Psalms 78:1
A psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathens are come into thy inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit.
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Psalmus Asaph. Deus, venerunt gentes in hæreditatem tuam ; polluerunt templum sanctum tuum ; posuerunt Jerusalem in pomorum custodiam.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- Ψαλμὸς τῷ Ἀσάφ. Ὁ θεός, ἤλθοσαν ἔθνη εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, ἐμίαναν τὸν ναὸν τὸν ἅγιόν σου, ἔθεντο Ἰερουσαλὴμ εἰς ὀπωροφυλάκιον·
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 79:1
- מִזְמ֗וֹר לְאָ֫סָ֥ף אֱֽלֹהִ֡ים בָּ֤אוּ גוֹיִ֨ם בְּֽנַחֲלָתֶ֗ךָ טִ֭מְּאוּ אֶת הֵיכַ֣ל קָדְשֶׁ֑ךָ שָׂ֖מוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֣ם לְעִיִּֽים
Haydock's commentary
Asaph, who might live during the captivity. (Calmet)
If the ancient (Haydock) Asaph, or David, composed this psalm, it must be considered as a prediction of the ruin caused by Nabuchodonosor, or by Epiphanes. (Berthier, T. v.)
The author of 1 Machabees (vii. 17.) accommodates it to the sufferings of those (Calmet) whom Alcimus destroyed; or rather the prophet had them also in view as well as Christian martyrs. (Haydock)
He cannot speak of the last ruin of Jerusalem, since it would have been improper to pray for its restoration. (St. Augustine)
Fruit. A mean village, (Menochius) as Isaias (i. 8.) had threatened. Hebrew, "a heap of stones," (St. Jerome) in the field, Micheas i. 6. Such was the condition of Jerusalem under Nabuchodonosor (Calmet) and Ephiphanes, 1 Machabees i. (Berthier)
Catholics have been persecuted in every country, and forced to use mean houses for divine worship. (Worthington)
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 Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm LXXIX
“O God, the Gentiles have come into Thine inheritance” ( ver. 1 ). Under which form of expression other things which were to come to pass, are spoken of as having been done. Nor must this be wondered at, that these words are being spoken to God. For they are not being represented to Him not knowing, by whose revelation they are foreknown; but the soul is speaking with God with that affection of godliness, of which God knoweth. For even the things which Angels proclaim to men, they proclaim to them that know them not; but the things which they proclaim to God, they proclaim to Him knowing, when they offer our prayers, and in ineffable manner consult the eternal Truth respecting their actions, as an immutable law. …
St Jerome The Letters of St. Jerome, To Principia
12. Whilst these things were happening in Jebus a dreadful rumour came from the West. Rome had been besieged and its citizens had been forced to buy their lives with gold. Then thus despoiled they had been besieged again so as to lose not their substance only but their lives. My voice sticks in my throat; and, as I dictate, sobs choke my utterance. The City which had taken the whole world was itself taken; nay more famine was beforehand with the sword and but few citizens were left to be made captives. In their frenzy the starving people had recourse to hideous food; and tore each other limb from limb that they might have flesh to eat. Even the mother did not spare the babe at her breast. In the night was Moab taken, in the night did her wall fall down. “O God, the heathen have come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have made Jerusalem an orchard. …
St Ambrose Epistle XX: To Marcellina as to the Arian Party
20. Whilst I was treating on this matter, tidings were brought me that the royal hangings were taken down, and the Basilica filled with people, who were calling for my presence, so I at once turned my discourse to this, and said: How high and how deep are the oracles of the Holy Spirit! We said at Matins, as you, brethren, remember, and made the response with the greatest grief of mind: “O God, the heathen are come into Thine inheritance.” And in very deed the heathen came, and even worse than the heathen came; for the Goths came, and men of different nations; they came with weapons and surrounded and occupied the Basilica. We in our ignorance of Thy greatness mourned over this, but our want of foresight was in error.
Aphrahat Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations, Of Wars
20. For Daniel said: I was considering the ten horns that were upon the head of the beast. For the ten horns were ten kings who arose at that time until Antiochus. And he said: A little horn arose from between those ten and three fell before it . For when Antiochus arose in the kingdom, he humbled three kings, and he exalted himself against the saints of the Most High and against Jerusalem. And he defiled the sanctuary. And he caused the sacrifice and the offerings to cease for a week and half a week, namely, for ten and a-half years. And he brought in fornicators into the house of the Lord, and he caused the observances of the Law to cease. And he slew righteous men and gave them to the birds of heaven and to the beasts of the earth. For in his days was fulfilled the word that David spoke: O God, the Gentiles have come into thine inheritance, and have defiled Thy holy temple. …