The adversary has spread out his hand over all her precious things: for she has seen that the nations entered into her sanctuary, whom you did command that they should not enter into your congregation.
Read Chapter 1
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Church. Deuteronomy xxxiii. 1., and Ezechiel xliv. 9. The Chaldeans disregarded the ordinance.
THE ENEMY HAS PUT OUT HIS HAND: the fifteenth topic of complaint, in which we lament not our own ill fortune but that of our dear ones, as Jeremiah often bemoans the ill fortune of his people.
Historical interpretation. THE ENEMY HAS PUT OUT HIS HAND: that is to say the Chaldean has put out his hand to the holy of holies, which it was not allowed but for priests to enter, and that once a year and with blood. He took away the vessels of beauty and violated the sanctuary, the reason for which is rendered, FOR the Lord HAS SEEN THE GENTILES ENTER INTO HIS SANCTUARY, that is the Jews, living as heathens and defiling the sanctuary, which he had himself forbidden. Hence it follows: OF WHOM YOU GAVE COMMANDMENT &c, whence also elsewhere: And he delivered their strength into captivity: and their beauty into the hands of the enemy. And he shut up his people under the sword &c.
Allegorical interpretation. THE ENEMY HAS PUT OUT HIS HAND &c: the old enemy puts out his hand to the Church’s d...
Jod- ‘beginning’, of evils, namely, FOR the Lord HAS SEEN THE GENTILES ENTER INTO his SANCTUARY.
his hand- an action, a suggestion.
the enemy- the Chaldean or the devil.
desirable things- the kingdom, priesthood, holy of holies; precious vessels, faith, baptism, the body of Christ &c; virtues.
has seen- the Lord.
Gentiles- carnal or vices or because the Jews have brought the worship of idols into the temple.
his sanctuary- the temple, the Church, the soul.
Your Church- a priest, whosoever has a blemish, shall not approach to offer.
Here is considered captivity, and servitude, relating to the taking of possessions suffered from victorious foes.
First is viewed exploitation of possessions relating to what foes had taken. Second, is calculated the possessions destroyed. As declared: "all her people groan as they search for bread". (Verse 11).
About the above idea two notions are proposed. First is the regard for plundered possessions. As said: "The enemy has stretched out his hands over all her precious things". Namely, the Chaldeans, the victors, stretched out their hands. That is, for the treasures of the house of God, of the royal house, and of all other houses. As the prophet Isaiah reminds: "and all our pleasant places have become ruins". (Is 64:ll).
Secondly is considered the very profanation of the people. As stated: "yea, she has seen the nations invade her sanctuary". Namely, in such an order, so that it can happen that all possessions are taken away, even things within the sanctuary, or temple. As...
