They encompassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Read Chapter 118
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
6 "They came about me as bees do a hive, and burned up even as the fire among the thorns: and in the Name of the Lord have I taken vengeance on them" (ver. 12). Here then the order of the words corresponds with the order of events. For we rightly understand that our Lord Himself, the Head of the Church, was surrounded by persecutors, even as bees surround a hive. For the Holy Spirit is speaking with mystic subtlety of what was done by those who knew not what they did. For bees make honey in the hives: while our Lord's persecutors, unconscious as they were, rendered Him sweeter unto us even by His very Passion; so that we may taste and see how sweet is the Lord,' "Who died for our sins, and arose for our justification. " But what followeth, "and burned up even as the fire among the thorns," is better understood of His Body, that is, of a people spread abroad, whom all nations compassed about, since it was gathered together from all nations. They consumed this sinful flesh, and the griev...
Bees. Septuagint add, "do a honeycomb. "But this is not in the original.
Burned. Hebrew, "were extinguished. "The Septuagint and Chaldean seem to have read better, as it would then be useless to add, as is the former verse, "but. I will destroy them "and therefore Protestants and Duport here put, "for", (Berthier) though the ci be still used. (Haydock)
The rage of the enemy is well described by the similitudes of bees and fire. (Calmet)
Christ was attacked with mortal hatred by the Jews. (St. Augustine)
The fury of the multitude was fierce, but short-lived, as in God I have overcome them all. (Worthington)
