1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Wisdom 16:1 For these things, and by the like things to these, they were worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.

Things. Septuagint, "therefore by similar things they," etc. (Haydock) --- The Egyptians were punished for their idolatry by beasts, though they worshipped them, (Haydock) being infested with insects, frogs, locusts, etc., (chap. 12:23., and Exodus viii., and x.; Calmet) and seeing their first-born perish for their cruelty. (Worthington)
Wisdom 16:2 Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, *thou gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing for them quails for their meat:

Numbers 11:31. 		Meat. The second time, God gave them in his anger: but still he dealt favourably with his people, (Exodus 16:13., and Numbers 11:7.; Calmet) punishing them as a father, for their amendment. (Worthington)
Wisdom 16:3 To the end, that they indeed desiring food, by means of those things that were shewn and sent among them, might loathe even that which was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want for a short time, tasted a new meat.

They indeed desiring food, etc. He means the Egyptians; who were restrained even from that food which was necessary, by the frogs and the flies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their meats. (Challoner) --- Exodus 8:3. (Calmet) --- These. The Israelites. (Challoner) --- New meat. Quails. (Menochius)
Wisdom 16:4 For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how their enemies were destroyed.
Wisdom 16:5 *For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were destroyed with the bitings of crooked serpents.

Numbers 21:6.
Wisdom 16:6 But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation, to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.

Sign of salvation. The brazen serpent, an emblem of Christ our Saviour; (Challoner) and of the obedience which they should shew to God's commands. (Calmet) --- The sign could have no inherent value; but, as a token of God's favour, was the means of curing the people. (Worthington)
Wisdom 16:7 For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw, but by thee, the Saviour of all.
Wisdom 16:8 And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who deliverest from all evil.
Wisdom 16:9 *For the bitings of locusts, and of flies, killed them, and there was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be destroyed by such things.

Exodus 8:24.; Exodus 10:4.; Apocalypse 9:7.
Wisdom 16:10 But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy children: for thy mercy came and healed them.
Wisdom 16:11 For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might not be able to use thy help.
Wisdom 16:12 For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster, that healed them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.

Plaster, malagma. The remedy ordained by God was not naturally efficacious. (Calmet) --- "Every wound of the soul has its medicine in the Scriptures." (St. Augustine, Psalm xxxvi.)
Wisdom 16:13 *For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:

Deuteronomy 32:39.; 1 Kings 2:6.; Tobias 13:2.
Wisdom 16:14 A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is received:
Wisdom 16:15 But it is impossible to escape thy hand:
Wisdom 16:16 *For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and rain, and consumed by fire.

Exodus 9:23.
Wisdom 16:17 And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just.

The fire had more force. Viz., When the fire and hail mingled together laid waste the land of Egypt, Exodus ix. (Challoner) --- This destroyed the useful cattle, but not such as infested the Egyptians. (Worthington) --- The water seemed to nourish the flames, 3 Kings 18:39.
Wisdom 16:18 For at one time, the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which were sent against the wicked might not be burnt, but that they might see, and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God.

Mitigated. The Egyptians could not banish the insects with fire and smoke, (Jansenius) or the storm sent by God, did not exterminate the sciniphs, which had caused the magicians to acknowledge a miracle, Exodus 8:18. The frogs and flies were already gone, Ibid.[Exodus viii.?] 11., and 31. (Calmet)
Wisdom 16:19 And at another time the fire, above its own power, burnt in the midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land.
Wisdom 16:20 *Instead of which things, thou didst feed thy people with the food of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven, prepared without labour; having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.

Exodus 16:14.; Numbers 11:7.; Psalm 77:25.; John 6:31. 		Angels. See Exodus xvi. (Worthington) --- If angels stood in need of food, they could have nothing more delicious. So water is styled honey, to denote its excellence, Psalm 77:25., Leviticus 20:24., and Joel 3:18. --- Taste. These expressions are figurative. (Calmet)
Wisdom 16:21 For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and serving every man's will, it was turned to what every man liked.

Sustenance. Literally, "substance," which some explain (Calmet) of God himself preparing this delicious food. (Naz. or. xlix.) --- Liked. So that if a person wished to eat an egg, etc., the manna became one, without altering its appearance, which is the case in the blessed Eucharist. (Valentia, 4 disp. 6., etc.) --- But this opinion supposes a continued miracle, which seems not necessary, and it is generally believed that the taste alone was changed, which St. Augustine and others restrain to God's faithful servants, otherwise the Hebrews could not have been disgusted with manna, Numbers 11:6., and 21:5. To these it was therefore simply manna. But the others found in it whatever they could desire. (St. Gregory, Mor. 6:9.) --- Yet according to others, (Haydock) both enjoyed the same privilege. (Menochius) --- We cannot account for men's fancies.
Wisdom 16:22 *But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that they might know that fire, burning in the hail, and flashing in the rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies.

Exodus 9:24.
Wisdom 16:23 But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even forget its own strength.
Wisdom 16:24 For the creature serving thee, the Creator, is made fierce against the unjust for their punishment; and abateth its strength for the benefit of them that trust in thee.
Wisdom 16:25 Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all, according to the will of them that desired it of thee:
Wisdom 16:26 That thy children, O Lord, *whom thou lovedst, might know that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word preserveth them that believe in thee:

Deuteronomy 8:3.; Matthew 4:4. 		Word. Deuteronomy 8:3., and Matthew 4:4. Fruits, of themselves, could not support man. (Calmet)
Wisdom 16:27 For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, presently melted away:
Wisdom 16:28 That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light.

Light. Those who desire to receive any favour must seek it with diligence, as the manna was to be gathered before sun-rise. (Clarius.) (Calmet)
Wisdom 16:29 For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.

Water. The ungrateful and negligent shall find their hopes frustrated, (Calmet) as well as the wicked, who expect salvation (Worthington) without a change of manners. (Haydock) --- Ingratitude stops the fountain of grace. (Menochius)