Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 2. Hear O heavens, and thou earth hearken: for the Lord hath said, I have nourished, and brought up children, but they have^* rebelled against me.

Vers. 2. Heare O heauens, and thou earth hearken: for the Lord hath said, I haue nourished, and brought vp children, but they haue^* rebelled against me.

1. *Or, have done wickedly against me.Or, haue done wickedly against me.

Isaiah hath here imitated Moses: for so it is the custom of all the Prophets to do; neither is it to be doubted but he alludes to that excellent song of Moses, Deut. 32.1. in the very entrance whereof he calls heaven and earth to witness against the people. I grant that it is a terrible protestation: for it is as much as if both of them should turn themselves to the dumb elements void of sense, because men had no ears to hear, but were become utterly benumbed in all their senses. Isaiah then speaks here as of a rare and prodigious thing, which were even enough to smite the very elements with astonishment (though otherwise senseless in themselves.) For what could be more horrible then to see the Israelites reject the Lord, from whom they had received so many benefits? Those who by heaven, understand the Angels, and by earth, men, do too much lessen the force of these words: and do also take away that wherein the chiefest weight of the Prophets vehemency lieth. Now all the expositors almost do finish the clause, For the Lord hath spoken, here: As if the Prophet meant to say, Seeing God hath opened his sacred mouth, it stands all men in hand attentively to receive his word. And thus the sentence in appearance indeed is more full: but the circumstance of the place requires another knitting together of the words; namely, tt this word hearken be referred, not generally to what purpose one will; but solely and only to the next complaint. And so, the sense is thus; Hear the complaint which God commenceth against you: I have nourished, &c. For he recounts such a monstrous thing, as he is almost cast into a swoon at the sight of it: so as he is fain to call in all the insensible creatures (contrary to all order) to be witnesses thereof. I had rather then take these things in their proper signification, because they do better set forth the Prophets meaning.