Verse 2

Book. This was spoken in the reign of Sedecias, for the people's conviction. The prophet had received orders to write in the 4th year of Joakim, chap. xxxvi. 1. (Calmet)

Verse 3

Come. Some in St. Jerome explain this and the following chapter of the end of the world, when all shall confess Christ. Others refer them to the preaching of the gospel alone. (Estius) (Tirinus) --- But the return from captivity is specified, as prefiguring that event. (St. Thomas Aquinas, &c.) (Calmet) --- It is probable that many of the ten tribes returned to Samaria, chap. xxxi., and Ezechiel xxxiii. (Worthington)

Verse 4

To Juda. All the race of Abraham are concerned. The kingdom was no longer divided.

Verse 5

We. Jeremias is ordered to express the alarms of the captives, at the news of the destruction of Jerusalem, or rather of the Chaldean empire, by Cyrus. They were naturally afraid that they would also suffer.

Verse 6

Bear. Literally, "beet," generat. But it has here the former signification, (Haydock) pariat. (Vatable) --- Yellow. The Babylonians are in great anxiety. (Calmet)

Verse 7

Great, and terrible for this city, the outer walls of which shall be demolished, (Berosus; Calmet) and all its glory perish. (Haydock) --- Of it. Cyrus liberated the Jews, 1 Esdras i.

Verse 8

Strangers. Idols. The people were not so prone to worship them. Yet the Jews were almost constantly subject to foreigners (Calmet) despectissima pars servientium, Macedonibus invalidis....sibi ipsis reges imposuere. (Tacitus, Hist. 5.) --- Christ granted a more perfect liberty to the faithful, John viii. 33. (Calmet)

Verse 9

David. That is, Christ, of the house of David. (Challoner) (Ezechiel xxxvii. 24., and Osee iii. 5.) --- Grotius and some modern Jews, in opposition to their ancestors, (Chaldean; Kimchi, &c.) and to all Christians, would understand Zorobabel, though he was never possessed of the title or authority of king. (Calmet) --- The prophecy may allude to him, but it is fulfilled only in Christ. (Theodoret)

Verse 11

Nations, which are now no more. Grabe supplies ver. 10, 11, 15., and 22. (Haydock) --- Judgment, like a father, (Calmet) though the chastisement may seem cruel, ver. 14. (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "with justice, but I will not deny thee for ever." Chaldean, "utterly." (Calmet) --- Only the Church is preserved continually. All other kingdoms change. (Worthington)

Verse 13

Up. There is none to judge thy cause, or to be thy physician. (Calmet)

Verse 14

Lovers. Nations which had seduced thee to worship their idols. (Haydock) --- Enemy. This judgment (ver. 11.) was requisite. (Calmet)

Verse 16

Prey. The Romans utterly overturned the Macedonian empire, (Haydock) as the former had done the Persian, and they the Chaldean monarchy, which has risen on the ruins of the Assyrian empire. But the Jews rise as it were from their ashes. (Calmet)

Verse 17

Close. Septuagint, "remove the healing plaster from thy painful wound." (Haydock)

Verse 18

Temple. After 70 years, it was rebuilt. The Church was founded on a rock. [Matthew xvi. 18.] (Worthington)

Verse 19

Play, or laugh. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "make merry," chap. xxxi. 4. --- Lessened. The Jews were as numerous in our Saviour's time (Haydock) as ever they had been. (Calmet)

Verse 21

Leader. Zorobabel, the figure (Theodoret) of Christ, who is here meant. (Calmet) --- He springs from Jacob. (Worthington) --- The sceptre was not taken away till his coming, Genesis xlix. (Haydock) --- Who. Cyrus alludes to this passage in his decree, 1 Esdras i. (Calmet) --- The prediction is fully verified in Christians. (St. Jerome) --- Christ is near to God, being one, John xiv. (Worthington)

Verse 23

Wicked, at Jerusalem, or rather the Chaldeans; and the Jews, who crucified their Messias. (St. Jerome, &c.) (Calmet)

Verse 32

CHAPTER XXX.