36:1 Tu autem, fili hominis, propheta super montes Israel, et dices : [Montes Israel, audite verbum Domini.
*H And thou son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say: Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord:
Ver. 1. Israel. The restoration of the Jews and the redemption of Christ, constitute this fourth division. W. — Edom has seized parts of the country, as if I had abandoned my people for ever.
36:2 Haec dicit Dominus Deus : Eo quod dixerit inimicus de vobis : Euge, altitudines sempiternae in haereditatem datae sunt nobis :
*H Thus saith the Lord God: Because the enemy hath said to you: Aha, the everlasting heights are given to us for an inheritance.
Ver. 2. Heights. Sept. "deserts." The mountains are often styled eternal, as being the best symbols of durability. Deut. xxxiii. 15.
36:3 propterea vaticinare, et dic : Haec dicit Dominus Deus : Pro eo quod desolati estis, et conculcati per circuitum, et facti in haereditatem reliquis gentibus, et ascendistis super labium linguae et opprobrium populi,
*H Therefore prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Because you have been desolate, and trodden under foot on every side, and made an inheritance to the rest of the nations, and are become the subject of the talk, and the reproach of the people:
Ver. 3. Reproach. This God had repeatedly threatened. Deut. xxviii. 37. C. Jer. xxiv. 9. — People talked of their distress. W.
36:4 propterea, montes Israel, audite verbum Domini Dei. Haec dicit Dominus Deus montibus et collibus, torrentibus, vallibusque et desertis, parietinis et urbibus derelictis, quae depopulatae sunt et subsannatae a reliquis gentibus per circuitum.
Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the brooks, and to the valleys, and to desolate places, and ruinous walls, and to the cities that are forsaken, that are spoiled, and derided by the rest of the nations round about.
36:5 Propterea haec dicit Dominus Deus : Quoniam in igne zeli mei locutus sum de reliquis gentibus, et de Idumaea universa, quae dederunt terram meam sibi in haereditatem cum gaudio, et toto corde et ex animo, et ejecerunt eam ut vastarent :
Therefore thus saith the Lord God: In the fire of my zeal I have spoken of the rest of the nations, and of all Edom, who have taken my land to themselves, for an inheritance with joy, and with all the heart, and with the mind: and have cast it out to lay it waste.
36:6 idcirco vaticinare super humum Israel, et dices montibus et collibus, jugis et vallibus : Haec dicit Dominus Deus : Ecce ego in zelo meo et in furore meo locutus sum, eo quod confusionem gentium sustinueritis.
Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, and to the hills, to the ridges, and to the valleys: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I have spoken in my zeal, and in my indignation, because you have borne the shame of the Gentiles.
36:7 Idcirco haec dicit Dominus Deus : Ego levavi manum meam, ut gentes quae in circuitu vestro sunt, ipsae confusionem suam portent.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God: I have lifted up my hand, that the Gentiles who are round about you, shall themselves bear their shame.
36:8 Vos autem, montes Israel, ramos vestros germinetis, et fructum vestrum afferatis populo meo Israel : prope enim est ut veniat.
*H But as for you, O mountains of Israel, shoot ye forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel: for they are at hand to come.
Ver. 8. Israel. Some apply what follows to the captives returning; others, perceiving that the expressions were not then literally verified, have recourse to the reign of 1000 years. Others again explain the whole of Christ's Church. But some expressions refer to it, and others to the captives; which, though mixed together, induce no confusion, as what belongs to the Jews was a figure of what regarded Christ; and the predictions of the Messias might be applied to the Jews in an hyperbolical sense. S. Aug. Doct. iii. 34. S. Jer. M. T. C.
36:9 Quia ecce ego ad vos, et convertar ad vos : et arabimini, et accipietis sementem.
For I, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be ploughed and sown.
36:10 Et multiplicabo in vobis homines, omnemque domum Israel : et habitabuntur civitates, et ruinosa instaurabuntur.
And I will multiply men upon you, and all the house of Israel: and the cities ball be inhabited, and the ruinous places shall be repaired.
36:11 Et replebo vos hominibus et jumentis, et multiplicabuntur, et crescent : et habitare vos faciam sicut a principio, bonisque donabo majoribus quam habuistis ab initio : et scietis quia ego Dominus.
*H And I will make you abound with men and with beasts: and they shall be multiplied, and increased: and I will settle you as from the beginning, and will give you greater gifts, than you had from the beginning: and you shall know that I am the Lord.
Ver. 11. Greater. Sept. "similar." H. — It would be difficult to shew that the Jews arrived at greater eminence after the captivity than before, (C.) though they were less addicted to idolatry. Their kingdom was not independent: they had no prophets, &c. But the superior numbers and excellence of the Christian Church is manifest.
36:12 Et adducam super vos homines, populum meum Israel, et haereditate possidebunt te : et eris eis in haereditatem, et non addes ultra ut absque eis sis.
*H And I will bring men upon you, my people Israel, and they shall possess thee for their inheritance: and thou shalt be their inheritance, and shalt no more henceforth be without them.
Ver. 12. Them. Antiochus and the Romans laid waste the country; (C.) and Adrian would not allow the Jews to come near Jerusalem. S. Jer. Eus. iv. 6. — The people were not indeed removed together, as they had been. But all this is verified only in the Church, which in the midst of persecutions always subsists. Theodoret thinks these promises were conditional with regard to the Jews.
36:13 Haec dicit Dominus Deus : Pro eo quod dicunt de vobis : Devoratrix hominum es, et suffocans gentem tuam :
*H Thus saith the Lord God: Because thy say of you: Thou art a devourer of men, and one that suffocatest thy nation:
Ver. 13. Men. This remark was very ancient. Num. xiii. 33. Wars had almost always raged in the country. C.
36:14 propterea homines non comedes amplius, et gentem tuam non necabis ultra, ait Dominus Deus.
Therefore thou shalt devour men no more nor destroy thy nation any more, saith the Lord God.
36:15 Nec auditam faciam in te amplius confusionem gentium, et opprobrium populorum nequaquam portabis : et gentem tuam non amittes amplius, ait Dominus Deus.]
*H Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the nations any more, nor shalt thou bear the reproach of the people, nor lose thy nation any more, saith the Lord God.
Ver. 15. More. This whole promise principally relates to the Church of Christ, and God's perpetual protection of her; for as to the carnal Jews, they have been removed out of their land these sixteen hundred years. Ch.
36:16 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens :
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
36:17 [Fili hominis, domus Israel habitaverunt in humo sua, et polluerunt eam in viis suis et in studiis suis : juxta immunditiam menstruatae facta est via eorum coram me.
Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it with their ways, and with their doings: their way was before me like the uncleanness of a menstruous woman.
36:18 Et effudi indignationem meam super eos pro sanguine quem fuderunt super terram, et in idolis suis polluerunt eam.
*H And I poured out my indignation upon them for the blood which they had shed upon the land, and with their idols they defiled it.
Ver. 18. Blood of their own children, and of the innocent. C. xvi. 36. and xxii. 2. and xxxiii. 25.
36:19 Et dispersi eos in gentes, et ventilati sunt in terras : juxta vias eorum et adinventiones eorum judicavi eos.
And I scattered them among the nations, and they are dispersed through the countries: I have judged them according to their ways, and their devices.
36:20 Et ingressi sunt ad gentes ad quas introierunt : et polluerunt nomen sanctum meum, cum diceretur de eis : Populus Domini iste est, et de terra ejus egressi sunt.
*H And when they entered among the nations whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when it was said of them: This is the people of the Lord, and they are come forth out of his land.
Ver. 20. Land. Yet their conduct was no better than that of infidels. Thus they throw the blame on the law, and upon God himself. Jer. xlviii. 9. &c. C. — The Jews had provoked God to punish them with captivity; and hence the nations took occasion to blaspheme, that he could not protect them. W.
* Footnote
* Isaias
52 : 5
And now what have I here, saith the Lord: for my people is taken away gratis. They that rule over them treat them unjustly, saith the Lord, and my name is continually blasphemed all the day long.
* Footnote
* Romans
2 : 24
(For the name of God through you is blasphemed among the Gentiles, as it is written.)
36:21 Et peperci nomini sancto meo, quod polluerat domus Israel in gentibus ad quas ingressi sunt.
And I have regarded my own holy name, which the house of Israel hath profaned among the nations to which they went in.
36:22 Idcirco dices domui Israel : Haec dicit Dominus Deus : Non propter vos ego faciam, domus Israel, sed propter nomen sanctum meum, quod polluistis in gentibus ad quas intrastis.
*H Therefore thou shalt say to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: It is not for your sake that I will do this, O house of Israel, but for my holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations whither you went.
Ver. 22. Holy, that my attributes of justice and mercy may be confessed. Is. xlviii. 2. Dan. iii. 49. Judith viii. 24.
36:23 Et sanctificabo nomen meum magnum quod pollutum est inter gentes, quod polluistis in medio earum : ut sciant gentes quia ego Dominus, ait Dominus exercituum, cum sanctificatus fuero in vobis coram eis.
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the Gentiles, which you have profaned in the midst of them: that the Gentiles may know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord of hosts, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
36:24 Tollam quippe vos de gentibus, et congregabo vos de universis terris, et adducam vos in terram vestram.
For I will take you from among the Gentiles, and will gather you together out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
36:25 Et effundam super vos aquam mundam, et mundabimini ab omnibus inquinamentis vestris, et ab universis idolis vestris mundabo vos.
*H And I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness, and I will cleanse you from all your idols.
Ver. 25. Water. R. David and the Chal. explain this of the remission of sin; and all Christians understand it of baptism in water, remitting all offences. Eph. v. 26. Tit. iii. 5. W. — He alludes to the purification of the Jews, which prefigured baptism and penance, in which the blood of Christ is applied to our souls. This of course was only fulfilled in his church.
36:26 Et dabo vobis cor novum, et spiritum novum ponam in medio vestri : et auferam cor lapideum de carne vestra, et dabo vobis cor carneum.
*H And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh.
Ver. 26. Flesh. The Jews at their return fell not so often into the sins of idolatry, &c. of which the prophets complained. But yet they were far from answering this character. Great irregularities prevailed under Nehemias, and in the days of the Machabees the priests publicly worshipped idols. 1 Esd. ix. and 2 Esd. v. and viii. and 2 Mac. iv. and v. Christ enables his servants to act with purity unto the end, by the influence of his all-powerful grace. C.
36:27 Et spiritum meum ponam in medio vestri : et faciam ut in praeceptis meis ambuletis, et judicia mea custodiatis et operemini.
*H And I will put my spirit in the midst of you: and I will cause you to walk in my commandments, and to keep my judgments, and do them.
Ver. 27. Do them. Hence the efficacy of grace appears, (S. Aug. H.) and hereby some keep the commandments. W. — God assists our free-will. Theod. A. Lap. C.
36:28 Et habitabitis in terra quam dedi patribus vestris : et eritis mihi in populum, et ego ero vobis in Deum.
And you shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
36:29 Et salvabo vos ex universis inquinamentis vestris : et vocabo frumentum et multiplicabo illud, et non imponam vobis famem.
And I will save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for corn, and will multiply it, and will lay no famine upon you.
36:30 Et multiplicabo fructum ligni, et genimina agri, ut non portetis ultra opprobrium famis in gentibus.
And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that you bear no more the reproach of famine among the nations.
36:31 Et recordabimini viarum vestrarum pessimarum, studiorumque non bonorum : et displicebunt vobis iniquitates vestrae et scelera vestra.
And you shall remember your wicked ways, and your doings that were not good: and your iniquities, and your wicked deeds shall displease you.
36:32 Non propter vos ego faciam, ait Dominus Deus, notum sit vobis : confundimini, et erubescite super viis vestris, domus Israel.]
It is not for your sakes that I will do this, saith the Lord God, be it known to you: be confounded, and ashamed at your own ways, O house of Israel.
36:33 [Haec dicit Dominus Deus : In die qua mundavero vos ex omnibus iniquitatibus vestris, et inhabitari fecero urbes, et instauravero ruinosa,
Thus saith the Lord God: In the day that I shall cleanse you from all your iniquities, and shall cause the cities to be inhabited, and shall repair the ruinous places,
36:34 et terra deserta fuerit exculta, quae quondam erat desolata in oculis omnis viatoris,
And the desolate land shall be tilled, which before was waste in the sight of all that passed by,
36:35 dicent : Terra illa inculta facta est ut hortus voluptatis : et civitates desertae, et destitutae atque suffossae, munitae sederunt.
They shall say: This land that was untilled is become as a garden of pleasure: and the cities that were abandoned, and desolate, and destroyed, are peopled and fenced.
36:36 Et scient gentes quaecumque derelictae fuerint in circuitu vestro, quia ego Dominus aedificavi dissipata, plantavique inculta : ego Dominus locutus sim, et fecerim.
And the nations, that shall be left round about you, shall know that I the Lord have built up what was destroyed, and planted what was desolate, that I the Lord have spoken and done it.
36:37 Haec dicit Dominus Deus : Adhuc in hoc invenient me domus Israel, ut faciam eis : multiplicabo eos sicut gregem hominum,
*H Thus saith the Lord God: Moreover in this shall the house of Israel find me, that I will do it for them: I will multiply them as a flock of men,
Ver. 37. Find. Heb. "seek." I will cause great multitudes to come to the solemn feast. This was seen still more after the conversion of the Gentiles. C.
36:38 ut gregem sanctum, ut gregem Jerusalem in solemnitatibus ejus : sic erunt civitates desertae, plenae gregibus hominum : et scient quia ego Dominus.]
As a holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts: so shall the waste cities be full of flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord.