Baruch · WEB-C
Baruch
6
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A copy of a letter that Jeremy sent to those who were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to give them the message that God commanded him. Because of the sins which you have committed before God, you will be led away captives to Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians. So when you come to Babylon, you will remain there many years, and for a long season, even for seven generations. After that, I will bring you out peacefully from there. But now you will see in Babylon gods of silver, gold, and wood carried on shoulders, which cause the nations to fear. Beware therefore that you in no way become like these foreigners. Don’t let fear take hold of you because of them when you see the multitude before them and behind them, worshiping them. But say in your hearts, “O Lord, we must worship you.” For my angel is with you, and I myself care for your souls. For their tongue is polished by the workman, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and with silver; yet they are only fake, and can’t speak. And taking gold, as if it were for a virgin who loves to be happy, they make crowns for the heads of their gods. Sometimes also the priests take gold and silver from their gods, and spend it on themselves. They will even give some of it to the common prostitutes. They dress them like men with garments, even the gods of silver, gods of gold, and gods of wood. Yet these gods can’t save themselves from rust and moths, even though they are covered with purple garments. They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, which is thick upon them. And he who can’t put to death one who offends against him holds a sceptre, as though he were judge of a country. He has also a dagger in his right hand, and an axe, but can’t deliver himself from war and robbers. By this they are known not to be gods. Therefore don’t fear them. For like a vessel that a man uses is worth nothing when it is broken, even so it is with their gods. When they are set up in the temples, their eyes are full of dust through the feet of those who come in. As the courts are secured on every side upon him who offends the king, as being committed to suffer death, even so the priests secure their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest they be carried off by robbers. They light candles for them, yes, more than for themselves, even though they can’t see one. They are like one of the beams of the temple. Men say their hearts are eaten out when things creeping out of the earth devour both them and their clothing. They don’t feel it when their faces are blackened through the smoke that comes out of the temple. Bats, swallows, and birds land on their bodies and heads. So do the cats. By this you may know that they are no gods. Therefore don’t fear them. Notwithstanding the gold with which they are covered to make them beautiful, unless someone wipes off the tarnish, they won’t shine; for they didn’t even feel it when they were molten. Things in which there is no breath are bought at any cost. Having no feet, they are carried upon shoulders. By this, they declare to men that they are worth nothing. Those who serve them are also ashamed, for if they fall to the ground at any time, they can’t rise up again by themselves. If they are bowed down, they can’t make themselves straight; but the offerings are set before them, as if they were dead men. And the things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and spend. In like manner, their wives also lay up part of it in salt; but to the poor and to the impotent they give none of it. The menstruous woman and the woman in childbed touch their sacrifices, knowing therefore by these things that they are no gods. Don’t fear them. For how can they be called gods? Because women set food before the gods of silver, gold, and wood. And in their temples the priests sit on seats, having their clothes torn and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing on their heads. They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead. The priests also take off garments from them and clothe their wives and children with them. Whether it is evil or good what one does to them, they are not able to repay it. They can’t set up a king or put him down. In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money. Though a man make a vow to them and doesn’t keep it, they will never exact it. They can save no man from death. They can’t deliver the weak from the mighty. They can’t restore a blind man to his sight, or deliver anyone who is in distress. They can show no mercy to the widow, or do good to the fatherless. They are like the stones that are cut out of the mountain, these gods of wood that are overlaid with gold and with silver. Those who minister to them will be confounded. How could a man then think or say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them? If they shall see one mute who can’t speak, they bring him and ask him to call upon Bel, as though he were able to understand. Yet they can’t perceive this themselves, and forsake them; for they have no understanding. The women also with cords around them sit in the ways, burning bran for incense; but if any of them, drawn by someone who passes by, lies with him, she reproaches her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself and her cord wasn’t broken. Whatever is done among them is false. How could a man then think or say that they are gods? They are fashioned by carpenters and goldsmiths. They can be nothing else than what the workmen make them to be. And they themselves who fashioned them can never continue long. How then should the things that are fashioned by them? For they have left lies and reproaches to those who come after. For when there comes any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them. How then can’t men understand that they are no gods, which can’t save themselves from war or from plague? For seeing they are only wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will be known hereafter that they are false. It will be manifest to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them. Who then may not know that they are not gods? For they can’t set up a king in a land or give rain to men. They can’t judge their own cause, or redress a wrong, being unable; for they are like crows between heaven and earth. For even when fire falls upon the house of gods of wood overlaid with gold or with silver, their priests will flee away, and escape, but they themselves will be burned apart like beams. Moreover they can’t withstand any king or enemies. How could a man then admit or think that they are gods? Those gods of wood overlaid with silver or with gold aren’t able to escape from thieves or robbers. The gold, silver, and garments with which they are clothed—those who are strong will take from them, and go away with them. They won’t be able to help themselves. Therefore it is better to be a king who shows his manhood, or else a vessel in a house profitable for whatever the owner needs, than such false gods—or even a door in a house, to keep the things safe that are in it, than such false gods; or better to be a pillar of wood in a palace than such false gods. For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their jobs, are obedient. Likewise also the lightning when it flashes is beautiful to see. In the same way, the wind also blows in every country. And when God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are told. And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does as it is commanded; but these are to be compared to them neither in show nor power. Therefore a man shouldn’t think or say that they are gods, seeing they aren’t able to judge causes or to do good to men. Knowing therefore that they are no gods, don’t fear them. For they can neither curse nor bless kings. They can’t show signs in the heavens among the nations, or shine as the sun, or give light as the moon. The beasts are better than they, for they can find shelter and help themselves. In no way then is it manifest to us that they are gods. Therefore don’t fear them. For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers that keeps nothing, so are their gods of wood overlaid with gold and silver. Likewise also their gods of wood overlaid with gold and with silver are like a white thorn in an orchard that every bird sits upon. They are also like a dead body that is thrown out into the dark. You will know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rots upon them. They themselves will be consumed afterwards, and will be a reproach in the country. Better therefore is the just man who has no idols; for he will be far from reproach.
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)29 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Introduction to the chapter
A copy. Sept. place this after the Lamentations, which follow Baruch. H. ---
Jeremias wrote it before the captives departed. Baruch read it to them at Babylon, and it was sent back to Jerusalem. W. --- It might be delivered to the captives at Reblatha. We have it not entire, as another circumstance respecting the ark is mentioned. 2 Mac. ii. 5. C.
Baruch 6:2
Ver. 2. Seven generations; that is, seventy years. Ch. --- A generation sometimes consisted of seven, ten, fifteen, thirty, thirty-five, fifty, or a hundred years. A. Lap. Menage. --- Eighteen years of the seventy had already elapsed.
C. --- Seven is often put for many, (H.) or a general number, (W.) because so many days form a week. H. --- Grotius substitutes dekadon for geneon,
"seven decads," very properly. Houbigant.
↑ 2Baruch 6:3
Ver. 3. Shoulders. This custom was very ancient, suggested by the avarice of the priests, who begged on such occasions. Menander, ap. Clem. protrep.
↑ 3Baruch 6:4
Ver. 4. Fear. Worship not such things. H.
↑ 4Baruch 6:6
Ver. 6. Angel Michael, the conductor of Israel in the desert, &c. Dan. x. 13. Ex.
xxxiii. 2. C. ---
He protected them also in Babylon. W.
↑ 6Baruch 6:8
Ver. 8. Gay. Nothing could be more despicable. C.
↑ 8Baruch 6:10
Ver. 10. The Harlots. Their hire was rejected by the Lord. But idols suffered themselves to be despoiled or adorned at pleasure. Gr. "But they will give of them even to harlots under the same roof, while they adorn them (idols) like men with garments, gods of gold, silver, and wood." H.
↑ 10Baruch 6:12
This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.
Ver. 12. Them, of account of the many votaries, v. 16. Arnobius (6) ridicules such gods. C. ---
Prot. adopt similar arguments against the real presence as if we believed that Christ was hurt when the sacramental species were broken or devoured by vermin. A little more boldness will prompt them to reject the divinity of Christ, who was pleased to give up his body to those who treated him shamefully.
Almost every argument which is levelled against Christ's real presence in the blessed Eucharist, maybe turned against the incarnation; and hence so many now become Socinians, being unwilling to submit their understanding to the mysteries of religion. To apply these texts to holy pictures, would be nugatory.
See Is. xl 18. H. --- The absurdities here specified, shew how foolish are those who serve idols or take any images to be gods. W. ---
Calvin represents the pagans as adoring God under the images, as if they used them in the same light as Catholics do; which is contrary to this epistle,
&c. T.
↑ 12Baruch 6:13
Ver. 13. Judge, or ruler. C. --- The sceptre and spear were badges of power.
Eustath. --- Mars had a sword, Hercules a club. We know little of the idols of Babylon.
↑ 13Baruch 6:15
Ver. 15. Vessel; armour, or any utensil. C.
↑ 15Baruch 6:18
Ver. 18. Candles. Lit. "lamps." H. --- Some temples in Egypt were famous for their number.
Herod. ii. 62. --- The Lord prescribed them to be used. But who ever imagined that they stood in need of them to see, as the idolaters supposed their idols did?
↑ 18Baruch 6:19
Ver. 19. Hearts: the wood is worm-eaten. C.
↑ 19Baruch 6:24
Ver. 24. Price, foolishly believing that they have divine power. W.
↑ 24Baruch 6:26
Ver. 26. Gifts. The Chaldees supposed that Bel could eat. Dan. xiv. --- Dead.
Food was placed on the tombs. S. Aug. abolished this custom in Africa.
↑ 26Baruch 6:27
Ver. 27. Take. Gr. "salt." They give none to the poor, for fear of their imposture being detected, though they allow even the unclean to eat. v. 28. Lev. xii. 2.
Deut. xiv. 29.
↑ 27Baruch 6:29
Ver. 29. Women. They make gods. C. --- Qui rogat, ille facit. Mart. viii. 24.
↑ 29Baruch 6:30
Ver. 30. Shaven, as in mourning, contrary to the custom of Israel. Lev. xxi. 10.
C. --- Heads.
The Jewish priests wore mitres or caps.
↑ 30Baruch 6:31
Ver. 31. Dead, even of Adonis, (H.) whose worship is here ridiculed. C. --- At Biblos people bewailed his death, and the next day proclaimed that he was alive. All cut off their hair, as the Egyptians do for Apis, except such as submitted to prostitute themselves to strangers. The hire they consecrated to Venus. Lucian, Dea Syra. --- At funerals a feast was usually made, as is still the custom in Syria, (Roger. ii. 14.) and near Bagdad. Chardin. ii. 7.
↑ 31Baruch 6:34
Ver. 34. Requite. Gr. "brass," much less gold. H.
↑ 34Baruch 6:40
Ver. 40. Chaldees. The priests themselves despise the idols most, (C.) and expose them to contempt, by pretending that they work miracles. H. --- "Those who first set up representations of the gods, deprived cities of reverential awe, and increased the error," said Varro; "prudently supposing that gods might easily be contemned, when like stupid images." In simulacrorum stoliditate. S.
Aug. de Civ. Dei. iv. 26.
↑ 40Baruch 6:41
Ver. 41. They. Gr. "he could perceive. And they reflecting on this, cannot still abandon them; for they have no sense." H. --- They are so stupid, that they will not quit such impotent idols. C.
↑ 41Baruch 6:42
Ver. 42. Women. Aristophanes calls harlots, "corded bodies." Eccles. Act. i.
The women of Babylon "prostituted themselves once, in honour of Venus, (H.
Mylitta. C.) sitting with crowns on their heads in the temple, till some stranger selected them, and took them from their partition, made with cords," (H.) to some more secret place, where they broke their bands. Herod. i. 199.
C. --- That some deluded women, led by various desires, should think thus to honour that impure deity, by an action which some modern casuists have not scrupled to rank among simple venial sins, cannot excite our astonishment so much, when we reflect on the tenets of the ancient Gnostics, and of Antinomians at the present day, whom J. Wesley, the last founder of the Methodists, applauded and followed even in the meridian of the gospel light!
See Deut. xvi. 22.
and xxiii. 17. Yet these men read and perhaps distributed the Bible! --- Stones.
Lit. "bones;" (H.) or the refuse of what had been crushed, ( pitura. Athen. ii. 14.) to excite impure love. M. T. ---
Theocritus (Phar.) represents a witch doing the like; and Sanchez tells us, that some were taken in the fact in Spain. C. --- Fumigation, used by the Babylonians after marriage, (Herod. i. 198.) may be insinuated. Grotius.
↑ 42Baruch 6:45
Ver. 45. To be. Is. xliv. 14. Horace (i. Sat. 8) introduces Priapus thus ridiculously explaining his origin; "I was formerly an useless piece of a fig-tree; when the workman, not knowing whether to make a bench or a Priapus, chose rather that I should be a god. Hence I am a god, the greatest terror of thieves and birds." Sept. "they are nothing but what the workmen wish to form." H.
↑ 45Baruch 6:51
Ver. 51. Them. Gr. has simply, (C.) "Who then knows not that they are no gods?" H.
↑ 51Baruch 6:53
Ver. 53. Daws. They have no greater influence (C.) than jackdaws.
↑ 53Baruch 6:58
Ver. 58. Gods. Sept. repeat this after satisfied, or "will use;" and here add, "or a pillar of wood in palaces, than," &c. H.
↑ 58Baruch 6:59
Ver. 59. Obedient to God. They were appointed to mark out the seasons, &c.
(Gen. i. 14.) and if any creature were worthy of adoration, they would. C. --- The Babylonians adored them as well as statues, and therefore their proper destination is specified here and by Moses.
↑ 59Baruch 6:69
Ver. 69. Scarecrow. Priapus answered this glorious purpose. v. 45. H. --- When birds become accustomed to such things, they mind them not. C.
↑ 69Baruch 6:71
Ver. 71. Scarlet. Gr. "marble" coloured wood. Grotius would substitute margarou, "a pearl,"
which decays through age. C. --- Gr. also, "From the purple, which also shines upon them rotting, you shall," &c. Marmarou means, "of marble or shining."
↑ 71Baruch 6:72
Ver. 72. Reproach, provided he also avoid the idols of the mind and of the heart. H.
↑ 72License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses