All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their treasures for food to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I have become despised.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
O. Hebrew of the Masorets, "It is. "(Calmet)
Protestants, "Is it nothing to you, all? "(Haydock)
But the Vulgate is much clearer, and approved by many Protestants, lu being often used as an exclamation, Genesis xvii. 18. (Calmet)
Vintage. He has plundered all, ver. 22. (Haydock)
The king took a great deal, and his general the rest, 4 Kings xxiv., and xxv. (Worthington)
ALL HER PEOPLE: the fourth topic of complaint.
SEE O LORD: the fourteenth topic of complaint.
Historical interpretation. ALL HER PEOPLE SIGH &c: how great the hunger and pestilence the Jews suffered, the histories do not pass over in silence, and Josephus manifests it in particular. Hence: ALL HER PEOPLE SIGH AND SEEK BREAD &c; TO RELIEVE THE SOUL, that is corporeal life. SEE O LORD &c: note how the prophet was useful, when he lamented Jerusalem not lamenting herself, who nevertheless was introduced above, bewailing as it were in her more noble limbs, but now the whole people, as if having received some life-bringing spirit, is said to be lamenting. SEE, O LORD &c: just as the hen cherishes and kindles her eggs, so spiritual men gradually cherish their subjects, either by instructing or lamenting, to breathe life into them.
Allegorical interpretation. ALL HER PEOPLE SIGH AND SEEK the BREAD of God’s word; the bread which comes down from heaven. In the distress of hunger the Ch...
Caph- ‘hand’, being touched by which, she exclaims: SEE, O LORD &c
all her people- the voice of the prophet.
sigh- the distress of war.
seek bread- of the word of God.
things for food- celestial for earthly.
relieve- not to satisfy.
the soul- animality.
see O Lord- the voice of the synagogue or of the Church or of the soul; your creation, not my iniquity.
have become vile- the Church becomes vile when she, with evils heaping up, does not seek the highest and celestial but the lowest and earthly.
Here is noticed the spoiling of possessions taken away from the people. First is obs~erved the need for withdrawing, as to a deficiency of things needed. As expressed: "All her people groan as they search for bread". Psalm l02(lOl):4 thus remarks: "My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; I forget to eat my bread."
Second is noticed the distraction itself: "they trade their treasures for food". Namely, not to satiate themselves, but, "to revive their strength". That is, from the vile life among the Egyptians. (cf. Genesis Chapter 48: "Israel's Last Days")
Third, is noticed that this vile life moves the Lord God to divine pity. As expressed: "Look, O Lord, and behold, for I am despised." To which the prophet Jeremiah 2:36 refers: "How lightly you (Israel) gad about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria."
This final notice is from the legal personality of the city (Jerusalem).
Or, this tribe which, as if, proposes its ...
