To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
Ver. 20. To what purpose cometh there to me incense?] Cui bono, so long as it smelleth of the foul hand that offereth it, so long as you think to bribe me with it? See Isaiah 1:14 .
From Sheba.] Whence the Greeks seem to have their word σεβειν, to worship; and the Arabians call God - the adequate object of divine worship - Sabim, and a mystery, Saba.
And the sweet cane.] Heb., Cane the good. The Septuagint render it cinnamon; and the Vulgate, calamus; of which see Pliny, lib. xii. cap. 22.
From a far country.] From India, saith Jerome. Haec omnia bene in nostros Papistas quadrabunt.