Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsGenesis 37

In his old age.

^[1] This being one cause why Jacob loved Joseph above all his other sons, for that he was the youngest of the eleven (for Benjamin the twelfth was yet an infant) it is alleged in holy Scripture (saith S. Chrysostom Epist. ad Olympiam) as least offensive to his brethren. For a more special cause was for his mother Rachel's sake, but more principal cause of all was, for his great virtues and mature judgement; for which God also preferred him above them all, and now foreshewed the same by visions in sleep. Which they envying and meaning to prevent, did indeed unwitting cooperate thereto, God's providence turning their evil work to infinite good ^[2]. As the same holy Joseph truly interpreteth it to them after their father's death, when they justly feared revenge for so great and inhuman injuries done unto him, chap. 50. v. 20.

• 1 The least offensive cause is alleged, why Jacob loved Joseph above his brethren.
• 2 God turneth evil to good effect. S. Aug. l. 14. c. 27. civit. Grave for hell corruptly translated.

Into hell mourning.

Protestants denying more places for souls after this life, than Heaven for the just, & Hell for the wicked, translate the Hebrew word Sheol, grave, for hell. Because if they should grant that Jacob or other holy fathers of the old Testament descended into hell, they must confess some other hell, than where the damned are tormented, whither no Christian will say that those fathers went. If they contended only about the sense and meaning of the text, it were more tolerable, for therein they speak according to their erroneous opinion, as they think. ^[1] But knowing as some of them do, that Hell is true word of the text ^[2], there is no sincerity nor moral honesty in putting Grave in place thereof. And that they know it, the second table of the Bible, printed at London 1602. witnesseth, noting for a common place, that the 37. chap. of Genesis. v. 35. Hell is taken for grave, thereby confessing, that the true English word of the holy Scripture in that place is Hell, but that they would have it to signify grave. Whereupon any reasonable man would think to find the word Hell in the text, with some gloss to shew that grave were to be understood. But in all their Editions, also in that which was printed the year next following, 1603. whereto the same table is adjoined, they read grave & not hell in that place, though in some ^[3] other places, they much disagree in translating the same word.

• 1 Willful corruption.
• 2 See. S. Hiero. Ep. 119. S. Aug. li. 20. c. 15. civit.
• 3 Nu. 16. 2. Reg. 22. Job. 17. Psal. 15. 27. 85.

^[1]

As for the sense, it cannot be that Jacob meant the grave: for when he said he would go to his son, he supposed him to be devoured by a wild beast, and not buried in a grave. And therefore must necessarily mean, that he would go where he thought the soul of his son to be. Which was neither in heaven, for then he would rather have ascended thither joyful, than descended to any place mourning; neither did he mean the hell of the damned, for that had been desperation; but to a low place, where the just souls then remained in rest, which was called Limbus Patrum, or Abraham's bosom ^[2]. That is, saith S. Augustin, in his answer to Bishop Evodius (Epist. 99.) secreta cuiusdam quietis habitatio. The habitation of a certain secret rest.

• 1 Jacob spake of hell not of grave.
• 2 Abraham's bosom.