Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

Jacob and the house of Israel are here equivalent, — both being taken for the whole people.

The schism and idolatry of Samaria were sins of the descendants of Jacoby the ten bribes constituting the bulk of his race. Samaria was the scene of those sins.

Certain superstitions practised in Jerusalem, the seat of the true worship, gave occasion to idolatrous practices in high places.

When a vineyard is planted, the stones scattered over the ground are gathered up in a heap, that they may not prevent its cultivation. God threatens to leave only a heap of ruins where the city had stood.

H. means the hire of a harlot All the gifts made for idolatrous purposes are here meant

H. is thought to denote great boas, or python serpents of an enormous sbe. "They hiss, and, like crocodiles, may utter sounds somewhat akin to howling." Kitto. L. "Crocodiles." R. "Wild dogs, remarkable for a plaintive cry." u P. " Owls." L. " OstrichM." Kitto observes, that "in several passages owls have been used in our version (P.) for yaanah, now generally admitted to mean ostriches. The ostrioh has an awful voice." Cyd. v. Ostrich.

Martini translates it: " La eata x ricina, la quale strtte da sc, avrd in voi argomento di pianto." P. u In the monrning of Beth-ezel ; he shall receive of you his standing." L. " The mourning of Bethezel taketh from you its halting*place." The construction is admitted to be of extreme difficulty. It. explains the text of Jerusalem, which shall hear of the calamities of Bethel, but not involve herself in them. St. Jerome took Juda to mean the kingdom of Juda, which stood divinely protected, long after Samaria was desolate. n P. "The inhabitants of Maroth waited carefully for good." L. "Tbo inhabitress of Maroth is grieved for lost good." Both take it for the name of a city, whose inhabitants, stripped of their goods, grieved bitterly.

" Achxib:" its meaning is given by V. Throughout this chapter there is a paronomasia, or play upon names. Geth and its dependent towns disappointed the hopes which the kings of Juda entertained.