Verse 1

Come. Both Gentiles and Jews are admonished of the world's end before judgment. (Worthington)

Verse 4

Away. These strong expressions denote great misery, chap. xiii., and Joel ii. 10., and Ezechiel xxxii. 27. (Calmet) --- Book. Hebrew, "roll." (Haydock) --- Some thence foolishly inferred that the destiny of every one might be read in the heavens. (Huet.; Eusebius, præp. vi. 11.; Philoo. xxiii.; Pic. Astrol. viii. 5.) --- The prophet only means that the heavens shall be devoid of beauty, (Calmet) and covered with darkness. (Haydock)

Verse 5

Heaven. Casting down the rebel angels. (St. Jerome) --- The resolution to destroy the Idumeans, for their cruelty to the Jews, has been taken long ago. All these expressions allude to the last judgment. (Calmet) --- Idumea. Under the name of Idumea or Edom, a people that were enemies of God and his Church. (Challoner) --- Assaradon fell upon Edom two years after Sennacherib's death. (Calmet) --- No strong place like Bosra, shall rescue any from destruction at the last day. (Worthington)

Verse 7

The unicorns. That is, the great and mighty. (Challoner)

Verse 8

Recompenses. When the persecutors of Sion, that is, of the Church, shall receive their reward. (Challoner) --- The Idumeans had frequently shown their ill-will towards the Jews, 2 Paralipomenon xxviii. 17., and Amos i. 11. (Calmet) --- Sion shall perish as the wicked in hell shall be tormented. (Worthington)

Verse 9

Pitch. The soil was sulphureous, and became neglected, (ver. 10.) like the territory of Sodom. The people are now no more, and only a few miserable Arabs pitch their tents there.

Verse 11

Line. Intimating entire destruction, Lamentations ii. 8., and 4 Kings xi. 13. (Calmet) --- Yet God will not punish more than people deserve. (Menochius)

Verse 13

Dragons, Thannim, chap. xiii. 22. (Haydock) --- Ostriches, or swans.

Verse 14

Monsters. Literally, "Ass-centaurs." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "fishermen shall find islands," chap. xiii. 21. --- Ones. Goats. --- Lamia. Hebrew lilith. Chaldean, "owl," the bird of Minerva, or the Moon, which the Arabs style Alilat. (Calmet) --- Dicodorus (20) relates that Lamia was an African queen, who having last her children, was changed into a beast, and destroyed all the children she could catch; and the Jews deal still more in fables, (Calmet0 asserting that Lilith was the first wife of Adam, &c. (Buxtorf. Syn. 2.)

Verse 15

Ericius. Hebrew, "kippoz, (Haydock) hath its nest." It may denote the serpent, acontias. (Bochart) --- All this shews the desolation of the country.

Verse 16

Read what I have written. --- The other. All these beasts will be there, (Calmet) or all these declarations will be verified. (Haydock)

Verse 24

CHAPTER XXXIV.