Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Isaiah · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Ver. 1. NEvertheleſs the dimneſs ſhall not be ſuch] Dimneſs of anguiſh had been fore-threatened, chap. 8.22. Now this is added for an allay, as being a promiſe of a mitigation of their miſery, and yet further of Chriſts Incarnation, which is the ſum of all the good news in the world. Evangeliſtam hic agit Iſaias, Scult.non prophetam, ſaith One, i. e. Iſaiah here acteth the part of an Evangeliſt rather then of a Prophet: He foretelleth, ſaith another Interpreter, that as the Aſſyrians preyed upon Samaria and Galilee, ſo ſhall the Lord Chriſt alſo prey upon them ſpiritually, A Lap.and for their greateſt good, ver. 2. And as Tiglath-pileſer firſt carried away a few out of Galilee, lightly afflicting the Land of Zebulon, and the Land of Nephthaly: and then Salmaneſer more grievouſly afflicting her carried captive thoſe and all the reſt of the ten Tribes: Semblably Chriſt, firſt preaching in Galilee, Oecolamp.converted and called therehence ſundry of his Diſciples: and afterwards when he was lifted up from the earth he drew all men unto him, John 12.32. He rode upon his white-horſe (the Apoſtles) conquering the world, and to conquer, Rev. 6.2. And hence that ſincere Joy in the hearts of his ſervants, far exceeding that of Harveſt which is not without great toil; or that of Souldiers dividing the ſpoil, which is not atchieved without confuſed noiſe, and garments rolled in blood, ver. 2.3, 5.
By the way of the ſea] The ſea of Tiberias, John 21.1. or lake of Geneſareth, Luke 5.1.
Beyond Jordan] Or, beſide Jordan.
In Galilee of the Gentiles] See the Note on Matth. 4.15.
Ver. 2. The people that walked in darkneſs] Liberationis lucem promittit. See the Note on Matth. 4.16.
Ver. 3. Thou haſt multiplyed the Nation] Or, Never ſince thou multiplyedſt this people, didſt thou give them ſuch joy: i, e. ſuch matter of joy as now Thou intendeſt to do: Or thus, Thou wilt multiply this Nation: thou wilt encreaſe their joy; eſpecially by ſending thy Son, who is called the Gift, John 4.10. the Benefit, 1 Tim. 6.2. ſuch as wherein all diſcontents are ſoon ſwallowed up. Everlaſting Joy ſhall be upon the Heads of the Lords Ranſomed ones, they ſhall obtain joy and gladneſs, and ſorrow and ſighing ſhall flye away, Iſa. 35.10.
They joy before thee] Pleaſure there muſt be in the wayes of God, becauſe therein men let out their ſouls into God the Fountain of all good. Chriſts Chariot is paved with Love, Cant. 3.9, 10.
According to the joy in Harveſt] and a great deal more, Pſalm 4.7. They do over-abound exceedingly with joy, 2 Cor. 7.4. Joyes they have unſpeakable, and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8.
And as men rejoyce when they divide the ſpoil] Wherein the pleaſure is uſually more then the profit, Pſal. 119.162. and yet the profit oft very great too, as 2 Chron. 20.25. and as at the ſack of Conſtantinople, at the wealth whereof the Turks themſelves wondered, and derided their folly, that poſſeſſing ſo much they would beſtow ſo little in the defence of themſelves and their Countrey.Turk Hiſt. fol. 345.
Ver. 4. For thou haſt broken the yoke of his burthen] i. e. Thou haſt diſenthralled and delivered thy people from the burthenous yokes of their enemies, both corporal and ſpiritual: that taking thine eaſie yoke, thy light burthen upon them, they might ſerve thee without fear in holineſs and righteouſneſs before thee all the days of their lives, Luke 1.74. The Jew-Doctors expound all this of Senacheribs Tyranny, and their deliverance therefrom. But the Prophet intendeth a further matter, ver. 6.7.
And the ſtaffe of his ſhoulder] Wherewith he was beaten and baſtinado'd. See chap. 14.5.
The Rod of his oppreſſour] Metaphora ab agaſonibus, a Metaphor from Horſe-drivers, who lay on without mercy. Whipping among the Turks hath been uſually inflicted even upon the greateſt Baſhaws of the Court upon the leaſt diſpleaſure of the Tyrant:Ib. 361. eſpecially if they be not natural Turks born. The poor Captives met with hard meaſure this way at Babylon: but Satans ſlaves with much harder. Chriſt fitly noteth here, that the Rod wherewith the Devil whippeth ſinners is their own luſts and paſſions: yea herewith they puniſh themſelves, by his inſtigation, as the Lion beateth himſelf with his own tail.
As in the day of Midian] beaten by Gideon, Judg. 7.22. So the day of Gibea, Hoſ. 9.9. The day of Jeruſalem, Pſalm 137.7. The battel of Agin court; The Sicilian veſpers, &c. Gideon by the ſound of Trumpet and ſhining of Lamps out of earthen broken veſſels, overcame thoſe Midianites: ſo by the Trumpet of his Word and light of the Goſpel carried through the world by weak Inſtruments, hath Chriſt confounded his Adverſaries, 1 John 2.14. as One fitly maketh the compariſon. See it largely proſecuted in ſixteen particulars in Cornelius à Lapide upon the Text.
Ver. 5. For every battle of the Warriour, &c.] Great is the wo of war; when Death heweth its way through a wood of men, in a minute of time, from the mouth of a murdering piece, when fire and ſword waſte at pleaſure. The birth of Chriſt comforteth againſt all the miſeries of War: whereunto therefore it is oppoſed both here, and Mic. 5.1, 2. See the Note there. Now then as the Iſraelites frighted and flighted the Midianites with ſaying, Hic Gideon, Here's Gideon: ſo may we our ſpiritual enemies, by crying Hic Jeſus: Hoc in ſigno vincemus. Here's Jeſus: we are more then Conquerers through him that loved us.
But this ſhall be with burning] i. e. with the fire of the holy Ghoſt, ſaith Oecolampadius, burning up our corruptions, as chap. 4.4. and moulding us into a new man. Diodate ſenſeth it thus: The world ſhall be filled with blood and wars, and at laſt ſhall be conſumed with fire at the day of Judgement.
Ver. 6. For unto us a child is born] That Child foretold of, chap. 7.14. Chriſt ſhall be born in the fulneſs of time, as ſure as if he were born already. This was good tidings of great joy to all people, Luke 2.10. The Hebrew Beſher for good tidings, cometh of Baſhar for Fleſh: becauſe (ſay ſome Criticks) there ſhauld be a taking of Fleſh, God manifeſted in the fleſh, which ſhould be the beſt tidings. Angels firſt brought it, and were glad of ſuch an Errand. Still they pry into this Myſterie, prono capite & propenſo collo, 1 Pet. 1.12. and can never ſufficiently wonder to ſee that foreign ſhould be foreign, the great God, a little child; regens ſidera, ſugens ubera; that He who Ruleth the ſtars, ſhould be ſucking at the breaſt: that the Eternal Word ſhould not be able to ſpeak a word: that He that ſhould come in the Clouds, ſhould appear in clouts, Luke 2.12. in vilibus & veteribus indumentis, foreign. Induit ſordes noſtras; He condeſcended to our rags.ſaith Ladolphus, in old tattered rags, in ſuch clouts as we cover wounds, and beggars ſores with all, ſay others. Well might Syneſius call Chriſt viſcerum ingentium partum, the birth of huge Bowels. For the time of his birth, Chriſt living juſt thirty two years and an half, (ſaith One) and dying at Eaſter, it muſt needs follow that he was born about the middle of the monethmonth Tiſri which anſwereth to part of our September, at the Feaſt of Tabernacles, &c. to which Feaſt the word foreign, John 1.14. probably alludeth.
Ʋnto us a ſon is given] That only begotten Son of God, John 3.16. begotten of the ſubſtance of his Father before all beginnings, after an unſpeakable manner. The Scripture ſpeaketh of it uſually by way of circumlocution, Col. 1.15. Rev. 19.12. or giveth us only ſome glimpſe by way of ſimilitude, as Heb. 1.3. This Eternal Son of God, the ſecond Perſon in Trinity, aſſumed our Nature, Heb. 2.17. He overtook it (as the Greek word ſignifieth) as the Shepherd doth his ſheep that's run aſtray. A Shepherd with a ſheep upon his ſhoulder engraved upon the Communion-Cup in the Primitive times of the Goſpel, imported the ſame Notion.
And the Government ſhall be upon his ſhoulders] The Power and Majeſtie of the Kingdom is committed to him by his Father, chap. 22.22. with Matth. 28.18. and he hath ſtrength enough to manage it. Princeps eſt hajulus Reip. The Hebrews call a Prince Naſſi, becauſe Atlas-like, he is to bear up the Common-wealth, and not to overload his Subjects. Chriſt, both as Prince of his Church, and as High-Prieſt alſo, beareth up and beareth out his people, helping their infirmities, Rom. 8.26. See the Note.
And his Name ſhall be called] Heb. He ſhall call his Name. 1. God his Father ſhall: or every true Believer ſhall call him and count him all this. And ſure it is, had we but skill to ſpell all the Letters in this Name of Chriſt,Prov. 18.10. it would be a ſtrong Tower unto us, better then that of David builded for an Armoury, and compleatly furniſhed, Cant. 4.4. Compare this Text with 1 Cor. 1.30. and ſee all our doubts anſwered. Are we perplexed? He is our wonderful Counſellour, and made unto us of God Wiſdom. Are we in depths of diſtreſs? He is the mighty God, our Redemption. Want we Grace and his Image? He is the Everlaſting Father, our Sanctification. Doth the guilt of ſin ſting us? He is the Prince of peace, our Righteouſneſs.
Wonderful] Heb. A Miracle or Wonder, viz. in all his Counſels and Courſes,foreign. Symmach. Ipſa admirabilitas. A Lap. eſpecially for his: Glorious in holineſs, fearful in praiſes, doing wonders, Exod. 15.11.
Counſellour] The Septuagint here calleth Him the Angel of the great Counſel, Rev. 1.13. He is ſet forth as cloathed with a garment down to the foot, which is the Habit of Counſellors at Law, who are therehence called Gentlemen of the long Robe. See Rev. 3.17. Prov. 8.14. Jer. 32.19. But becauſe Counſellors are but Subjects, it is added in Chriſts ſtile
The mighty God] Able to effect his own Counſels for the behoof of his Subjects. Saint Paul calleth him the great God, Tit. 2.13. and God above all to be bleſſed for ever, Rom. 9.5. God the Potentate; ſo the Sept. render this Text: God the Giant; ſo Oecolampadius.
The Everlaſting Father] The Father of Eternity: the King Eternal, Immortal, 1 Tim. 1.17. Ferdinand the Emperour on his death bed would not acknowledge the Title Invictiſſimus, but commanded his Counſellour to call him Ferdinand without more addition. Chriſt is alſo the Author of Eternity to all his people whom he hath begotten again to an Inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reſerved in Heaven for them, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4.
The Prince of peace] Pacis omnimodae, of all kinds of peace, outward, inward, of countrey and of conſcience, temporal and eternal. Of all theſe he is the Prince, as having full power to beſtow them: for he is ſon to the God of peace, Rom. 16.20. He was brought from Heaven with that ſong of peace, Luc. 2.14. He himſelf purged our ſins, and made our peace, Heb. 1.3. Eph. 2.14. Returned up to Heaven with that farewel of peace, Joh. 14.27. Left to the world the Goſpel of peace, Eph. 2.17. Whoſe Miniſters are meſſengers of peace, Rom. 10.15. Whoſe followers are the children of peace, Luk. 10.6, &c. Wherefore Chriſt doth far better deſerve then our Hen. 7. did, to be ſtiled the Prince of peace. Eſpecially ſince
Ver. 7. Of the increaſe of his government there ſhall be no end] Here the Mem final in the middle of the word Lemarbeh hath occaſioned ſome to give many gueſſes at the reaſon of it: yea to conceit many myſteries, where wiſer men can find no ſuch matter. It is a good note which One giveth here, viz. that the more Chriſts government increaſeth in the ſoul, the more peace there is: See chap. 32.17. Pſal. 119.136.
To eſtabliſh it] Or, ſupport it, uphold it. foreign quaſi foreign. A King hath his name in Greek from being the foundation of the people. This King of Kings is only worthy of that name: he is not maintained and ſupported by us & our Subſidies; but we by him, and by the ſupplies of his Spirit, Philip. 1.19. All our ſprings are in him, Pſal. 87.7.
Non amat qui non zelat.The Zeal of the Lord of hoſts] i. e. the philanthropy, Tit. 3.4. and free grace of God. Dilexiſti me Domine magis quam te, ſaith a Father. Let us reciprocate by being zealous of good works, fervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord. And when Satan telleth us of our no merits, tell we him that the Zeal of the Lord of hoſts ſhall do it notwithſtanding.
Ver. 8. The Lord f…r… a word into Jacob] He ſent it as a ſhaft out of a bow, that will be ſure to hit. God loveth to premoniſh: but woe be to thoſe that will not be warned. The Septuagint render it The Lord ſent a plague, or Death into Jacob; and indeed after the white horſe followeth the red and the black, Revel. 6.2, 4, 5. Like as Tamerlan, that warlike Scythian, diſplayed firſt a white flag in token of mercy, and then a red, menacing and threatning blood: and then, laſtly, a black flag, the meſſenger and enſign of death was hung abroad.
And it hath lighted upon Iſrael.] 1. They were not ignorant of ſuch a word, ver. 9.2. They could neither avert, nor avoid his wrath.
Ver. 9. And all the people ſhall know] Know it they do already: but they ſhall know it by wofull experience. He that trembleth not in hearing, ſhall be cruſhed to pieces in feeling, ſaid Mr. Bradford Martyr.
That ſay in pride and ſloutneſs of heart] The Poet could ſay of his Ajax — foreign. His pride undid him; ſo doth it many a man: eſpecially when come to that height, that it fighteth againſt God, as here: When earthen pots will needs be daſhing againſt the Rock of ages, and doing this or that al deſpito di Dio, as that profane Pope once ſaid, whether God will or no: divine vengeance doggs at heels ſuch Deſperado's.
Ver. 10. The bricks are fallen down] Not thrown down by Providence, but fallen down by Fate or blind fortune. God is not ſo far honoured as once to be owned by theſe Atheiſts, who think they can make their party good againſt him, and mend what he had marr'd, whether he would or not. Thus this giantlike generation: and the like impiety is in the corrupt nature of us all; For as in water face anſwereth to face, ſo doth the heart of a man to a man, ſaith Solomon.
Prov. 27.19.The Sycomores are cut down, &c.] Another proverbial ſpeech to the ſame purpoſe: Sycomores were then very common in that countrey, and little ſet by, 1 King. 10.27. Now they are not to be found there, ſaith Hierom, as neither are Cedars in Lebanon.
Ver. 11. Therefore the Lord ſhall ſet up the adverſaries of Rezin] in whom ye truſt. He ſhall ſhortly be deſtroyed by the Aſſyrian, 2 King. 16.9. and then your hopes ſhall hop headleſs, and make you aſhamed.
And joyn his enemies together] Heb. mingle them, viz. in confederacy and agreement againſt him, though otherwiſe at ods amongſt themſelves.
Ver. 12. The Syrians before] Under the conduct of the Aſſyrian, who hath ſlain their King Rezin, and made them his vaſſals.
And the Philiſtins behind] Or from the Weſt, weſtward.
And they ſhall devour Iſrael with open mouth] The enemies of Gods people are more ſavage and ravenous then wild beaſts. Hence they are called in Scripture Boars, Bears, Lions, Leopards, Vnicorns, Tigers, Wolves, &c. Let us therefore bleſs us out of their bloody jawes: which having eſcaped, let us ſing Bleſſed be God who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth, Pſal, 124.6. The poor Jndians cryed out that it had been better their countrey had been given to the Devils of Hell, then to thoſe cruel Spaniards.
For all this his wrath is not turned away] He ſtill frowneth, and hath his hand up to ſmite, as angry people uſe to do.
Ver. 13. For the people turneth not unto him that ſmiteth them] This were the onelyonly way to eſcape God, viz. to run in to him: there is no ſtanding before a Lion: no bearing up ſail in a ſtorm, no ſtouting it out with God Almighty; See the Notes on Am. 4.6.— 11.
Ver. 14. Head and tail] i. e. high and low, as ver. 15.foreign Sept. Parvi properemus & ampli. Here he compareth Iſrael, non ſine morſu, to a beaſt with a long tail, for the perverſeneſs of their practices. Or elſe to the Serpent Amphisbaena, which ſtingeth both with head and tail.
Branch and ruſh] ſtrong and feeble. A branch or bough hath ſome tack in it: a ruſh is a ſpungy, unſubſtantial ſubſtance.
Ver. 15. The ancient and honourable is the head] Thus the Scripture frequently expoundeth it ſelf. In a general calamity all fare alike, Lords and Loſels.
And the Prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail] Such, like Dogs do caudâ adblandiri, ſooth and ſmooth men up in their ſins, and are the vileſt of men. Quid enim contemptius & abjectius animo fingi poteſt quam aſſentari divitibus, linguamque venalem habere? Such alſo, as Serpents, glide ſmoothly over the body; but ſting with their tails.
Ver. 16. For the leaders of this people cauſe them to erre] by their ill counſel and example. Exempla enim non ibi conſiſtunt, ubi caeperunt. The Ancients placed the Statues of their Princes and Patriots near the fountains: to ſhew that they were the ſpringheads of good or evil to the publike. Some read the words thus, Thoſe that bleſs this people (viz. the falſe Prophets) have been miſleaders; ductores fuerunt ſeductores. Pope Pius 2. hath this memorable ſaying, Nihil excellenter malum in Eccleſia, In Hiſt. Auſter.Catholica patratur cujus prima origo à ſacerdotibus non dependeat, ni forte occulto quodam Dei conſilio fiat.
And they that are led of them] Or, bleſſed by them.Obiecti. Tremel.
Are deſtroyed] Or ſwallowed up, or blindfolded.
Ver. 17. Therefore the Lord ſhall have no joy in their yong men] Nay he ſhall laugh at their deſtruction, Prov. 1.
Neither ſhall have mercy on their fatherleſs and widdows] They are deceived therefore that being unregenerate, hope to find favour with God, merely for their adverſity: and becauſe they have their Hell, as they call it, here, think to have Heaven hereafter.
Becauſe every one is an hypocrite and an evil-doer] That facies hypocritica of our nation is facies Hippocratica, ſaith One; a mortal complexion, a ſad Prognoſtick.
And every mouth ſpeaketh folly] Or villany; ſapleſs, worthleſs, rotten and ſtinking ſtuffe, Eph. 4.29.
Ver. 18. For wickedneſs burneth as a fire] God will burn up theſe wicked Iſraelits, as once he did thoſe ſinfull Sodomits: for unregenerate Iſrael is to him as Ethiopia, Am. 9.7. when once ſcelera abierunt in mores, and there is a general defection of all ſorts and States, God will make an utter riddance of them; he will fire the whole forreſt.
Ver. 19. Through the wrath of the Lord of hoſtes is the Land darkened] viz. by that pride of ſmoke or vaſt pillar of ſmoke mentioned ver. 18. Triſtem & miſeram rerum faciem deſignat.
No man ſhall ſpare his brother] Wickedneſs is cruel: and a man had as good deal with a Cannibal, as with a truly covetous caytiffe.
Ver. 20. And he ſhall ſnatch on the right hand, and be hungry] Inexplebilem illorum avaritiam & rapacitatem notat. They ſhall rape and ſcrape by right or wrong, and yet as ſick of a bulimy, or under the curſe of unſatisfiableneſs, they ſhall never have enough, Eccleſ. 5.10. See the Note there.
They ſhall eat every man the fleſh of his own arm] that is, they ſhall make a prey of they neareſt allyes. Some underſtand the text of civil wars which indeed are moſt unnatural: Imbelles damae quid niſi praeda ſumus?and concerning which One ſaith well, Diſſidia noſtra ſunt amicorum diſpendia, hoſtium compendia, & publica irae divinae incendia.
Ver. 21. Manaſſeh Ephraim, and Ephraim Manaſſeh] Snarling at and intertearing one another as dogs, about the kingly dignity, or ſome other reaſonleſs reaſon. Thus the Prophet exemplifieth what he had ſpoken.
And they together ſhall be againſt Judah] So Herod and Pilate could unite againſt Chriſt, Luk. 23.7, 8, 9 and thoſe that were at greateſt enmity amongſt themſelves, againſt the Church, Pſal. 83.5, 8. So in Julian the Apoſtates time, Jews and Gentiles combined againſt Chriſtians: and in our dayes Papiſts and Lutherans againſt Calviniſts.In Syngram. How unworthily and impotently do the Lutherans of Suevia rail upon that holy man Oecolampadius, whoſe note it is upon this text, that theſe laſt dangerous times were foretold by St. Paul, 2 Tim. 3.1, 2. Annon eoſdem deſcribunt Paulus & Jeſaias? ſaith He; Do not Paul and Iſaiah deſcribe the ſame men? Bullinger obſerveth concerning the Anabaptiſts of Germany, that as they are at great odds among themſelves, ſo they all agree againſt godly Miniſters of the truth, to deſpiſe and diſparage them to the utmoſt.