Swear, when requisite. (Calmet) --- Thus thou wilt learn to confess one God. (Theodoret) --- If all were upright, oaths would be unnecessary, Matthew v. 34. But as they are not so, (Calmet) this may be a religious act. (Worthington) --- Justice. These three conditions are essential. (Haydock) --- Him; the people, (Calmet) or God. (St. Jerome) --- An oath must attest God, and be used when a thing is true and of moment. (Worthington)

Thorns. Your misconduct hinders your advancement. (Calmet)

Hearts. Understand, and act with purity. (Haydock)

Cities. Nabuchodonosor is at hand.

Robber. Nabuchodonosor attacks unjustly, (Calmet) though he be God's scourge.

Heart; counsel and vigour. --- Prophets of falsehood.

Alas! Protestants, "Then I said: Ah! Lord God, surely thou hast deceived," &c., (Haydock) by permitting the people to follow false prophets, Isaias lxi. 17., and Psalm xliii. 19.

Desert of Arabia. It may designate Nechao, (2 Paralipomenon xxxv. 20.) who slew Josias, after whose death all fell to ruin.

Ephraim. At Bethel and Dan the calves were adored. (Calmet) --- But they were now no more. (Haydock) --- The irruption of Nabuchodonosor is announced. He set himself up for a god.

Guards. The Chaldeans will besiege the city, and prevent provisions from entering, 4 Kings xxv. 1. (Calmet)

My. God, (St. Jerome) the people, (Grotius) or rather Jeremias speaks.

Moment. The cities are destroyed as easily as a tent.

Me, practically. They have not honoured me as they ought. (Calmet) --- If they were indeed devoid of sense, they would be excused. (Worthington)

Void. Hebrew, "Thohu and bohu," like chaos, Genesis i. 2. (Haydock)

CHAPTER IV.

Gone. Beasts feel the wrath of God, and in a land uninhabited; not even birds will remain, Osee iv. 3. (St. Jerome)

Carmel: the beautiful country of Palestine, (Haydock) Jerusalem, (Theodoret) or the mountain so called.

Destroy, when Jechonias was led captive. God allowed the people still eleven years to repent; and he afterwards restored the Jews. (Calmet) --- He will never suffer his church to perish. (Worthington)

Repented. Only a finite being can do this. God's resolution is here unconditional and fixed.

Stone, or antimony, like Jazabel, (4 Kings ix. 30.) to darken and enlarge the eye-lids. --- Lovers. Infidel nations of Egypt, &c.

Child. Hebrew and Septuagint, "a first-born," when the pains are most acute. (Calmet)