Micheas 1:11
And pass away, O thou that dwellest in the Beautiful place, covered with thy shame: she went not forth that dwelleth in the confines: the House adjoining shall receive mourning from you, which stood by herself.
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Et transite vobis, habitatio pulchra, confusa ignominia : non est egressa quæ habitat in exitu : planctum domus vicina accipiet ex vobis, quæ stetit sibimet.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- κατοικοῦσα καλῶς τὰς πόλεις αὐτῆς, οὐκ ἐξῆλθεν κατοικοῦσα Σενναάρ, κόψασθαι οἶκον ἐχόμενον αὐτῆς· λήμψεται ἐξ ὑμῶν πληγὴν ὀδύνης.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- עִבְרִ֥י לָכֶ֛ם יוֹשֶׁ֥בֶת שָׁפִ֖יר עֶרְיָה בֹ֑שֶׁת לֹ֤א יָֽצְאָה֙ יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת צַֽאֲנָ֔ן מִסְפַּד֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֵ֔צֶל יִקַּ֥ח מִכֶּ֖ם עֶמְדָּתֽוֹ
Haydock's commentary
Place. In Samaria. In the Hebrew, the beautiful place is expressed by the word Shaphir, which some take for the proper name of a city. (Challoner)
It is thought that St. Jerome has given the sense of several proper names, (Calmet) or this has been done since in the Vulgate by some other. In the edition of his works, (A.D. 1533) we read, "The dwelling of Saphir passes from you: she hath not come out who inhabits Sennan. The house of Asel shall receive," &c. (Haydock)
Saphir or Diocesarea was a strong place (Josephus, Jewish Wars ii. 37.) of Galilee, where Saanan was also situated, Judges iv. 11. Haetsel may denote "the vicinity." (Calmet)
People shall not attempt to comfort their neighbours, being themselves under the greatest alarms. (Haydock)
Forth. That is, they that dwelt in the confines came not forth, but kept themselves within, for fear.
Adjoining, viz., Judea and Jerusalem, neighbours to Samaria, and partners in her sins, shall share also in her mourning and calamity: though they had pretended to stand by themselves, trusting in their strength. (Challoner)
All the inhabitants shall be led into captivity naked. (Haydock)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Matthew XXV. 1-30
Wilt thou learn how good a thing it is not to remember injuries, and how this more than anything pleases God? Them that exult over persons, justly chastised by Himself, He punishes. And yet they are justly chastised; but thou shouldest not rejoice over them. So the prophet having brought many accusations, added this also, saying, “They felt nothing for the affliction of Joseph;”and again, “She that inhabiteth Enan, came not forth to lament for the place near her.” And yet both Joseph (that is, the tribes that were sprung from him), and the neighbors of these others, were punished according to the purpose of God; nevertheless, it is His will that we sympathize even with these. …
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XLIII on Acts xx. 1
Though thou be able to confer no relief, yet weep thou, groan, grieve over what has happened: even this is not to no purpose. If it behooves us to feel for those who are justly punished by God, much more for those who suffer unjustly at the hands of men. (They of) “Ænan,” it saith, “came not forth to mourn for the house which was near her” ( Micah i. 11 ): they shall receive pain, “in return for that they built for derision.” And again, Ezekiel makes this an accusation against them, that they did not grieve for (the afflicted). ( Ezek. xvi. 2 .) What sayest thou, O Prophet? God punisheth, and shall I grieve for those that He is punishing? Yea verily: for God Himself that punisheth wisheth this: since neither does He Himself wish to punish, nay, even Himself grieves when punishing. Then be not thou glad at it. …