Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Isaiah · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI.
Ver. 1. WO to them that go down to Egypt for help] The Prophet ſaw them ſet upon it to ſend down to Egypt; he therefore addeth another Woe to ſuch refractaries, and layeth before them more reaſons to diſſwade them from doing ſo: a good preſident for Preachers. Oecolampadius rendreth it, O deſcendentes, O ye that go down to Egypt, &c. Oh ye are a wiſe company of you, and full well ye have done it!
But they look not to the holy one of Iſrael] They truſt not God at all, that not alone. He that ſtands with one foot on a rock, and another foot upon a quick-ſand, will ſink and periſh as certainly as he that ſtands with both feet on a quick-ſand. See Pſal. 62.2, 5, 6.
Ver. 2. Yet he alſo is wiſe] yea he is the only wiſe God, whatever the worlds wizzards think of Him, or of themſelves. They counted, the voyage down to Egypt the wiſeſt way; and to reſt altogether upon God,Tacita Antitheſis in qua latet Antanaclaſis. to be altogether impolitique, as the caſe now ſtood. Egypt alſo they knew was famous for wiſdom, chap. 19.11, 12. but conſidered not how God had fooled them, Exod. 1. and taken thoſe foxes in their own craft, 1 Cor. 3 19.
And will bring evil] To thoſe evil-Counſellors eſpecially, foreign.
Ver. 3. Now the Egyptians are men and not God] Poets fain that in the Trojan war one god fought againſt another, Mulciber in Trojam, pro Troja ſtabat Apollo.
But theſe Jews could not imagine that the Egyptians in whom they confided, were fit matches for God, and able to deal with him. Who would ſet thoſe briars and thorns againſt me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together, chap. 27.4.
And their horſes fleſh and not ſpirit] God is Lord of hoſts: and as the Rabbins well obſerve, he hath his Cavallery and his Infantry, or his horſe and his foot: his upper forces and his lower, ready preſt. The charets of God are twenty thouſand, even thouſands of Angels, Pſal. 68.17. and what can the Egyptian horſe do againſt ſuch worthy warriors?
Ver. 4. Like as the Lion, and the young Lion] That they may truſt in God, and not in the arm of fleſh, the Prophet ſetteth before them under two fit ſimilitudes the power of God, ver. 4. and the mercy of God, ver. 5. Theſe are the Jachin and the Boaz, the two main pillars and ſupports of Truſt in God. Procopius here noteth that the Lyon when he preyeth, firſt roareth ſo terribly, that he thereby amazeth both the cattle and their keepers, and then he falleth upon them and teareth them in pieces: ſo doth God firſt roar, that is, threaten by his Prophets, and then he deſtroyeth ſuch as obſtinate themſelves in a ſinful courſe.
Ver. 5. As birds flying, ſo will the Lord of Hoſts] This is the ſecond ſimilitude: the Eagle, when ſhe flyeth higheſt of all from the neſt, and ſeemeth to ſet her ſelf among the clouds, ſtill keeps her eye on her neſt, ſo that if any come near her young ones to offend them, ſhe makes all poſſible ſpeed for their defence. Such an Eagle is Almighty God, Deut. 32.11. ſuch a hen is Jeſus Chriſt, Mat. 23.37. ſee Pſal. 91.1, 2. The Church is Gods neſt; who dare meddle with it? Sennacherib had threatned to deſtroy neſt and young ones together, becauſe he had done ſo elſewhere, and none durſt wag the wing at him, chap. 10.14. but he found it otherwiſe here, chap. 37.33.
Ver. 6. Turn ye unto him] Vos Apoſtatae Judaei. He runs far that never turneth again, we ſay: ye have revolted and run away from God with all your hearts, doing evil as ye could: O Turn again to Him, ex profundo imo que corde ad illum redite, let there be a proportion betwixt your ſin and your repentance. Turn ye unto me, uſque ad me, all out as far as to me, give not the half turn only; with all your heart, Joel 2.12. Take heed left there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.Heb. 3.12. foreign parit foreign.
Ver. 7. For in that day] Sc. of your effectual converſion, chap. 30, 22. or, when the Aſſyrian ſhall aſſault you, then you ſhall ſee the vanity of your Idols, and of all humane helps: ſo chap. 2.20.22.
Ver. 8. Then ſhall the Aſſyrian fall] fall in his forces, flee in his perſon: but evil ſhall hunt that violent man to deſtroy him, Pſal. 140.11.
Not of a mighty man] or of a mean man, but of an Angel.
And his young men ſhall be diſcomfited] Heb. ſhall be unto melting, they ſhall melt away, as 1 Sam. 14.16. Vide hic ſaith à Lapide, ſee here how this world is nothing elſe but a perpetual ruin of all kinds and conditions of men.
Ver. 9. And he ſhall paſs over to his ſtronghold] To Nineveh, never thinking himſelf ſafe till he come thither.
And his Princes ſhall be afraid of the Enſign] lifted up by Gods Angels in the ſlaughter of their fellows.
Whoſe fire is in Zion] Who keep; houſe there: ſumpta Metaphora à re Oeconomica: there he had his fire and his chimney, ſc. in the Temple from whence alſo came this deſtruction to the enemy: Pſal. 76.2, 3. with the Notes there.