Bible Commentaries
24

Verse 1

Wisdom. Greek title, "the praise of wisdom." Here the book of Ecclesiastes is imitated. (Haydock) --- See also Proverbs viii., and Wisdom vii. 24., and viii. 1. The pagans boasted of their philosophy. But it was not to be compared with the true religion, which the Israelites possessed. --- Own self. Literally, "soul." She alone is capable of this office. (Calmet) --- In God. Referring all the glory to him. (Menochius) --- This sentence is not in Greek. (Haydock) --- The second person of the Trinity proclaims his own praises. (Worthington)

Verse 2

Power. The temple, rather than in the schools of Athens. (Calmet)

Verse 3

And. Greek, (5.) "I came out of the mouth of the Highest, (6.) and as," &c. (Haydock) --- He alludes to the darkness which covered the earth, Genesis i. 2., and Job xxxviii. 9. Many explain this of the uncreated wisdom, born in the womb of the blessed Virgin [Mary]; and the Church, in her office, applies it to her in a mystical sense. But it seems literally to refer to the wisdom and grace granted to the saints, which enlightens every man, and presides over the creation.

Verse 7

Cloud. Guiding the Israelites (Exodus xiii. 21.) or near the throne of God, Wisdom ix. 4. (Calmet)

Verse 8

Penetrated. Greek, "walled in."

Verse 11

By. Greek, "with all," &c. (Haydock) --- Lord. Israel was chosen gratuitously. (Calmet) --- Greek, of whom?

Verse 12

Rested. Greek, "gave rest to my tent." (Haydock) --- So Virgil says, requierun. flumina cursus. (Menochius) --- God offers grace, but forces none to accept of it. (Worthington)

Verse 13

And take, &c., is not in Greek. (Haydock) --- This may be explained of the true religion, or (Calmet) of the word of the Father. (St. Augustine, Trin. i. 12.) --- In the Church only is effectual grace, (Worthington) or none will receive it, who refuses to hear the Church. (Haydock)

Verse 14

Created. Or engendered, Proverbs viii. 22. --- Him. As his priestess, directing all the ministers of the temple. (Calmet) --- Christ is begotten by the understanding, and the Holy Ghost proceeds from love. Creation is not here taken strictly. (Worthington)

Verse 16

His. Greek, "of his inheritance, (17.) I," &c. (Haydock)

Verse 17

Sion. Beyond the Jordan. Greek, "Hermon," Deuteronomy iv. 48.

Verse 18

Cades-barne, Numbers xx. 1. Greek, "Engaddi," (Calmet) or Roman and Alexandrian edition, "on the sea shore." (Haydock)

Verse 19

In the streets, in not in Greek. (Calmet) --- Grabe inserts, by the waters. (Haydock) --- These trees flourish most in such situations, and people delighted to walk under them in hot countries.

Verse 20

Myrrh. Which distills through the bark, without any incision.

Verse 21

Onyx. A shell-fish in the Indies, which feeds on the spica nardi, and hence becomes odoriferous. --- Aloes, (gutta) the finest myrrh. --- Not cut. Greek, "in a tent." --- And my, &c., is not in Greek. Wisdom is compared to what was most esteemed. (Calmet)

Verse 22

Honour. Rich and pleasant. (Haydock)

Verse 24

I, &c. Grabe restores this verse, and, instead of the next, has, "but I am given to all my children, being born myself for ever, to those who are specified by him. (26.) Come," &c. (Haydock) --- The text seems to be corrupt. (Calmet)

Verse 25

Life. Christ declares himself to be, the way, the truth, and the life. [John xiv. 6.]

Verse 27

Spirit. Greek, "remembrance." It has not the following verse.

Verse 29

Thirst. Without being ever disgusted, John iv. 13. (Calmet) --- Experience of carnal delights is quite the reverse. (St. Gregory, hom. xxxvi. Ev.) --- The more grace a person has, the more he desireth and receiveth from God. (Worthington)

Verse 30

Sin. Or lose their labour. They shall be directed in the paths of life. (Calmet)

Verse 31

They. Greek, "all these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, the law which Moses gave unto us, an inheritance to the synagogues of Jacob." Grabe puts in a different character from the Complutensian, "Lose not strength in the Lord, but stick to him, that he may strengthen you. The Lord Almighty is the only God, and there is no other Saviour." Then follows, (ver. 35.) "who," &c. (Haydock) --- Everlasting. Provided his life correspond with his doctrine. No occupation can be more glorious. (Calmet) --- Let thy Scriptures be my chaste delights: let me not be deceived in them, nor deceive others by them. (St. Augustine, Confessions xi. 2.) (Calmet) (Daniel xii.) (Menochius)

Verse 32

Truth. They are equally certain, and no more is required. (Calmet) --- He that loves has fulfilled the law. (Haydock)

Verse 34

King. Viz., Christ, who by his gospel, like an overflowing river, hath enriched the earth with heavenly wisdom. (Challoner) --- Ever. The Lord (Haydock) is a king, (Carriers) who, &c., ver. 35. (Haydock) --- Solomon’s wisdom is also praised. (Calmet) --- The sceptre of David remained till the captivity, and the royal family continued in esteem till Christ. Yet David was only a figure of Christ, the eternal king. (Worthington)

Verse 35

Phison. Or Phase of Colchis, which rises in Armenia, like the Tigris and Euphrates, all which overflow their banks at the beginning of summer, on account of the snow melting.

Verse 36

Harvest. The snow of Libanus make the Jordan swell at Pentecost, Josue iii. 15.

Verse 37

Light. Giving to all the light of reason, and to Israel the law, Psalm cxlvii. 20. --- Gehon. Or Araxes, which descends from Armenia into the Caspian sea, though some erroneously take it to be the Nile, (Calmet) which overflows at the same time as the Euphrates. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xviii. 18.; Solon xlvi.)

Verse 38

CHAPTER XXIV.

Of her. Christ was the first that had perfect knowledge of heavenly wisdom. (Challoner) --- This is the privilege of God. Greek, "the first hath not perfect," &c.

Verse 40

Rivers of saving waters, on all, but particularly (Haydock) on Judea, ver. 42. Greek, "and like a ditch (dioryx. Calmet) from a river, and as an aqueduct, I came into paradise," (Haydock) like the four rivers aforesaid, Genesis ii.

Verse 44

Off. He alludes to the conversion of the Gentiles.

Verse 45

I will. Many Fathers explain this of Christ’s descent into hell. But as it occurs not in the Greek, if may be considered as the tradition of the first Christians, who gave this version, (Calmet) or they found it in their copies. (Haydock)

Verse 46

Prophecy. Of no less authority. The prophets had ceased for some time before Christ. (Calmet) --- Them. Greek, "to ages of ages. See," &c. (Haydock)

Verse 47

I. Wisdom, or the author of this book, chap. xxxiii. 18., and Wisdom vii. 13. (Calmet)