Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. The mountains, and so forth That is, the princes, the great ones of the people. Challoner.—But Hebrew intimates real mountains, which had witnessed the impiety of the people, ( Calmet.) and had been defiled with their altars, and so forth Prot. “Contend thou before the,” and so forth ( Bible.) as God’s advocate. He condescends to justify his conduct towards Israel. Isaiah 3:13. Calmet.—He had shewn them great favours, but they were ungrateful. Off. for good Frid. Worthington.
Verse 4. Slaves. Their prison, in Algiers, and so forth is dreadful. Calmet.—Mary. She taught the women. Chal. Theod.—She was a figure of Christ’s mother, as Moses and Aaron were of himself. Worthington.
Verse 5. From Setim to Galgal. He puts them in mind of the favour he did them, in not suffering them to be quite destroyed by the evil purpose of Balach and the wicked counsel of Balaam; and then gives them a hint of the wonders he wrought in order to bring them into the land of promise, by stopping the course of the Jordan, in their march from Setim to Galgal. Challoner.—Galgala, “limits,” may denote those of the Jordan, between which river and Setim Israel was encamped. Numbers 22 and 25.—Justices. Sym. “mercies.” Calmet.
Verse 6. What shall I offer, and so forth This is spoken in the person of the people, desiring to be informed what they are to do to please God. Challoner.—They can answer nothing in their own defence.
Verse 7. Fat. Hebrew “torrents of oil.”—First-born, like Jephte, or the king of Moab. Judith 11 and 4 Kennicott. 3:27. Saturn taught the Phœnicians this impiety. Eus. præp. iv. 16. Calmet.
Verse 8. Solicitous. Hebrew also, “humbly.” Bible.—This was preferable to all other sacrifices of the old law, ( Worthington.) and was frequently inculcated. Deuteronomy 10:12. Psalms 49:9. Isaiah 1:11. Yet the carnal Jews always made perfection consist in exterior ceremonies.
Ver 9. City, to all mankind.—Salvation. Hebrew “wisdom shall consider thy name.” Syr. “doctrine to those who fear his name.”—It? Who will attend? Calmet.
Ver 10. Full of wrath, and so forth That is, highly provoking in the sight of God. Challoner.—False weights are often condemned. Deuteronomy 25:13. Calmet.
Verse 14. And thy. Septuagint “I will cast thee away into thyself.” Bible.—Hold of some fruit. Calmet.—Thy wife shall miscarry; (Vat. and so forth) or if she bring forth, the children shall perish by the sword.
Ver 15. New. Septuagint “grave.” Bible.—“It is good for thee, when thou knowest thy error, to have no disciples.” Saint Jerome
Verse 16. The statutes of Amri, and so forth The wicked ways of Amri and Achab, idolatrous kings. Challoner.—They were the most infamous of Israel. 3 Kennicott. 16:25. 30. Worthington.—Hebrew “the statutes of Amri are kept.” Septuagint “The precepts (ámi) of my people shall parish” Bible.—You, rich men. Calmet.—Septuagint “you shall receive the reproach of people.” Bible.
An ephah is a measure of volume (about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel), and a short ephah is made smaller than a full ephah for the purpose of cheating customers.