Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

For it had been a thing very unreasonable, for the Lord to have chastised other nations, and that these in the mean while which had been no less enemies, should have escaped scot-free, or should have bin smitten five hundred years after. All these conjectures then lead us to expound this place of Nebuchadnezzar.

For it had been a thing verie vnreasonable, for the Lord to haue chastised other nations, and that these in the meane while which had been no lesse enemies, should haue escaped scotfree, or should haue bin smitten fiue hundred yeeres after. All these coniectures then lead vs to expoūd this place of Nebuchadnezer.

Howl.] He enricheth the declaration of the ruin of this City with divers figures: and it is his custom so to speak, that he might get the more authority to his prophecy. For to deliver such a thing in a plain speech, would have been but cold; neither would it have been sufficiently effectual to comfort the hearts of those, who a long time had been weak and faint: and therefore he sets it forth before them, as it were in fresh and lively colours. And first he shows that the destruction shall be very great, in regard that even the regions far off shall feel it: and he commands the ships to howl, because they shall have no employment when Tyre shall be destroyed. Now he especially names the ships of the Cilicians, because they being neighbours, used to traffic much and often with the Tyrians: and the Hebrews call Cilicia, Tarshish. Neither could it possibly be, but the destruction of Tyre, must bring great detriment to this Country; not only in that the usual traffics ceased for a time, but also in regard that the Merchants goods, together with their books of accounts, were carried away, and scattered here and there; as it usually falls out when the houses of rich men are rifled.

Howle.] He inricheth the declaration of the ruine of this Citie with diuers figures: and it is his custome so to speake, that he might get the more authoritie to his prophecie. For to deliuer such a thing in a plaine speech, would haue been but cold; neither would it haue been sufficiently effectuall to comfort the hearts of those, who a long time had been weake and faint: and therefore he sets it forth before them, as it were in fresh and liuely colours. And first he shewes that the destruction shall be very great, in regard that euen the regions farre off shal feele it: and he commands the ships to howle, because they shall haue no imployment when Tyre shall be destroyed. Now he especially names the ships of the Cilicians, because they being neighbours, vsed to traffiue much and often with the Tyrians: and the Hebrewes call Cilicia, Tarshish. Neither could it possibly be, but the destruction of Tyre, must bring great detriment to this Country; not onely in that the vsuall trffiques ceased for a time, but also in regard that the Merchants goods, together with their bookes of accounts, were carried away, and scattered here and there; as it vsually falles out when the houses of rich men are rifled.