Bible Commentaries
43

Verse 1

Shew. We cannot behold these things without admiration of God.

Verse 2

High. The sun is the most excellent of all irrational creatures, affording light (Worthington) and heat for the production of things; (Haydock) whence Aristotle (de Anima ii.) styles it "father of men and of gods." Yet it is inferior to man, being devoid of reason. All creatures manifest God’s majesty; the little as well as the great. (Worthington)

Verse 5

Hastened. Some Greek copies read "slackened," alluding to Josue x. 13.

Verse 6

In all. Greek (Complutensian), "to stand guard." Other copies agree with the Vulgate, though embarrassed. --- World. To mark out the seasons, Genesis i. 14., and Psalm ciii. 19.

Verse 7

Day. The lunar system prevailed only after the captivity. The Passover was celebrated on the 14th of the moon of Nisan.

Verse 8

Name. Meni is used for the moon, (Jeremias lxv. 11.) which resembles the Greek men, "month." This is also derived from mene, "the moon." We know not what Hebrew words were used, chap. vi. 23. The two former may both come from manah, "to divide."

Verse 9

Armies. The stars, &c., are compared to a camp or army.

Verse 11

Judgment. The angels are not pure before God; (Job iv. 18., and xv. 15.) or rather the stars obey his orders, Baruch iii. 34., Judges v. 20., and Psalm cxviii. 91. (Calmet)

Verse 12

Brightness. Mille trahit varios adverso sole colores. (Virgil, Æneid 5.)

Verse 14

Judgment, to punish the wicked, Exodus xiv. 24., and Isaias xxxvii. 36. (Calmet)

Verse 15

Birds, sent to give information by letters, as the Egyptians still do. (Bochart i. 2.) (Isaias lx. 5.) --- Tempests execute God’s judgments, Job xxxviii. 22.

Verse 16

Broken, as from huge mountains, Job xxxviii. 39. (Calmet)

Verse 18

Strike. Greek, "upbraid, (Drusius) or make the earth fall in labour," odinesen. (Grabe) (Haydock)

Verse 19

Lightning. Greek, "flying, he." (Haydock) --- Locusts. "They cover the cornfields with a destructive cloud." (Pliny, [Natural History?] xi. 29.)

Verse 20

Shower, as if God were about to drown the world. The melting of snow occasions dreadful inundations. (Calmet) --- Its whiteness sometimes deprives people of their sight. (Xenophon, Anab. iv.)

Verse 21

Thistles. Greek, "stakes," pointed as it were with steel. (Menochius)

Verse 22

Crystal, or ice. (Calmet)

Verse 23

Burn. Cold destroys verdure no less than fire, Genesis xxxi. 40.

Verse 24

Overpower it. Greek, "give joy; (25.) with," &c. (Haydock) --- Warmth and rain restore beauty to the earth, after the horrors of winter.

Verse 25

Still. Literally, "silent," Matthew viii. 26. --- Lord. Greek (Roman), "Jesus planted it;" which is a mistake for Greek: nesous, islands. (Calmet) --- "He planted islands in it." Grabe thus corrects the Alexandrian copy, though it agree with the Roman and Aldine editions. (Haydock)

Verse 26

CHAPTER XLIII.

Thereof. Psalm cvi. 23. "He who has not sailed has seen nothing evil." (Possidip.)

Verse 27

Monstrous. Greek, "creation of whales." (Haydock)

Verse 28

Is. Greek, "his angel gives a prosperous journey." --- Regulated. Greek, "blended." (Haydock) --- If God be angry, all will go to the bottom. (Grotius)

Verse 29

All. Literally, "in all." Every thing obeys God, chap. xlii. 15., and Ecclesiastes xii. 13.

Verse 30

Him. So the Greek reads. Vulgate seems to say, "boasting in all, what shall we be able to do?" What is man, fighting against the Lord! (Calmet)

Verse 32

His. Greek, "exalting the Lord, exert your power; and labour, for you will not come up to him: (35.) who," &c. (Haydock) --- He is above all praise, Psalm cxliv. 3. (Calmet)

Verse 35

From. Greek, "many hidden things are," &c. (Haydock) --- The angels, and many secrets of nature, have not been mentioned. (Calmet)