 31:38.—Scorners. Septuagint “pestilent people,” who turn religion and piety to ridicule. Instead of repressing them, the king admits them to favour.
Verse 6. Them. Jeroboam seduces the subjects of the house of David, by indulging the passions of the great and small. He may then sleep; the poison gains ground. Calmet.—But soon his own family will feel the direful effects of his policy. Bible.
Verse 7. Judges, or rulers. Idolatry proved fatal to all. verse 3.
Verse 8. Mixed, like oil and flour. Heb.—Ashes. Thin cakes ( Calmet.) of this kind are used by the poor, in Spain, (Sanct.) and by the Arabs. Thevenot. Levant. xxxii.—Turned. There was no time allowed by the enemy, who came and took the Israelites away. Calmet.—They became like other nations, and would not repent. Worthington.
Verse 9. Strangers: kings of Assyria, Damascus, and so forth—Hairs. He is grown old in misery, and yet is insensible of it, and sees not that he will shortly cease to be a people. Isaiah 7:8.
Verse 10. Humbled. Hebrew “answer.” Calmet. 5:5. Pride is visible on his face, though he be so much reduced. Calmet.—For all these sins Israel shall be severely punished. Worthington.
Verse 11. Decoyed. Hebrew “stupid.” Calmet. 4:11. The dove is the only bird which is not grieved at the loss of its young. Saint Jerome—It returns to the same nest, though repeatedly robbed, forgetting past dangers. Theod.—Thus Israel is not reclaimed, though idolatry has so often proved its ruin.—Egypt. Jeroboam had returned thither, and at his return brought about a division of the kingdom. 3 Kennicott. 11:40. Osee, the last king, applied to Sua, and this provoked the Assyrians to destroy the kingdom. They pretended that it was tributary to them, after Phul had been invited to assist Manahem for a thousand talents. 4 Kennicott. 15:19 and 17:4. Thus was a worldly policy confounded.
Verse 12. Heard the menaces of Moses, (Deuteronomy 27) and of the prophets. 4 Kennicott. 17:13. Calmet.—Septuagint “I will instruct (or chastise) them by the hearing of their misery,” ( Bible.) when it shall become the subject of conversation throughout the world.
Verse 13. Lies, attributing their deliverance to the golden calf, (3 Kennicott. 12:28. Calmet. Exodus 32:8. Menochius.) and always denying my justice and power.
Verse 14. Thought: “ruminated.” Bible.—Hebrew “assembled, or been afraid.” Septuagint “they were cut,” ( Calmet.) in honour of idols, hoping to avert the famine. Saint Cyril
Verse 15. Arms. I gave them my laws and power to resist the enemy. Menochius.
Verse 16. Returned, imitating Apis, the folly of Egypt. They have repeatedly followed idols in Egypt, and in the desert, under Jeroboam, Achab, Jehu, and so forth—Deceitful. Septuagint “bent.” Theodoret reads, “unbent.” It never hits the mark, ( Calmet.) but wounds the person who uses it. Saint Jerome—Derision. The Egyptians laugh at them; ( Calmet.) or thus they acted heretofore, in Egypt. Chal.