Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Isaiah · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Ver. 1. VVOe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees] Having denounced Woe to wicked of all ſorts, the Prophet here threatneth wicked Princes in particular; as the chief cauſes of Gods judgements by their miſgovernment. Periculoſiſſimum Prophetae factum, Sculter.& cui ſeditionis dica ſcribi poterat! This was boldly done of the Prophet: and there wanted not thoſe doubtleſs, that would ſay it was ſedition. Luther, for like cauſe, was called the Trumpet of rebellion, ſc. for declaring againſt the Popes decrees and decretals, though never ſo unrighteous and vexatious; not much ſhort of that made by Nero, Whoſoever confeſſeth himſelf a Chriſtian (ſo, a Proteſtant) let him, without further defence of himſelf, be put to death as a convicted enemy of mankind?
And that write grievouſneſs] Or, and to the writers that write grievous things, viz. the publike Notaries, regiſters, and other under-Officers; ſuch as were thoſe Perſian Scribes and Poſts, Eſth. 3.12, 13. who ſhould, in ſuch a caſe, have obeyed God rather then men.
Ver. 2. To turn away the needy from judgment] To put them beſide their right becauſe indigent, and overweighed by the wealthy ones, quorum aureae literae apud tales judices poſſunt omnia.
Judex injuſtus latro cum privilegio eſt. Columel. l. 1.And to take away the right] Heb. to tear it away by force.
And that they may rob the fatherleſs] rob the Spittle, as we uſe to ſay. Unrighteous ruledom is but robbery with authority.
Ver. 3. And what will ye do in the day of viſitation] that is, of vaſtation by the Aſſyrians.
To whom will ye flee for help] Who have denied help to the poor that fled unto you; but ſped no better then the Sheep that flieth to the Buſh for defence in weather, where he is ſure to loſe part of his fleece.
And where will ye leave your glory] Where will ye betruſt or beſtow your wealth, power, and worldly pomp, purchaſed by you at too dear a rate, who paid your honeſty to get it (O magno emptas, & parum proficuas divitias!) and muſt now loſe not it onelyonly, but your liberties and lives alſo in the next verſe▪
Ver. 4. Without me they ſhall bow down under the priſoners] i. e. Without any fault of mine, as Hoſ. 13.9. Or as ſome render it, Ne corruat inter vinctos, & inter occiſos cadant: that it (your glory) ſhould not bow down under the priſoners, and they fall under the ſlain. i. e. that ye be not ſome of you captivated, and others ſlain by the enemy. And yet behold a worſe matter.
For all this his anger is not turned away] Endleſs torments will follow,Hoc oratione vir ſanctus impios cruentat, & vulnerat. Oſor. unleſs ye prevent them by repentance: and all your preſent ſufferings are nothing elſe but a typical hell. Ecce quot mala à contemptu Dei proveniunt.
Ver. 5. O Aſſyrian, the rod of mine anger] Or, Woe to the Aſſyrian: Or, Heu Aſſur, Alaſs, the Aſſyrian, q. d. Alaſs that I am forced by this ſharp and iron rod to correct my people whom I have bred ſo choicely. Dolentis vocem aſſumit Deus, ſaith Oecolamp.
The rod of mine anger] Or, my rod of anger. A rod of anger to beat the little ones, and a ſtaffe of indignation to baſtinado the bigger and more ſtubborn.Oecolamp. Ira Dei ego ſum, & orbit vaſtitas. Act. & Mon. fol. 1544. So Nebuchadnezzar is called the hammer of the whole earth, Jer. 50.23. Tamerlan called himſelf The wrath of God, and the Deſolation of the world. Attilas ſtiled himſelf King of Huns, Medes, Gothes, Dacians, the Terrour of the world, and Gods ſcourge. The wicked are Gods rod, ſaid that Martyr: whom when he hath worn to the ſtump, he will caſt into the fire.
Ver. 6. I will ſend him — I will give him a charge] Non patefactâ quidem voluntate, ſed arcanâ providentiâ, I will ſtir him up by a ſecret providence, which (being nothing elſe but the carrying on of the divine decree) is that Helm that turneth about the whole Ship of the Ʋniverſe.
Againſt an hypocritial nation] Pretenders only to religion (ſee chap. 9.17.) qui toti ex hypocriſi ſunt conflati, ſuch as are wholly made up of hypocriſie: God was near in their mouth, and far from their reins, Jer. 12.2. Nemo tam propè proculque Deo. Mat. 15.8. hot Meteors they are, ſaith One, ſhooting, yet ſhewing like ſtars: ſhaming goodneſs by ſeeming good; virtutis ſtragulam pudefaciunt, as Diogenes ſaid to Antipater, who, being vitious, wore a white cloke the enſign of innocency. Theſe are little better then Devils wrapt up in Samuels mantle: odious therefore to God, whom they would cozen of Heaven, if they could tell how.
And againſt the people of my wrath] Who are therefore the worſe (and ſhall fare the worſe) becauſe they ought to have been better. Indignation and wrath ſhall be upon the Jew firſt (becauſe of his priviledges) and then upon the Gentile, Rom. 2.9.
To take the ſpoil, and to take the prey] As had been foretold in Maher-ſhalal-haſh-baz his name, chap. 8.1.
And to tread them down like mire in the ſtreets] To make morter of them, as we uſe to ſay; Gens ſimulatrix tota terrena, is trodden under foot as unſavoury ſalt, which is not good enough for the dunghil.
Ver. 7. Howbeit he meaneth not ſo] He is otherwiſe minded and affected then I am; and doth my will merely beſide and againſt his own will. As in applying of leeches the Phyſician ſeeketh the health of his Patient, the leech only the filling of his gorge: ſo is it when God turneth looſe a bloody enemy upon his people. He hath excellent ends which they think not on.
But it is in his heart to deſtroy and cut off] This was to exceed his Commiſſion, which was only to take the ſpoil, and to take the prey, ver. 6. not to cut off Nations, and to make havock of all. How much better our King Edward the Confeſſor, Camd. Rem. p. 214.who when his Captains promiſed for his ſake, they would not leave one Dane alive, thought it better to lead a private and unbloody life, then to be a King by ſuch bloody butcheries? Of Charls 5. Emperour we read,Parei Hiſt. prof. Med. p. 895. that when Antonius Leva and other of his chief Commanders commended Alexander the Great, and Julius Caeſar for their great exploits in over-running and deſtroying nations not a few, to their great renown; and on the other ſide complained that Charls made not the like uſe of his power and victories as he might and ought to do for ſuch a purpoſe: he gravely replyed, that Alexander and Julius had in waging wars nothing elſe to aime at beſides Honour and glory: but that Chriſtian Princes were in all their enterprizes to mind the glory of God, and the ſalvation of their own ſouls.
Ver. 8. For he ſaith] Sennacherib ſaith, See Chap. 36.9, 15, 18, 20. and 37.10, 13, 24, 25. A great part of this whole book of Iſaiah concerneth Sennacherib.
Are not my Princes altogether Kings] Behold a right, Pyrgopolynices *Perhaps he had made ſome of his chief commanders Kings: our Hen. 6. crowned Hen. Beauchamp, E. of Warw. King of the Iſle of Wight., when as he was ſet a work by God, exalting himſelf both againſt God and man. And ſaith not the Pope the ſame when he claims to be Dominus feudi, Lord paramount in ſpirituals and temporals? And when in creating his Cardinals he uſeth theſe words, Eſtote confratres noſtri, & Principes mundi; Be ye fellow-brethren to us, and Princes of the world? The Aſſyrian ſtiled himſelf King of Kings, and accounted his Commanders Compters to Hezekiah, chap. 36.9. So Cardinal Bellarmine held himſelf King James his Mate.
Ver. 9. Is not Calno as Carchemiſh?] Here in a vaunt he reckoneth up ſix royal Cities vanquiſhed by himſelf and his anceſtors: and boaſteth how with a wet finger, as we ſay, he had taken in all the country betwixt Niniveh, and Jeruſalem. Of the deſtruction of Calno and Hamath, ſee Am. 6.2.
Is not Hamath] Afterwards called Antiochia.
As Arpad] Hear how this proud Braggad…chio
Projicit ampullas & ſeſquipedalia verba!
Is not Samaria as Damaſcus?] Have not I ſubdued them both pari fortitudine & felicitate?
Ver. 10. As my hand hath found] Nota faſtum tyranni, Note the arrogancy of this tyrant ſaith A Lapide. It was his hand did all, and not Gods (like as afterwards Timothaus, the victorious Athenian, into whoſe toyles cities were ſaid to fall even as he was ſleeping, telling his Countrymen of his great ſucceſſes, inſerted ever and anon theſe words Herein Fortune did nothing) and then, His hand only found thoſe Kingdomes, as an obvious prey, which he did no more but meet, and it was taken.
V…g.Dextra mihi Deus, & telum quod miſſile libro.
The Kingdomes of the idols] In deſpite of their Tutelary deities, which indeed were but deunculi petty-gods, as the word here uſed (Elil) ſignifieth.
And whoſe graven images did excel them of Jeruſalem] Os ferreum! vah ſcelus! Prodigious blaſphemy! this abſurd collation and prelation of dumb and dunghill idols before the true and living God, is omnium mortalium execratione digniſſima.
Ver. 11. Shall I not as I have done] God is not in all this mans thoughts: himſelf doth all that's done.
So do to Jeruſalem] Why, no: for their Rock is not as our Rock (might Gods people have replyed) our enemies themſelves being judges. Vere magnus eſt Deus Chriſtianorum, ſaid a certain Pagan truly. The God of the Chriſtians is a great God above all gods. But the Devil doth all he can to drive us to deſpair.
Ver. 12. Wherefore] Heb. And. A cloſe connection; where pride is in the ſaddle, there deſtruction is on the crupper. When the ſcum is at higheſt, it falls in the fire.
When the Lord hath performed] When he hath ſufficiently chaſtiſed his children by this rod of his wrath, he will caſt it into the fire. So Jer. 25. when other Nations have drunk deep of the cup of the divine diſpleaſure, Babylon ſhall ſuck up the dreggs. What became of the Primitive Perſecutors and of ſuch as were moſt active here in thoſe dog-dayes of Q. Mary? See the Acts and Monuments of the Church.
Ʋpon mount Sion] For there he uſually beginneth, Jer. 25.18. 1 Pet. 4.17. his own he leaſt of all ſpareth, Am. 3.2.
I will puniſh the fruit of the ſtout heart] His arrogant words and lofty looks, proceeding from the pride of his heart. But let himſelf tell what thoſe fruits are.
Ver. 13. For he ſaith, By the ſtrength of my hand, &c.] Viva haec eſt iſtius Vejovis Latialis, hoc eſt Pontificis pictura, ſaith Scultetus. i. e. Here we have a lively picture of Antichriſt, who ſpeaketh great things and blaſphemies, Rev. 13.5. arrogateth to himſelf all power and wiſdome, diſpoſeth of Kingdoms at his pleaſure, robbeth their treaſures, &c.
Ver. 14. And my hand had found] See ver. 10.
As a neſt] Or, as in a neſt, where a man need but only put in his hand and take out the birds or eggs, and hath none to withſtand him. Thraſonica Allegoria.
The riches of the people] Whereon they ſat abrood as it were; but I have unneſted and deſpoiled them: They meanwhile, as ſilly doves, ſaved themſelves by flight not fight: or elſe ſitting in their dove-coats ſaw their neſts deſtroyed, yong ones taken away and killed before their eyes, never offering to reſcue or revenge.
Ver. 15. Shall the ax boaſt it ſelf] Is not God the Architect and chief Agent? the Aſſyrian only the Inſtrument in his hand? What a madneſs then is it for him thus to vaunt and vapour? Is the man in his right mind, trow ye? How much better that victorious Emperour Charles 5. who inſtead of Caeſars Veni, Vidi, Vici, wrote Veni, Vidi, ſed Chriſtus vicit? Chriſt is the only Corquerour,
As if the ſtaffe ſhould lift up it ſelf] Or, When the rod is lift up, is it not wood, lignum inanime, ſorry wood?
Ver. 16. Therefore ſhall the Lord— ſend among his fat ones] i e. Pingues toroſos & validos milites, his luſty and maſtive ſouldiers, in whom he confided.
Leanneſs] i. e. Luem, a plague to tame them, and take them down: See this fullfilled, chap. 37.36.
And under his glory] i.e. His huge army wherein he glorieth.Turk. hiſt. fol. 206. What need we to fear the Turks, ſaid Sigiſmund the yong King of Hungary, who need not at all to fear the falling of the Heavens; which if they ſhould fall, yet were we able with our ſpears and halberds to hold them up for falling upon us?
He will kindle a burning] A plague parching up their vitals. The Hebrews ſay that the bodies of Sennacheribs ſouldiers were by the ſtroke of an Angel ſo conſumed and burnt up, as that their garments and weapons were not burnt at all.
Ver. 17. And the light of Iſrael ſhall be for a fire] To Iſrael he ſhall be a comfortable Light, to their enemies a conſuming fire, as Exod. 14.24.Aſſyrios, quibus ut ſentibus vepribuſque cohorrebat terra. Jun. Ecce idem juſtis & fidelibus ſuavis, impiis autem gravis.
His thorns and his briars] His army, which is ſo troubleſome and vexatious to Iſrael: God will go thorough them, he will burn them together, Iſai. 27.4.
In one day] i. e. In one night, being part of the natural day. So the Spaniſh Armada was quickly diſperſed, which had been ſo many years in rigging and ſetting forward.
Ver. 18. And he ſhall conſume the glory of his forreſt] i. e. Of his army, cutting his way thorough a wood of men, and felling the very glory of his glory, even his beſt ſouldiers. All this God ſhall do to his ſtout Warriers, and ſtately Princes.
Both ſoul and body] i. e. full and whole, both here and in hell.Ecce hic habes animam ardere. Oecolamp.
And they ſhall be as when a ſtandard-bearer fainteth] Heb. Melteth, i.e. through fear caſting away his colours: ſoon after which the whole regiment is routed, and cannot he rallied.
Ver. 19. And the reſt of the trees— ſhall be few] Heb. a number: methe miſpar, a poor few, and inconſiderable company, that may ſoon be told.
That a child may write them] The Hebrews ſay that Sennacherib eſcaped home with ten only in his company.Sculter.
Ver. 20. And it ſhall come to paſs in that day] Meras conſolationes hic loquitur Deus, ſaith Scultetus: Here God beginneth to ſpeak pure comforts to his poor people. Here he ſetteth forth how he will be a lively light to Iſrael; like as he had been a devouring fire to the Aſſyrians.
Shall no more again ſtay upon him that ſmote them] Piſcator ictus ſapiet: they had paid for their learning, ſmarted for their creature confidence: and now they would be better adviſed, viz. under Hezekiah, then they had been under Ahaz, 2 King. 16.10. Hoſ. 14.3.
Ver. 21. A remnant ſhall return] ſc. to the Lord by true repentance, from whom they had deeply revolted. But of theſe there is but as a remnant (a poor few) in compariſon of the whole piece of cloth.
Ver. 22. Yet a remnant of them ſhall return] i. e. Shall be ſaved from Senn…cherib, but eſpecially from Satan that old manſlayer, Rom. 9.27, 29. and 11.5. The greater part of the Jews were then cut off by the Aſſyrians; and ſo they are ſpiritually ſtill by the evil ſpirits, which hold them in their hardneſs of heart, and hinder them from embracing the Chriſtian faith. But this befalleth them by Gods holy decree, Rom. 9.27, 28. and juſt judgment.
The conſumption decreed ſhall overflow with righteouſneſs] i. e. The utter deſtruction of this perverſe people (both temporal and ſpiritual, Rom. 9.27. for the generality of them) is not to be accounted cruelty, but overflowing righteouſneſs. For God could not in juſtice but thus rigorouſly deal with them; and then, for his promiſe ſake to Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, reſerving a remnant, ſhew favour to them again.
Ver. 23. For the Lord God of hoſts ſhall make, &c.] Here the ſame thing is repeated by way of aſſeveration; becauſe not eaſily believed or digeſted, but would lye heavy as hard meat. Behold the ſeverity of God, Rom. 11.22. and ſtoop to it.
Ver. 24. O my people that dwelleſt in Zion, be not afraid] Quàm paternè omnia! As a father beſpeaketh his little ſon paſſing with him thorow a dark entry, &c.
Non occidet te, quamvis vapules. Oecol.He ſhall ſmite thee with a rod] Chaſten thee, but not ſlay thee. Sinite virgam corripientem, ne ſentiatis malleum conterentem.
And ſhall lift up his ſtaffe againſt thee] Or, but he ſhall lift up his ſtaffe for thee (ſo ſome render it) i.e. God ſhall: and that, after the manner of Egypt, as of old he did for thy Fathers againſt Pharaoh.
Ver. 25. For yet a very little while] Heb. a little little, or a little of a little. Yet a little modicum, and wrath ſhall be at an end. Oecolampadius rendreth it, adhuc paululum, minus quàm paululum: Hold out therefore faith and patience.
Ver. 26. And the Lord of hoſts ſhall ſtir up a ſcourge for him] Far worſe then that rod, ver. 24. this ſcourge was that Angel that ſlew to many Aſſyrians in a night, according to that ſlaughter of Midian, Judg. 7.22. Pſal. 83.9, 11.
At the rock of Oreb] Where Oreb was ſlain; like as was Sennacherib after this, in his Temple at Niniveh.
And as his rod was upon the ſea] As Moſes by his rod or ſtaffe held over the red Sea made way for Iſrael, but brought deſtruction on the Egyptians, Exod. 14.26.
Ver. 27. And the yoke ſhall be deſtroyed, becauſe of the anointing] That is, becauſe or for the ſake of Meſſiah the Prince, Dan. 9.25. the Lord Chriſt our foreign and Soſpitator, the foundation of all the Churches deliverances. The whole 11th Chapter following is a comment on this ſweet promiſe.
Ver. 28. He is come to Aiath] Elegans hypotypoſis, a dainty deſcription of Sennacheribs ingreſs into the Land, and progreſs with his army toward Jeruſalem, thorough the tribe of Benjamin.
He is paſſed to Migron] 14. Cities are here ſet down in order, as diſtreſſed by this Poliorcetes, of whom it might be truly ſaid as it is now of the Grand Signior, that no graſs groweth on that ground where he hath ſet his foot once.
At Michmaſh he hath laid up his carriages] i.e. He ſhall: but the Prophet ſpeaketh of it, as if preſently done: or as if himſelf had been marching along with them.
Ver. 29. They are gone over the paſſages] i. e. The ſtreights, between two rocks, 1 Sam. 13.23.
Ver. 30. Lift up thy voice] Heb. Hinni, i. e. claram vocem ede, …amque lugubrem, make a grievous out-cry, ejula, quiritare: Nam certa tibi imminet vaſtitas, for thou art undone.
O poor Anathoth] Jeremies countrey, poor becauſe plundred.
Ver. 31. Madmena is removed] i.e. Fled for fear, as Gibeah, ver. 29.
Ver. 32. He ſhall ſhake his hand] Viz. at Jeruſalem, as threatning her deſtruction; but ſhe ſhall ſhake her head at him in contempt, chap. 37.21. God oft lets his enemies go to the utmoſt of their tedder, and then pulls them back to their tasks with ſhame enough, as he did Pharaoh.
Ver. 33. Behold, the Lord ſhall top the bough] i.e. Thoſe of greateſt ſtate and ſtature in the Aſſyrian army.
And the haughty ſhall be humbled] See chap. 2.11, 17.
Per Magnificum.Ver. 34. By a mighty one] That is, by an Angel, as chap. 37.36. See Pſal. 78.25. and 89.5, 6.