Genesis — Chapter 47
These annotations are from the original 1609 Douay Old Testament, the first complete English Catholic Bible translation, produced by English scholars in exile at the English College of Douai. The archaic spelling is preserved.
This content was digitized from the original 1609 Douay (Old Testament) and 1582 Rheims (New Testament) print editions by OCR. The OCR process sometimes confused print page numbers with verse numbers, and may have assigned annotations to the wrong chapter. Chapter and verse labels on this page reflect the OCR output from the original print pagination and may not correspond to canonical Scripture chapter/verse numbers. For canonical reference, consult a standard Douay-Rheims edition. The annotation texts themselves are authentic 1609/1582 Douay-Rheims content.
Verse 22
Sauing the Land of the Priests.] Let them heare which now liue (faith S. Chrysostom ho. 65. in Gen.) what great care men had in times past of the Priests of idols; & let them learne at least to yeald like honour to true Priests, to whom the ministerie of al diuine offices is committed. For if the AEgyptians in their errours had so great care of Idols, thinking them to be more honoured if their Ministers were respected, how great condemnation doe they deserue, that now diminish that which pertaineth to the prouision of Priests? Doe yee not know that the honour pertaineth to God himself? And he that so bestoweth, shal not only receiue like retribution, but manifold greater; our merciful God alwayes of the aboundance of his mercie exceeding the things which are done by vs. Let vs not therfore be worse then infidels.
Verse 29
Albeit neither the lack of burial, nor anie crueltie nor contumelie vsed against dead bodies, can annoy the iust, for those that kil mens bodies, can afterwards doe them no more harme: yet it is both a lawful natural desire, and a spiritual comfort and profit, to be buried in special places, where their owne freinds, or holie persons are buried, or where God is more specially serued, Sacrifice and other prayers offered. And so both Iacob and Ioseph desired to rest in the land of Chanaan, where their parents were buried, and where Christ should be borne and redeeme mankind.
Verse 30
I wil sleepe with my fathers.] Albeit neither the lack of burial, nor anie crueltie nor contumelie vsed against dead bodies, can annoy the iust, yet it is both a lawful natural desire, and a spiritual comfort and profit, to be buried in special places, where their owne freinds, or holie persons are buried, or where God is more specially serued, Sacrifice and other prayers offered. And so both Iacob and Ioseph desired to rest in the land of Chanaan, where their parents were buried, and where Christ should be borne and redeeme mankind. But worldlie pomp and honour of funerals are rather the comfort of the liuing, then the reliefe of the departed, as S Augustin teacheth.