Historical chapter commentary
Verse 4. Feet. The Chanaanites were subdued by Josue, and others by David, and so forth The army of Cambyses became a prey to the Jews. Ezekiel 39:10. Calmet.—All who embrace the true faith, even kings, become subjects, and not heads of the Church. Worthington.
Verse 5. Beauty. The temple. Ezekiel 24:21. Both Jews and Gentiles form the Church.
Verse 6. Trumpet. Christ ascended, accompanied by choirs of angels. His apostles proclaimed his truths. Calmet.—They were not left desolate, but joyful; having the Paraclete sent the them.
Verse 7. King. Christ is God, by his divine nature, and our king, by his humanity. Worthington.
Verse 8. Wisely. Hebrew mascil, which is so often rendered “understanding” in the titles. No one can do well, what he does not understand. Calmet.—The union of faith and good works, is singing wisely. Saint John Chrysostom Calmet.—Concordent manus & lingua. Saint Augustine D.—Let each strive to know the mysteries of faith. Worthington.
Verse 9. Throne. Christ reigns over the heart with all power. Matthew 28:18.
Verse 10. Gods. Judges appointed by the king of Persia over the Jews, and so forth ( Calmet.) or rather the apostles, who were more than men, (Saint Jerome) and exercised a greater power than any earthly monarch. Calmet.—The richest princes have submitted to the God of Abraham, whose seed was to prove a blessing to all. Genesis 18:18. Hebrew as it is now pointed, “the princes of the people are gathered unto the people of the God of Abraham, for He is far elevated above the gods the shields of the earth,” as kings are often styled. Calmet.—Prot. “for the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted;” or (Sept.) “the earthly potentates, who are of God, have been,” and so forth—We might explain the Vulg. in the same sense, if Dei were substituted for Dii, ( Bible.) as it should be. Calmet.—Dei sunt optimates terræ, & ipse summe elevatus est. Houbig.—Saint Jerome agrees with the Vulg. ( Bible.) which is the clearest, (Bert.) only he renders ham, “the people” of the God, as it may also signify, and retains the word shields, which we explain the strong gods, or the “strong ones of God.” Bible.—The blessed Trinity is not divided, but more distinctly professed in baptism than it was under the law. Worthington.