Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Others expound Ah, Woe, as if it were a curse: sometimes it is used as a word of calling, as we have seen heretofore. But as I think, it should rather signify Alas in this place: for he mourns for the calamity which he foresaw would befall Israel: be it that he doth it of a brotherly affection, or that he thereby would pierce the deeper into the hearts of this senseless and blockish people. No question but the Prophets feared the vengeance of God whereof they were the Heralds, more then any other: and howsoever they sharply threatened the people as in regard of the person they sustained, yet did they never so cast off the affection of love, but they always had compassion of those that should perish. Notwithstanding the consideration of the covenant which God had contracted with the seed of Abraham, was the cause of this: and we see that this affection was in S. Paul, who desires to be accursed for his brethren the Jews, Rom. 9.3. When Isaiah then sets the matter thus before his eyes, it could not be but that he was touched with extreme grief. Now in that he sets this destruction before the view of the Israelites as if he himself beheld it, it is to confirm his threatening, as we have showed elsewhere. The word multitude is set down, because the army was gathered of many and divers nations, whereof the Monarchy of the Assyrians was composed. By the similitudes which he addeth afterwards, his meaning is only to amplify his speech: for he compares the enemies to a Sea or deluge which drowns the whole country.