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2:1 Et levavi oculos meos, et vidi, et ecce vir, et in manu ejus funiculus mensorum.
And I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold a man, with a measuring line in his hand.
2:2 Et dixi : Quo tu vadis ? Et dixit ad me : Ut metiar Jerusalem, et videam quanta sit latitudo ejus, et quanta longitudo ejus.
And I said: Whither goest thou? and he said to me: To measure Jerusalem, and to see how great is the breadth thereof, and how great the length thereof.
2:3 Et ecce angelus qui loquebatur in me egrediebatur, et angelus alius egrediebatur in occursum ejus :
*H And behold the angel that spoke in me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him.


Ver. 3. Another. The angel who measured spoke to Michael. C.

2:4 et dixit ad eum : Curre, loquere ad puerum istum, dicens : Absque muro habitabitur Jerusalem, prae multitudine hominum et jumentorum in medio ejus.
*H And he said to him: Run, speak to this young man, saying: Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls, by reason of the multitude of men, and of the beasts in the midst thereof.


Ver. 4. Walls. This must be understood of the spiritual Jerusalem, the Church of Christ. Ch. — According to S. Aug. (in Ps. lxxi.) when the literal sense cannot be verified, we must have recourse to the thing prefigured; and thus what is here written, must be explained of the Church rather than of Jerusalem. W. — A little before the fall of the latter, it was become so populous that the houses which had been built without the walls were enclosed. Jos. Bel. vi. 6. — This multitude was a sort of pledge or figure of the crowds which should embrace the gospel.

2:5 Et ego ero ei, ait Dominus, murus ignis in circuitu, et in gloria ero in medio ejus.
*H And I will be to it, saith the Lord, a wall of fire round about: and I will be in glory in the midst thereof.


Ver. 5. Fire, to enlighten and protect it. Arms will be unnecessary. Mic. v. 10. Is. ii. 4. The Church shall enjoy peace.

2:6 [O, o, fugite de terra aquilonis, dicit Dominus, quoniam in quatuor ventos caeli dispersi vos, dicit Dominus.
*H O, O flee ye out of the land of the north, saith the Lord, for I have scattered you into the four winds of heaven, saith the Lord.


Ver. 6. North. Many Jews had not yet returned. Esther, &c. — Winds. Ezec. v. 2. 12. C. — Gentiles, and ye children of Sion, flee from Babylon and from sin into the true Church. W.

2:7 O Sion ! fuge, quae habitas apud filiam Babylonis :
O Sion, flee, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon:
2:8 quia haec dicit Dominus exercituum : Post gloriam misit me ad gentes quae spoliaverunt vos : qui enim tetigerit vos, tangit pupillam oculi mei :
*H For thus saith the Lord of hosts: After the glory he hath sent me to the nations that have robbed you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of my eye:


Ver. 8. Glory. After restoring you to your own country, and rebuilding your cities, I will punish your enemies. C. — After they have enjoyed prosperity, they shall feel the reverse. Heb. Cabod, (H.) means also "a burden."

2:9 quia ecce ego levo manum meam super eos, et erunt praedae his qui serviebant sibi : et cognoscetis quia Dominus exercituum misit me.
*H For behold, I lift up my hand upon them, and they shall be a prey to those that served them: and you shall know that the Lord of hosts sent me.


Ver. 9. Prey. Two years after this (C.) the Assyrians revolted, and seized Babylon. Justin i. — They slew the useless women: but Zopyrus betrayed the place to Darius, who hung 3,000 of the principal inhabitants, and demolished the walls. Herod. iii. 150. Usher, A. 3489.

2:10 Lauda et laetare, filia Sion, quia ecce ego venio, et habitabo in medio tui, ait Dominus.
Sing praise, and rejoice, O daughter of Sion: for behold I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee: saith the Lord.
2:11 Et applicabuntur gentes multae ad Dominum in die illa, et erunt mihi in populum, et habitabo in medio tui : et scies quia Dominus exercituum misit me ad te.
*H And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee: and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me to thee.


Ver. 11. Nations. We know of none who embraced the Jewish law. But both the old and the new world submits to Christ. — Dwell. S. Michael represents the Messias. The latter preached and wrought miracles among the Jews, which rendered them inexcusable. John xv. 24. C.

2:12 Et possidebit Dominus Judam partem suam in terra sanctificata, et eliget adhuc Jerusalem.
And the Lord shall possess Juda his portion in the sanctified land: and he shall yet choose Jerusalem.
2:13 Sileat omnis caro a facie Domini, quia consurrexit de habitaculo sancto suo.]
*H Let all flesh be silent at the presence of the Lord: for he is risen up out of his holy habitation.


Ver. 13. Silent: obey with reverence. H. See Hab. ii. 20. and 1 Mac. i. 3. C. — Habitation, becoming man. M.

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