1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

Presents commentary in a tabular format for ease of reading.Click to learn more.





Sirach 45:1 Moses *was beloved of God, and men: whose memory is in benediction.

Exodus 11:3. 		Men. Pharao, Jethro, and the whole nation of the Hebrews, whom he governed as a father, being the mildest of men, Numbers 12:23.[3.?] His life was a continued miracle, and he was honoured more than any prophet, (ibid. vi.[Numbers 12:7.?], and Acts vii.; Calmet) seeing God's works more clearly, but not his substance, Exodus xxxiii. (Worthington)
Sirach 45:2 He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words he made prodigies to cease.

Saints, patriarchs or angels, as he saw God face to face. --- Enemies. The Egyptians, Amalecites, and all who rebelled against God. --- Cease. Removing the scourges which he had inflicted. His serpent devoured those of the magicians, who were confounded before him.
Sirach 45:3 *He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory.

Exodus 6:7-8. 		Kings. Pharao, Og, etc. --- Glory, when he had passed by, Exodus 33:22.
Sirach 45:4 *He sanctified him in his faith and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh.

Numbers 12:3.; Numbers12:7.; Hebrews 3:2-5. 		Meekness, giving him these necessary qualifications to rule a rebellious people, ver. 1.
Sirach 45:5 For he heard him, and his voice, and brought him into a cloud.

Heard. Greek, "made him hear his voice."
Sirach 45:6 And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction, that he might teach Jacob his covenant, and Israel his judgments.

Face, familiarly. --- Life, by observing which, the Hebrews might live. Thus the trees of life and of knowledge were a sort of remedy against death and ignorance, Genesis 2:9. (Calmet)
Sirach 45:7 He exalted Aaron, his brother, and like to himself of the tribe of Levi:

His. Greek, "holy, like to himself his brother of the," etc. (Haydock) (Psalm 105:16.) --- He was the interpreter of Moses, and honoured with the high priesthood. Aaron and his posterity were bound to be faithful to the law, ver. 19. (Calmet) --- Their priesthood was to last till Christ appeared, a priest forever of the order of Melchisedech.
Sirach 45:8 He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the nation, and made him blessed in glory,
Sirach 45:9 And he girded him about with a glorious girdle, and clothed him with a robe of glory, and crowned him with majestic attire.

Robe. Literally, "stole," (Haydock) which was a long robe, used in the East by both sexes. --- Crowned. Greek, "confirmed" him in his dignity. (Calmet)
Sirach 45:10 He put upon him a garment to the feet, and breeches, and an ephod, and he compassed him with many little bells of gold all round about,

To the. Greek, "enclosing his legs, (Haydock; breeches, Calmet) and the robe hanging down to the feet, (podere) and the garment over the shoulders," (Haydock, ephod) which met at the breast, where the rational was fixed. See Exodus xxviii. (Calmet) --- Many. Greek, "spheres, (Haydock; or pomegranates, Exodus 28:23.; Calmet) with many little bells," (Haydock) to admonish the people of his coming.
Sirach 45:11 *That as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his people.

Exodus 28:35.
Sirach 45:12 He gave him a holy robe of gold, and blue, and purple, a woven work, of a wise man, endued with judgment and truth:

Man. Beseleel, who made the greatest part. (Calmet) --- Greek, "of an embroiderer, with the rational of judgment, and the signs (manifestation. Calmet) of truth. (Haydock) --- Thus the Septuagint commonly describe the Urim and Thummim, Exodus 28:6. (Calmet)
Sirach 45:13 Of twisted scarlet, the work of an artist, with precious stones cut and set in gold, and graven by the work of a lapidary, for a memorial, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

Tribes. Greek, "sons." (Haydock) --- Their names were engraven on 12 stones.
Sirach 45:14 And a crown of gold upon his mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour: a work of power, and delightful to the eyes for its beauty.

Holiness, or "holy to the Lord," Exodus xxviii. (Calmet) --- Work. Greek, "works very rich." (Haydock) --- This regards all his attire. The high priest only used it in the temple, on grand festivals. (Calmet)
Sirach 45:15 Before him there were none so beautiful, even from the beginning.
Sirach 45:16 No stranger was ever clothed with them, but only his children alone, and his grand-children for ever.
Sirach 45:17 His sacrifices were consumed with fire every day.

His. Complutensian Greek, "their." (Haydock) --- Some of the ordinary priests offered the daily holocausts.
Sirach 45:18 *Moses filled his hands, and anointed him with holy oil.

Leviticus 8:12. 		Filled. Consecrated, Leviticus 8:26.
Sirach 45:19 This was made to him for an everlasting testament, and to his seed as the days of heaven, to execute the office of the priesthood, and to have praise, and to glorify his people in his name.

Testament. It prefigured that of Christ, which lasts for ever, Hebrews vii. (Calmet) --- Execute. Greek, "serve him, both by executing the priestly office, and by blessing the people," etc. (Haydock) --- This was one of the high priest's functions, Numbers 6:23. The rest might offer sacrifice and incense, except on the day of expiation, (Leviticus xvi.) and on solemn festivals, though the Scripture is silent on the latter head.
Sirach 45:20 He chose him out of all men living, to offer sacrifice to God, incense, and a good savour, for a memorial to make reconciliation for his people:
Sirach 45:21 And he gave him power in his commandments, in the covenants of his judgments, that he should teach Jacob his testimonies, and give light to Israel in his law.

Law. The most important causes were to be tried before the high priest, who, with his brethren, were the interpreters of the law, Matthew 2:6.
Sirach 45:22 *And strangers stood up against him, and through envy, the men that were with Dathan and Abiron, compassed him about in the wilderness, and the congregation of Core, in their wrath.

Numbers 16:1-3.
Sirach 45:23 The Lord God saw, and it pleased him not, and they were consumed in his wrathful indignation.
Sirach 45:24 He wrought wonders upon them, and consumed them with a flame of fire.

Fire. Thus consuming 250 men, Numbers 16:30.
Sirach 45:25 And he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance, and divided unto him the first-fruits of the increase of the earth.
Sirach 45:26 He prepared them bread in the first place unto fulness: for the sacrifices also of the Lord they shall eat, which he gave to him, and to his seed.

Eat. The skin of holocausts was alone given to the priests.
Sirach 45:27 But he shall not inherit among the people in the land, and he hath no portion among the people: for he himself is his portion and inheritance.

People. Having only 2,000 cubits round their cities, Numbers xxxv. The priests were thus interested to keep the people to their duty, as their own subsistence depended on the devotion and gifts of the latter. (Calmet) --- They had no distinct territory, like the rest of the tribes. (Worthington)
Sirach 45:28 *Phinees, the son of Eleazar, is the third in glory, by imitating him in the fear of the Lord:

Numbers 25:7.; 1 Machabees 2:26.; 1 Machabees 2:54. 		Imitating. Greek, "by shewing a zeal in the fear of the Lord," Numbers 25:11.
Sirach 45:29 And he stood up in the shameful fall of the people: in the goodness and readiness of his soul, he appeased God for Israel.
Sirach 45:30 Therefore he made to him a covenant of peace, to be the prince of the sanctuary, and of his people, that the dignity of priesthood should be to him and to his seed for ever.
Sirach 45:31 And a covenant to David, the king, the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, an inheritance to him and to his seed, that he might give wisdom into our heart to judge his people in justice, that their good things might not be abolished, and he made their glory in their nation everlasting.

That he. Or so he made a covenant with Aaron, that he, etc. (Calmet) --- Greek, "and (Grabe puts according to) the covenant made to David....that the king's son successively should alone inherit, the inheritance of Aaron was for his posterity. May he impart wisdom to your heart," etc. --- He made. Greek, "glory during their age." (Haydock) --- The sacred writer pours forth this prayer for God's ministers, (Calmet) that their good things and glory may never end, as long as the Jewish dispensation should last. He is equally solicitous for the priesthood as for the sceptre of David. In both the families of Aaron and of David children succeeded to their father's dignity, and God had made a covenant for that purpose. (Haydock) --- David assisted the priests, and greatly advanced God's service, 1 Paralipomenon 23. (Worthington) --- His eulogy is given [in] Ecclesiasticus 47.; and he is here only mentioned (Calmet) as a comparison. (Haydock)