Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Of all. She compares her past happiness with her present chastisement.
Sabbaths, or days of rest. The pagans derided them as so much lost time. Ignava et partem vitæ non attigit ullam. (Juvenal v.; Seneca, apud St. Augustine, City of God vi. 11.)
If none of their legislators thought of such an institution, it was because they had not the spirit of Moses: their feasts were dissolute. (Calmet)
ZAIN: first topic of complaint.
THE ENEMIES HAVE SEEN HER: the thirteenth topic of indignation, because insult has been added to injury.
Historical interpretation. AND JERUSALEM HAS REMEMBERED &c: she remembers HER DESIRABLE THINGS, not for consolation, but to multiply the pain, when HER PEOPLE fall INTO THE ENEMY’S HAND. Hence ZAIN, that is interpreted ‘this’, is put before. For this is the perfect revenge, that she is in pains about her lost goods and about the consciousness of her prevarication and about the evil things she has suffered incessantly, as if ‘this is the divine and perfect revenge’ that the legislator had declared, namely, when she FELL INTO THE enemies’ HAND none would come to her assistance. Moreover, THE ENEMIES HAVE SEEN HER &c: just as we today deride the circumcised sabbath of the Jews, because they slayed him in whom they should have had the true sabbath. This is nevertheless a just balancing of transgressions, to fall into the enemies’ hands, continually ...
Zain- 'this’
Jerusalem- the Church or the soul.
her affliction- corporeal or spiritual.
prevarication- on account of which affliction; commandments.
her desirable things- goods, that God brought her in Egypt and when she went out from Egypt and in the desert and in the promised land; heavenly promises; virtues.
which she- the soul.
days of old- to possess, namely, is she created, whence: I thought upon the days of old etc.
fell- through various vices.
her people- affection of the heart.
the enemy's- the demons.
was no helper- another could not; God did not want to.
enemies- Chaldeans or any Gentiles or demons.
mocked her Sabbaths- as we today mock at the Jews.
Here in Verse 7 is recounted the misery within a memory of past events. First is touched upon the very memory of events in past afflictions. Such, when recalled, excite a weariness. As said: "Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and bitterness". That is, during those sins that excite a remorse of conscience.
Then: "all the precious things that were hers from days of old". Namely, as to prosperities causing an arousal of concupiscences. As the prophet Isaiah states: "But what can I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. All my sleep has fled because of the bitterness of my soul" (Is: 38:15).
Secondly is pointed out the sufferings from present evils. As is said: "When her people fell into the hand of the foe, and there was none to help her". And as Psalm 22[2]:l says: "Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help."
Thirdly is set forth a contempt of the foe. As expressed: "The foe gloated over her, mocking at her downfall." Na...
