Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

Numb. 22 : 22. The goodness of God was manifested in making Balaam pronounce blessings on the Israelites, whom he had been urged to curse. * 8et!m was the place where the Israelites sinned with the Moabite women. Numb. 26. Saul was crowned at Gajgal. St. Jerome thus paraphrases the text, in accordance with the Jewish interpretation of it: " From the time in which you committed fornieation in Median to the time in which Saul was anointed king in Galgal, call to mind the evils which you committed, and the fetors which I bestowed on you, and you will know the greatness of My mercy to you."

P. " Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it" St Jerome, after Sept, took H. for tribe, ns it is sometimes used ; and understood the prophet to complain of general inattention to his threats and an- nouncements. It is now explained of a summons to consider the impending chastisements, and tbs Divine source from which they proceed. u A MS. of the dose of the twelfth century has points favorable to V. P. " Are there yet the treasons of wickedness in the house of the wicked ?" After so many admonitions Mid threats, the prophet ex- presses surprise that the wicked should retain their ill*gotten wealth. u P. " Abominable," calculated to provoke the wrath of God.