Verse 1

Priests. They were to furnish the vessel, and accompany the prophets, ver. 10. Septuagint, "and thou shalt take some of," &c. (Haydock) --- Words and actions together instruct most powerfully. (St. Jerome) (Worthington)

Verse 2

Gate, which must have been to the south-east of Jerusalem, leading to the valley. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "Charseith gate." (Haydock) --- Here the common people were buried, after the reign of Josias, who contaminated the place where the idol Moloc had been adored.

Verse 3

Tingle, as if he had heard a sudden noise or clap of thunder. (Calmet)

Verse 4

Profaned. Literally, "rendered strange." (Haydock) --- I have no farther regard for it. --- Innocents: their own children, ver. 5., and chap. vii. 31.

Verse 5

Mind. Perhaps the people stupidly thought thus to honour him; but God pointedly condemns such sacrifices.

Verse 6

Valley. Septuagint, "burial-place of slaughter," ver. 2. Here the Chaldeans slew many.

Verse 9

Sons, to punish them for their cruel sacrifices. (St. Jerome) --- This was verified under Sedecias, Lamentations ii. 10., and iv. 10., and Ezechiel v. 10.

Verse 11

Again. The captives indeed returned, so that this must not be urged too much. (Calmet) --- Yet the Romans strictly fulfilled this prophecy, (St. Jerome; Sanctius) and the city was built in another place, and styled Ælia. (Haydock) --- God can perform what is impossible to man, chap. xviii. 3., and Matthew xix. (Worthington)

Verse 13

Topheth. This sentence was not in St. Jerome's Hebrew copy, but in the Septuagint (Calmet) with some variations: (Haydock) "All the houses of the kings of Juda, like the place of Topheth," is added by the Septuagint. (St. Jerome) --- In Grabe they agree with the present Hebrew and Chaldean only rendering, "shall be as a place in ruin, for the defilements in all," &c. (Haydock) --- Of heaven: the moon, &c., 4 Kings xxiii. 12. Josias could not entirely root out this impiety, chap. xxxii. 29. His wicked son Joachaz or Sellum, was probably now on the throne, when the prophet went to the potter, &c., chap. xviii. to xxi.

Verse 14

People. Many still resorted to the temple. (Calmet)

Verse 23

CHAPTER XIX.