Sirach
Verse 1. Shew. We cannot behold these things without admiration of God.
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 43
Historical chapter commentary
Sirach
Verse 2. High. The sun is the most excellent of all irrational creatures, affording light ( Worthington.) and heat for the production of things; ( Bible.) whence Aristotle (de Anima ii.) styles it “father of men and of gods.” Yet it is inferior to man, being devoid of reason. All creatures manifest God’s majesty; the little as well as the great. Worthington.
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Verse 5. Hastened. Some Greek copies read “slackened,” alluding to Joshua 10:13.
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Verse 6. In all. Greek Comp. “to stand guard.” Other copies agree with the Vulg. though embarrassed.—World. To mark out the seasons. Genesis 1:14. Psalms 103:19.
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Verse 7. Day. The lunar system prevailed only after the captivity. The Passover was celebrated on the 14th of the moon of Nisan.
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Verse 8. Name. Meni is used for the moon, (Jeremiah 52:11.) which resembles the Greek mén, “month.” This is also derived from méné, “the moon.” We know not what Hebrew words were used. Calmet. 6:23. The two former may both come from manah, “to divide.”
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Verse 9. Armies. The stars, and so forth are compared to a camp or army.
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Verse 11. Judgment. The angels are not pure before God; (Job 4:18 and 15:15) or rather the stars obey his orders. Baruch 3:34. Judges 5:20. Psalms 118:91. Calmet.
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Verse 12. Brightness. Mille trahit varios adverso sole colores. Æn. 5.
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Verse 14. Judgment, to punish the wicked. Exodus 14:24. Isaiah 37:36. Calmet.
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Verse 15. Birds, sent to give information by letters, as the Egyptians still do. Bochart i. 2. Isaiah 60:5.—Tempests execute God’s judgments. Job 38:22.
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Verse 16. Broken, as from huge mountains. Job 38:39. Calmet.
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Verse 18. Strike. Greek “upbraid, (Drus.) or make the earth fall in labour,” odinesen. Grabe. Bible.
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Verse 19. Lightning. Greek “flying, he.” Bible.—Locusts. “They cover the cornfields with a destructive cloud.” Pliny xi. 29.
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Verse 20. Shower, as if God were about to drown the world. The melting of snow occasions dreadful inundations. Calmet.—Its whiteness sometimes deprives people of their sight. Xenoph. Anab. iv.
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Verse 21. Thistles. Greek “stakes,” pointed as it were with steel. Menochius.
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Verse 22. Crystal, or ice. Calmet.
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Verse 23. Burn. Cold destroys verdure no less than fire. Genesis 31:40.
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Verse 24. Overpower it. Greek “give joy; (25) with,” and so forth Bible.—Warmth and rain restore beauty to the earth, after the horrors of winter.
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Verse 25. Still. Lit. “silent.” Matthew 8:26.—Lord. Greek Rom. “Jesus planted it;” which is a mistake for νησους, islands. Calmet.—“He planted islands in it.” Grabe thus corrects the Alex. copy, though it agree with the Rom. and Aldine editions. Bible.
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Verse 26. Thereof. Psalms 106:23. “He who has not sailed has seen nothing evil.” Possidip.
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Verse 27. Monstrous. Greek “creation of whales.” Bible.
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Verse 28. Is. Greek “his angel gives a prosperous journey.”—Regulated. Greek “blended.” Bible.—If God be angry, all will go to the bottom. Grot.
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Verse 29. All. Lit. “in all.” Every thing obeys God. Calmet. 42:15. Eccle. 12:13.
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Verse 30. Him. So the Greek reads. Vulg. seems to say, “boasting in all, what shall we be able to do?” What is man, fighting against the Lord! Calmet.
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Verse 32. His. Greek “exalting the Lord, exert your power; and labour, for you will not come up to him: (35) who,” and so forth Bible.—He is above all praise. Psalms 144:3. Calmet.
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Verse 35. From. Greek “many hidden things are,” and so forth Bible.—The angels, and many secrets of nature, have not been mentioned. Calmet.