He that dashes in pieces has come up before your face: keep the fortress, watch the road, make your flanks strong, fortify your power mightily.
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Cyril of Alexandria
AD 444
Now, the verse God is jealous and the rest would properly apply also to those not wishing to follow the straight and narrow path of godliness, but rather to be diverted to a fleshly style of life. After all, there is no doubt that he will take vengeance by inflicting punishment and subjecting to penalties the stubborn and guilty, especially if it is true that “all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Cor 5.10) The passage is no less relevant, however, also to the leaders of the Jews—I mean the scribes and Pharisees—who rejected faith in Christ and were guilty of destroying themselves and others. Their attitude was hostile, in fact, and they took issue with the Incarnation of the Only-begotten; they “took away the key of knowledge,” as he says himself, not entering themselves or allowing others to enter. (Lk 11.52) If he is also long-suffering, therefore, he still will...
He imparted the fellowship of this Holy Spirit to the apostles, for it is written, “When he had said that, he breathed upon them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.’ ” This was the second breathing (the first had been impaired by willful sins) to fulfill the Scripture: “One who has been delivered from affliction has come up panting into your presence.” He has been delivered from Hades. For it was after his resurrection, according to the gospel, that he breathed on them. He gives the grace at this time, and he will lavish it more abundantly. He says to them, “I am ready to give it to you even now, but the vessel cannot yet hold it. Accept for the time the grace of which you are capable, but look forward to yet more.” “But wait here in the city” of Jerusalem “until you are clothed with power from on high.” Receive it in part now; then you will be clad in its fullness. For he...
Face, O Juda. Septuagint, "who blows on thy face, (Genesis ii. 7.) freeing from misery. "Here St. Jerome's Greek copy ends the chapter. (Haydock)
Watch. Behold Nabopolassar is about to attack thy enemies. Some think that Nahum addresses Ninive ironically. (Calmet)
Nabuchodonosor wasted all the environs, and then took the city (Worthington) after his other conquests. (Calmet)
But his father is here denoted. (Haydock)Ver. 2. Pride He hath punished Jacob for his pride; and therefore Ninive must not expect to escape. Or else, rendering the pride of Jacob means rewarding, that is, punishing Ninive for the pride they exercised against Jacob. (Challoner)
After the Assyrians had seized the ten tribes, they became more insolent, and are therefore punished. (Worthington)
The haughty Phul, had invaded the Israelites, and had taken them into captivity. This God will now resent, (Calmet) though he justly chastised his people by them. (Haydock)Ver. 3. Mighty men. He speaks of the Chaldeans and ...
