1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Judith 9:2

O Lord God of my father Simeon, *who gavest him a sword to execute vengeance against strangers, who had defiled by their uncleanness, and uncovered the virgin unto confusion:

Genesis 34:26.

Gavest him a sword, etc. The justice of God is here praised, in punishing by the sword of Simeon the crime of the Sichemites: and not the fact of Simeon, which was justly condemned by his father, Genesis 49:5. Though even with regard to this fact, we may distinguish between his zeal against the crime committed by the ravishers of his sister, which zeal may be considered just: and the manner of his punishing that crime, which was irregular and excessive. (Challoner) --- The former is here commended. (Worthington) (Menochius) --- Yet Simeon was not blameless. God put the sword into his hand as he makes use of tyrants; in which sense Nabuchodonosor is styled his servant, Jeremias 25:9., Ezechiel 29:18., and Genesis 34:2, 25.