Page Content (OCR)
not originated in God.—5. As a consequence of this sinfulness evils have come on the earth; they are punishments for this sin. Barrenness is simply a type of evils in general; cf. Gen. xx. 18; xxix. 31; Hos. ix. 14.—6. These sins too are known in heaven; cf. 97:6. It will not do to deny stoically that God takes no account of the doings in this world, Job xxii. 13, 14; Ps. Lxxiii. 11; xciv. 4-7, but they all lie open before him; cf. also 100:10; 104:7, 8.—7. They need not deny their knowledge of this fact, because it has been revealed by God.—8. From now, i.e. since ye have heard my words.—9. Therefore, woe to those fools, vs. 1, who in spite of this knowledge still deny. Fools, in the sense of Ps. xiv. 1 and liii. 1 —10. Prepared, 94:9. They cannot hope like the just, 96:1. Die, as the opposite of live, implies not only eternal death, but also the loss of eternal life; cf. vs. 3. no ransom, Ps. xlix. 7, 8; Matt. xvi. 26. Great judgment, 19:1; 22:4; 25:4; 94:9; 99:15; 100:4; 103:8, a name not found in the Parables —11. Devour blood, a heinous offence against the Mosaic law; cf. Book of the Jubilees, chap. vii. In addition to having all the good things of this world the renegades in Israel even sinned against the Levitical ordinances.—12. They do these deeds because they love them, not because they are forced to them by persecution. Into the hands, cf. 95:3, 7—13. Cf. Isa. xiv. 19, 20; Jer. viii. 2; xxii. 19.—14. In vain, declare vain by word and deed the admonitions of the just. Hope, 96:1.—15. But more, they even write books, 104:10, inculcating their false wisdom, and opposing the true wisdom of the prophets, and of such as the author of Enoch; cf. Isa. x. 1. Sudden, 94:1, 6, 7; 95:6; 96:1, 6. Cuap. 99. Woe to those also who applaud these wicked writings; cf. especially 98:15; also 94:5; 104:10; 108:5.—2. Law of eternity, or eternal law, i.e. the Mosaic law; while words of rectitude, mean the Old Testament revelation in general. They being members of the chosen people of God originally, go into the sphere of the sinners, i.e. of the heathens, to which they do not belong.—3. Cf. 97:5. Angels assist in prayer, 9:2; 15:2; 104:1; cf. Tob. xii. 12. And also in the punishment of the wicked, 1:9; 10:4 sqq.; 90:21; 100:4.—4. In nearly all apocryphal works these disturbances are signs of the last times; cf. Drummond, pp. 209-221. The author here evidently confines himself to the period of the sword, 90:19; 91:8-11, 12.5. Even the family ties, so firm among the Israelites, will be horribly broken.—6, 7. A successful picture of the vain attempts of the sinners to secure aid. Demons, 19:1; Sibyl. Prooem. I. 20 sqq. Tertullian quotes: “Et rursus juro, peccatores, quod in diem sanguinis perditionis justitia parata est. Qui servitis lapidibus, et qui imagines facitis aureas et argenteas et ligneas et lapideas et fictiles, et servitis phantasmatibus et daemoniis et spiritibus infamibus, et omnibus erroribus non secundum scientiam, nullum ab iis invenietis auxilium.”—8. This evil condition will only increase; cf. Wisd. xiv. 12,27; Rom. I. 21. Will become impious, literally will become forgetful or ignorant, i.e. of God’s laws, and hence impious; cf. 93:8.—9. In an instant, cf. 94:1.—10. But entirely different will be the condition of those who receive the true words of wisdom. They are the wise, 98:1.—11. Killed, 22:13. Hell, the original has Sheol, but here he evidently refers to the place of everlasting torture, and not to the temporary abode of the wicked dead; cf. also 63:10.—12. Make a foundation, cf. 94:6.—13. Cf. 94:7; 97:8.—14. Measure and inheritance of the fathers, i.e. the old faith and fidelity; cf. e.g. Jer. xiii. 25; 1 Macc. I. 52.—15. To the day, etc. modifies directly the Woe to those. Great judgment, 16:1; 19:1; 91:7; 94:9; 98:10. Cuap. 100. The author expands on the idea of 99:6. Stream of blood, cf. Isa. xxxiv. 3, 7; Ps. Ixxix. 3 (Ps. lviii. 10; Zeph. I. 17) —2. On this internecine slaughter, cf. 56:7; 99:5; Judg. vii. 22; 1 Sam. xiv. 20; 2 Chron. xx. 23; Zech. xiv. 13; Ezek. xxxviii. 21; Hag. ii. 22—4. All those sinners who escape this slaughter will be searched out by the angels, and will, at least, not be able to escape the final judgment. It may, however, be understood that only the real open sinners shall be slain in the period of blood; while those that abetted them, escaping, indeed, this punishment, as their crime was not so great, shall, however, be punished at the last day. The distinction between sinners and those that aided and applauded them is observed throughout this adhortative part.—5. But the just will be protected by these angels that punish the wicked. Apple of an eye, cf. Deut. xxxii. 10; Ps. xvii. 8. Even if the just do sleep the sleep of death, there need be no fear, for they will rise again; cf. note on 22:12, 13.—6. In view of this, those who are still capable of learning wisdom (Hos. xiv. 10) will accept the warning given by the book of Enoch. Riches will not save, Zeph. I. 18. Fall, having the picture of a building in his mind, 94:6; 99:12.—7. On the day, modifies directly Woe to you; cf. 99:15. Trouble, ie. persecute on account of their fidelity. Burn; it is known that under Antiochus Epiphanes this took place;