A17640:1215
Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah
A commentary upon the prophecy of Isaiah. By Mr. John Calvin. Whereunto are added four tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.A commentary vpon the prophecie of Isaiah. By Mr. Iohn Caluin. Whereunto are added foure tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston, 1609
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Vers. 2. Sending Ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of* reeds upon the waters, saying; Go ye swift messengers, to a nation that is scattered abroad and spoiled, to a terrible people from their beginning even hitherto; a nation by little and little, even trodden under foot,2 whose land the floods have spoiled.
Vers. 2. Sending Ambassadours by the sea, euen in vessels of* reedes vpon the waters, saying; Goe yee swift messengers, to a nation that is scattered abroad and spoiled, to a terrible people from their beginning euen hitherto; a nation by little and little, euen trodden vnder foot,2 whose land the floods haue spoiled.
- *Or, ru••e•.
- 2On every side.On euerie side.
This is properly to be referred to the state of those times. It seems that this people had solicited the Egyptians, or Syrians, to vex the Jews: or else that the Assyrians used them to molest the Country of Judea; or, that they were companions of the Egyptians, joining hand in hand to beat back the Assyrians, lest they should wax too strong and mighty. We can affirm nothing but by way of conjecture, because all histories are silent in this behalf. Seeing then that we want witnesses in this case, we must use probable conjectures. It is very likely that these journeys were not taken in hand to go to some place near unto them, but far off. Whereas he calls them ships of rushes, we are not to think it strange; because it appears by ancient histories, that the Egyptians commonly used such vessels by sea, in regard that Nilus is so steep and dangerous to those that sail in it in some places, by reason of the height from whence the waters do violently fall; (which they call Catadupes) that it is impossible to bring ships of wood that way, without breaking & renting them upon the rocks. And therefore they are constrained to use little pliable vessels. And lest the water should enter in and drown them, the histories say, that these ships were lined with pitch in the insides of them.