1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible
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| Wisdom 18:1 | But *thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice indeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not suffer the same things, they glorified thee: Exodus 10:23. | Their. The Hebrews' (Menochius) or rather the Egyptians' voice. The land of Gossen was preserved from these horrors, (Calmet) though such Egyptians as might be found there, were exposed to them; and their dismal lamentations made the people of God appreciate their own happiness. They are styled saints, (Haydock) as the Church is holy, and has always some saints in her society. Out of it there is no sanctity. (Worthington) |
| Wisdom 18:2 | And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they were not hurt now: and asked this gift, that there might be a difference. | |
| Wisdom 18:3 | *Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of the way which they knew not, and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a good entertainment. Exodus 14:24.; Psalm 77:14.; Psalm 104:39. | Therefore. "Instead of those things, " (Greek) darkness and complaints, (Haydock) God led away his people in triumph. (Habacuc 3:3.) --- A harmless sun. A light that should not hurt or molest them; but that should be an agreeable guest to them; (Challoner) or the desert should receive them, where they should be provided with food. (Menochius) |
| Wisdom 18:4 | The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and imprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure light of the law was to be given to the world. | Was. Literally, "began." (Haydock) --- In Egypt, the Hebrews themselves were unacquainted with the law, which was given at their arrival at Sinai, and by means of the Greek version, and the propagation of the gospel, it was more divulged. (Calmet) --- The unwritten law was, however, better preserved in that nation, than in any other: and the Jews were selected, in order that they might communicate the treasure to all. (Haydock) |
| Wisdom 18:5 | *And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just, one child being cast forth, and saved to reprove them, thou tookest away a multitude of their children, **and destroyedst them altogether in a mighty water. Exodus 1:16.; Exodus 2:3.; Exodus 14:27. | One child. Viz., Moses. (Challoner) --- He was preserved to be the leader of the Hebrews, when the Egyptians were drowned (Worthington) in the Red Sea. (Menochius) |
| Wisdom 18:6 | For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better courage. | Fathers. God had assured the patriarchs, that he would visit his people, and Moses had told them what would take place, during the night of their deliverance, Exodus 4:22., and 11:4. (Calmet) |
| Wisdom 18:7 | So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction of the unjust. | |
| Wisdom 18:8 | For as thou didst punish the adversaries: so thou didst also encourage and glorify us. | |
| Wisdom 18:9 | For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the fathers. | Men. The patriarchs. Their children, the Israelites, offered in private the sacrifice of the paschal lamb; and were regulating what they were to do in their journey, when that last and most dreadful plague was coming upon their enemies. (Challoner) --- Alike. The feast was a bond of union with God and their neighbour, (Calmet) and the Hebrews resolved to be always true to one another both in prosperity and adversity. (Haydock) --- Fathers. Abraham, etc. Songs usually accompanied feasts, and the promises made to the patriarchs filled the Hebrews with confidence that they would shortly take possession of Chanaan. (Calmet) |
| Wisdom 18:10 | But on the other side there sounded an ill-according cry of the enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were bewailed. | |
| Wisdom 18:11 | *And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and a common man suffered in like manner as the king. Exodus 12:29. | |
| Wisdom 18:12 | So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death. Neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the noblest offspring of them was destroyed. | Noblest. The first-born (Challoner) of Pharao, and those of slaves and cattle, were slain, Exodus xii. (Calmet) |
| Wisdom 18:13 | For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of the enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the first-born, they acknowledged the people to be of God | |
| Wisdom 18:14 | For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course, | Course. This description of the decree, or angel of the Lord, is most magnificent. The Church applies it to Christ's nativity, who is thought to have been born at midnight. (Calmet) --- It insinuated his coming, when the world should enjoy a profound peace, though buried in the darkness of ignorance. (Worthington) |
| Wisdom 18:15 | Thy Almighty word leapt down from heaven from thy royal throne, as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction, | |
| Wisdom 18:16 | With a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and he stood and filled all things with death, and standing on the earth, reached even to heaven. | |
| Wisdom 18:17 | Then suddenly visions of evil dreams troubled them, and fears unlooked for came upon them. | Visions. These informed the Egyptians, that their miseries were not to be attributed to any natural cause. The dying proclaimed the same, as Moses had done, Exodus 11:4. |
| Wisdom 18:18 | And one thrown here, another there, half dead, shewed the cause of his death. | |
| Wisdom 18:19 | For the visions that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest they should perish, and not know why they suffered these evils. | |
| Wisdom 18:20 | But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of death, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness: but thy wrath did not long continue. | |
| Wisdom 18:21 | *For a blameless man made haste to pray for the people, bringing forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making supplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity, shewing that he was thy servant. Numbers 16:46. | |
| Wisdom 18:22 | And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor with force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them, alleging the oaths and covenant made with the fathers. | |
| Wisdom 18:23 | For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way to the living. | Living. Whom the angel was prevented from attacking, Numbers 16:47. (Calmet) |
| Wisdom 18:24 | *For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and in the four rows of the stones, the glory of the fathers was graven, and thy Majesty was written upon the diadem of his head. Exodus 28:6. | Priestly. Literally, robe of the poderis, (Haydock) "reaching down to the feet," and made of sky-blue linen, with pomegranates and bells at the bottom. (Calmet) --- The colours represented the four elements. (Haydock) --- See St. Jerome, ep. cxxviii.; Josephus, [Jewish Antiquities?] 3:8. --- Fathers. The twelve descendants of Jacob, whose names appeared in the stones of the breast-plate, Exodus 28:17. --- Majesty. On a golden plate worn by the high priest on his forehead, was inscribed "Holiness to the Lord." (Ibid.[Exodus?] xxxvi.) (Calmet) --- Sanctitas Jehova. (Menochius) |
| Wisdom 18:25 | And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for the proof only of wrath was enough. | Afraid. Or shewed a regard for them. (Haydock) --- Great is the power of a saint, of holy vestments, and of prayer. (Menochius) --- Enough. God did not intend to exterminate his people, as he had done the first-born of Egypt. (Calmet) |