1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible
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| Sirach 49:1 | The *memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell made by the art of a perfumer: 4 Kings 22:1. | Perfumer. The Scripture reproaches this king alone with no fault. (Calmet) |
| Sirach 49:2 | His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth, and as music at a banquet of wine. | |
| Sirach 49:3 | He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he took away the abominations of wickedness. | Directed. Greek, "prosperous in converting the people," 4 Kings xxii., and 2 Paralipomenon xxxiv. (Haydock) --- He began when he was only eight years old: but set to work more effectually ten years afterwards. The prophets complain of the disorders which prevailed before that period. (Calmet) |
| Sirach 49:4 | And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the days of sinners he strengthened godliness. | Sinners. Or "sins," when iniquity was become fashionable. He consulted no false policy, (Haydock) but boldly exerted himself in God's service, and even invited the Israelites out of his dominions to come and celebrate the passover, 2 Paralipomenon 34:6. (Calmet) --- They belonged, in effect to him, as the twelve tribes were all promised to David's family, and the kingdom of Jeroboam was only a rebellion, Ecclesiasticus 47:23. (Haydock) |
| Sirach 49:5 | Except David, and Ezechias, and Josias, all committed sin. | Sin. The two former effaced their sins by repentance, and never tolerated idolatry, which even Josaphat and Asa did, (3 Kings 22:43., etc.; Calmet) not destroying the high places. Many others yielded not to idol worship. (Worthington) |
| Sirach 49:6 | For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the Most High, and despised the fear of God. | Despised. Greek, "they failed," and lost the crown. |
| Sirach 49:7 | So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to a strange nation. | They gave. Achaz called in to his assistance the king of Assyria, who afterwards claimed the kingdom as tributary to him, 4 Kings 18:7, 14. Greek, "He (God, Calmet; Alexandrian copy has They) gave their horn," etc. (Haydock) |
| Sirach 49:8 | *They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the streets thereof desolate, according to the prediction of Jeremias. 4 Kings 25:9. | Holiness. Jerusalem, which was styled holy, in the sicles of Simon. --- Desolate. No one came to the festivals, Lamentations 1:4. |
| Sirach 49:9 | For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet from his mother's womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and destroy, and to build again, and renew. | Renew. To foretell the destruction and establishment of kingdoms, Jeremias 1:5, 10. |
| Sirach 49:10 | *It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn him upon the chariot of cherubims. Ezechiel 1:4. | Cherubims. Ezechiel 1:4., and 8:1., and 10:1. |
| Sirach 49:11 | For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of rain, and of doing good to them that shewed right ways. | Rain. Denoting great misery, Ezechiel 13:11., and 38:22. (Calmet) --- And of. Literally, "to do good," (Haydock) or to announce the liberation of the penitent captives, Ezechiel 18:21., and 23:16., etc. |
| Sirach 49:12 | And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of their place: for they strengthened Jacob, and redeemed themselves by strong faith. | Place. Ecclesiasticus 45:15. The Pharisees adorned the tombs of the prophets, Matthew 23:29. Daniel is not mentioned among them, because he lived at court. |
| Sirach 49:13 | *How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on the right hand: 1 Esdras 3:2.; Aggeus 1:14.; Aggeus 2:3-5, 22-23 | Hand. Most precious, Jeremias 22:24., and Canticle of Canticles 8:6. |
| Sirach 49:14 | *In like manner Jesus, the son of Josedec? who in their days built the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory. Zacharias 3:1. | Josedec. He was a noble figure of Christ, and helped to build the temple, Aggeus 1:2., and 2:3., and Zacharias 3:1., and 6:11. |
| Sirach 49:15 | And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up for us our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates and the bars, who rebuilt our houses. | Houses. He laboured much for the people's welfare, 2 Esdras v. |
| Sirach 49:16 | No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was taken up from the earth. | Henoch. Before the deluge. (Menochius) --- He stood up for the Lord, amid the most corrupt people, and was translated, Ecclesiasticus 44:16. He and Joseph have many advantages over the rest. (Calmet) |
| Sirach 49:17 | *Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren, the support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the stay of the people: Genesis 41:40.; Genesis 42:3.; Genesis 45:5.; Genesis 50:20. | Joseph. He has not been named, but designated, Ecclesiasticus 44:27. (Calmet) --- Who. Greek, the "ruler," etc. (Haydock) |
| Sirach 49:18 | And his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied. | They prophesied. That is, by their being carried out of Egypt, they verified the prophetic prediction of Joseph, Genesis L. (Challoner) (Carriers.) --- This sentence is omitted in Greek. (Haydock) --- See Ecclesiasticus 48:14. --- Joseph had intimated that the Israelites should leave Egypt. (Worthington) |
| Sirach 49:19 | *Seth, and Sem, obtained glory among men: and above every soul Adam in the beginning. Genesis 4:25. | Men. The former was the father of the faithful, before the deluge; the latter after. (Calmet) --- Beginning. Greek, "in the creation" was appointed to rule. (Haydock) --- He alone among men was innocent, coming from the hands of God, and he might glory that he had no other father. (Calmet) --- Eve enjoyed the like privileges. (Haydock) |