1 The birthun of the valei of visioun. What also is to thee, for and al thou stiedist in to roouys,
Jerome · AD 420 If, as I was saying, we are in the church, if we possess the faith of the church, of the apostles, of Christ, the truths of Christian teaching, we are the mountains of Zion. We do not want to be among the valleys of Zion; we want to be mountains of Zion. Zion, indeed, has its valleys; it has plains, too. The sinner is a valley of Zion, not a mountain.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 The burden of the valley. Here he threatens against those who were joined to the people of God by right of authority and yet were plundering their goods. And first, as to those to whom pertained authority in temporal affairs; second, against those to whom pertained authority in spiritual affairs: thus says the Lord (Isa 22:15).
2 thou ful of cry, a citee of myche puple, a citee ful out ioiynge? thi slayn men weren not slayn bi swerd, nether thi deed men weren deed in batel.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 Now is the time to utter aloud those words of the prophet who said, "Who will give water to my head and a fountain of tears to my eyes, and I will weep for the slain of the daughters of my people?" For, even if deep silence enfolds them and they lie dispossessed once and for all of their senses by the horrible deed (for by the deadly blow they have been deprived already of the…
Jerome · AD 420 (Version 2.) Full of cries, a bustling city, a rejoicing community. The city is filled with those crying out, the bustling city is rejoicing. The teaching of the heretics is not in meaning, but in many words and clamor. Therefore, because of the multitude of the deceived, the city is called bustling and rejoicing, because of their pride.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 And the sin of strife: full of clamor, above: I looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes (Isa 5:2).
3 Alle thi princes fledden togidere, and weren boundun harde; alle that weren foundun, weren boundun togidere, thei fledden fer.
Jerome · AD 420 (v. 3) All your leaders have fled together and have been harshly bound. In this place, we have followed the Septuagint interpretation, as it does not differ much in meaning from the Hebrew. However, in order to transfer the word from word from Hebrew, it is read among them as follows: All your leaders have migrated together, they have been bound by the bow.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 As to fugitives, namely the princes who were taken and bound, as it says in Jeremiah 52; all the princes: her princes are become like rams that find no pastures (Lam 1:6); as to those taken in the city, who were similarly captured: all that were found, they are fled far off, led into captivity to a far off land: the Lord will bring you to a far off nation (Deut 28:49).
4 Therfor Y seide, Go ye awei fro me, Y schal wepe bittirli; nyle ye be bisie to coumforte me on the distriyng of the douyter of my puple.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 Remember the compassion of God, how he heals with olive oil and wine. Do not despair of salvation. Recall the memory of what has been written, how he that falls rises again, and he that is turned away turns again, he that has been smitten is healed, he that is caught by wild beasts escapes, and he that confesses is not rejected.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 4.) Therefore I said: Depart from me, I will weep bitterly: labour not to comfort me, for the devastation of the daughter of my people. LXX: Therefore I said: Let me alone, I will weep bitterly: labour not to comfort me, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, he sets out the inconsolable compassion of the prophet: depart, you who console the prophet, labor not, in the manner of those who console: who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes that I may weep for the slain of my people (Jer 9:1).
5 For whi a dai of sleyng, and of defoulyng, and of wepyngis, is ordeined of the Lord God of oostis, in the valei of visioun; and he serchith the walle, and is worschipful on the hil.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 5.) For it is a day of slaughter, and of trampling, and of weeping to the Lord God of hosts in the Valley of Vision. He reveals the reasons according to triple understanding why he said: Depart from me, I will weep bitterly; because Zion is trodden down, once a mountain of visions, and now a valley of weeping.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Third, he sets out the manner and order of punishment: a day of slaughter, and concerning this, he sets out three things. First, the indignation of God: a day of slaughter is imminent; searching, making it to be searched by the enemy; magnificent, making the enemy magnificent: for they trusted in mountains and walls: at that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and will vi…
6 And Helam took an arowe caas, and the chare of an horse man; and the scheeld made nakid the wal.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 6.) Searching the wall, and magnificent upon the mountain: and Elam took the quiver, the chariot of a man on horseback, and uncovered the shield the shield stripped the wall. The army of Babylon is described as entering the city, occupying the temple, and proudly advancing through the streets with chariots.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, he sets out the conquest by their enemies, and Elam, a Persian city, from which came warriors with Nabuchodonosor, who held the monarchy of the East; the shield, carried against Jerusalem, laid bare the wall, on which it was hung to adorn the house: prepare the shield and buckler (Jer 46:3); or otherwise: the shield, the power of Chaldea, laid bare the wall of the templ…
7 And thi chosun valeis, Jerusalem, schulen be ful of cartis; and knyytis schulen putte her seetis in the yate.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verses 7-9.) And he took Elam, the quiver, the chariot of a man, and the shield uncovered the wall. And your chosen valleys will be full of chariots, and horsemen will set their seats at the gate. And the covering of Judah will be revealed, and on that day you will see the arsenal of the house of the forest.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Third, he sets out the infliction of damage as to four things. First, as to the destruction of their properties: your choice valleys shall be full of chariots of Babylon: why glory in the valleys? Your valley has flowed away, O delicate daughter (Jer 49:4).
8 And the hilyng of Juda schal be schewid; and thou schalt se in that dai the place of armuris of the hous of the forest;
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Third, as to the profanation of holy things: and the covering, that is, the holy things formerly hidden, which no one but the priest was allowed to see, of Judah shall be discovered, that is, laid bare: the gentiles have seen your shame (Lam 1:8).
9 and ye schulen se the crasyngis of the citee of Dauid, for tho ben multiplied. Ye gaderiden togidere the watris of the lowere cisterne,
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 And you have gathered together the waters. Here he sets out the pertinacity of their obstinacy. And first, he denounces the sin of obstinacy; second, he sets out the divine sentence against them: and the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed (Isa 22:14). Their pertinacity is denounced as to two things.
10 and ye noumbriden the housis of Jerusalem, and ye distrieden housis, to make strong the wal; and ye maden a lake bitwixe twei wallis,
Jerome · AD 420 (Vers. 10, 11.) And you gathered the waters of the lower pool, and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you destroyed houses to fortify the wall. And you made a reservoir between the two walls, and the water of the Old Pool. And you did not look to the One who made it, and you did not see the One who fashioned it from afar.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 And have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, that water may be dispensed by number and measure; and have broken down houses which were next to the wall, so that they wouldn't impede the defenders.
11 and ye restoriden the watir of the elde sisterne; and ye biholden not to hym, that made `thilke Jerusalem, and ye sien not the worchere therof afer.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 And you made a lake, of the lower pool, to flow between the two walls, which encircled the city, and the water, namely, you have restored; nor regarded him, namely, God, that wrought it, the water: they have not called upon God (Ps 13:5[14:4]).
12 And the Lord God of oostis schal clepe in that dai to wepyng, and to morenyng, and to ballidnesse, and to a girdil of sak; and lo!
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 12 and following) And on that day the Lord God of hosts will call for weeping and mourning, for baldness and the wearing of sackcloth; and behold, joy and gladness, killing calves and slaughtering rams, eating meat and drinking wine: 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.' And it was revealed in my ears by the Lord of hosts: 'Surely this iniquity will not be forgive…
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, as to divine counsel, which they held in contempt: and he shall call. And concerning this, he sets out three things.
13 ioie and gladnesse is to sle caluys, and to strangle wetheris, to ete fleisch, and to drynke wyn; ete we, and drynke we, for we schulen die to morewe.
1 Corinthians · AD 55 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Athanasius of Alexandria · AD 373 Now we say that the wicked are dead, but not in an ascetic life opposed to sin; nor do they, like the saints, bear about dying in their bodies. But it is the soul which they bury in sins and follies, drawing near to the dead and satisfying it with dead nourishment.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, he sets out their contempt for this counsel: and behold joy, above: the harp, and the lyre are in your feasts (Isa 5:12). Third, the intention to hold it in contempt: let us eat and drink, 1 Corinthians 15:32, Wisdom 2:5: our time is as the passing of a shadow.
14 And the vois of the Lord of oostis is schewid in myn eeris, This wickidnesse schal not be foryouun to you, til ye dien, seith the Lord God of oostis.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 And the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed. Here the sentence is set out. And it may be read as in the person of the Lord: this blasphemy of yours was revealed in my ears, that is, I heard it; surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven, as if to say: should you not believe, above: therefore forgive them not (Isa 2:9); or it may be read in the person of the prophet: this vo…
15 The Lord God of oostis seith these thingis, Go thou, and entre to hym that dwellith in the tabernacle, to Sobna, the souereyn of the temple; and thou schalt seie to hym,
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 15, 16, etc.) Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts: Go, enter to him who dwells in the tabernacle, to Shebna, the overseer of the temple, and say to him: What are you doing here? or who are you here? for you have carved out a sepulchre here for yourself. You have carved out a lofty memorial for yourself diligently in the rock for your tent.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Thus says the Lord God of hosts. Here the threat against those to whom pertained authority in spiritual affairs is set out, and first, against the priest at that time; second, against the entire priestly order: in that day, says the Lord of hosts (Isa 22:25).
16 What thou here, ethir as who here? for thou hast hewe to thee a sepulcre here, thou hast hewe a memorial in hiy place diligentli, a tabernacle in a stoon to thee.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, he denounces a threefold sin: of unworthy dwelling: what dost you here, in my house, unworthy of such a dwelling: what is the meaning that my beloved has wrought much wickedness in my house?
17 Lo! the Lord schal make thee to be borun out, as a kapoun is borun out, and as a cloth, so he shal reise thee.
Eusebius of Caesarea · AD 339 For all these things will work for your destruction [i.e., Shebna's], since you have been deposed and rejected from the high priesthood, of which you showed yourself unworthy, God being a just judge who gives to each according to his worth.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Third, he threatens a threefold punishment: behold the Lord. First, of subjugation: as a cock, which raises chicks like a hen, being castrated, called a capon, is carried away, bound, and without struggle; and he will lift you up and as a garment, easily lifted over the shoulder: you Phassur, and all that dwell in your house, shall go into captivity, and you shall go to Babylon…
18 He crowninge schal crowne thee with tribulacioun; he schal sende thee as a bal in to a large lond and wijd; there thou schalt die, and there schal be the chare of thi glorie, and the schenschipe of the hous of thi Lord.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, of confusion: he will crown you with a crown of tribulation, that is, in place of the crown which you used in pontifical worship, you will have tribulation; like a ball, which finds no high station; the chariot of your glory, which bore you gloriously, is turned into your confusion; the shame of the house of your Lord, that is, the glory which you had in the house of th…
19 And Y schal caste thee out of thi stondyng, and Y schal putte thee doun of thi seruyce.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Third, the punishment of deposition, and I will drive you out from your station: so Solomon cast out Abiathar from being the priest of the Lord (1 Kgs 2:27).
20 And it schal be, in that dai Y schal clepe my seruaunt Eliachim, the sone of Helchie; and Y schal clothe hym in thi coote,
Cyril of Alexandria · AD 444 When he says, "I will call my servant Eliakim" (the name Eliakim means resurrection of God), then everyone who is glorious in the house of his father will trust in him [Eliakim]. Yet what is the house of Christ's Father if not the church? And who are glorious there?
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 And it shall come to pass in that day. Here he sets out the substitution of another, and concerning this he sets out three things. His election: I will call, one of the twenty-four mentioned in 1 Chronicles 25; I will raise me up a faithful priest, who shall do according to my heart (1 Sam 2:35).
21 and Y schal coumforte hym with thi girdil, and Y shal yyue thi power in to the hondis of hym; and he schal be as a fadir to hem that dwellen in Jerusalem, and to the hous of Juda.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, his consecration: and I will clothe him, for they were consecrated with pontifical garments, as is evident from Leviticus 18, concerning these garments, and Exodus 28. Third, he confers jurisdiction on him: and I will give your power into his hand.
22 And Y schal yyue the keie of the hous of Dauyd on his schuldre; and he schal opene, and noon schal be that schal schitte; and he schal schitte, and noon schal be that schal opene.
Revelation · AD 96 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; [Isaiah 22:22] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not…
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, as to the power which he had regarding the temple: and I will lay the key, which was of gold, of the house of David, that is, of the temple, for the building of which David prepared the materials, as is evident from 1 Chronicles 29, upon his shoulder, that is, his government, or because the key was used as a kind of adornment; he shall open, for it was allowed to him to…
23 And Y schal sette hym a stake in a feithful place, and he schal be in to the seete of glorie of the hous of his fadir.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Third, as to the power which he had over the whole order of ministers: and I will fasten him as a peg, the diminutive form of palum (stake): for as various vessels are hung on a certain stake, so various offices, which had use of various vessels in the ministries of the house of the Lord, pertained to his care; in the place of the faithful, namely, the temple.
24 And thou schalt hange on hym al the glorie of the hous of his fadir, diuerse kindis of vessels, eche litil vessel, fro the vesselis of cuppis `til to ech vessel of musikis.
25 In that dai, seith the Lord of oostis, the stake that was set in the feithful place, schal be takun awei, and it schal be brokun, and schal falle doun; and schal perische that hangide therynne, for the Lord spak.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 In that day. Here he sets out the threat against the whole priesthood, which was destroyed in the time of Sedecias, when Nabuchodonosor took them captive; for what was said above of Sobna pertains to the time of Sennacherib.