Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Some refer this to Jerusalem: but I rather think it to be a change of the number only, which is a thing very usual among the Prophets: for Isaiah speaks not of one City alone, but of many, which he foretells should be laid upon heaps. Whereas others take it, that Jerusalem served for a palace to the Romans, they come nothing nigh the Prophets meaning; which will plainly appear if we call to mind what hath been said before, to wit, that the Prophet busies not himself in thinking of the scourges wherewith God hath afflicted divers nations, but rather aims at the end and issue of them. For by them the Lord purposed to subdue and tame the pride and rebellion of men, whom he could never have subdued unto himself, unless they had been smitten with divers calamities. Moreover, Isaiah saith not only that strangers shall inhabit the surprised Cities, out of which they were driven that dwelt in them: for so that which he by and by adds would not agree, to wit, that the palace shall be no more a City: but his meaning is, that vagabonds who should have no place of abode at all, shall find sufficient room there, because the inhabitants shall betake them to their heels. Now because Armon signifies goodly houses, he saith by way of derision, that thieves shall dwell there as in Palaces, in regard of the great space which should lie waste like unto a desert.

SOme referre this to Ierusalem: but I rather thinke it to be a change of the number only, which is a thing very vsuall among the Prophets: for Isaiah speakes not of one Citie alone, but of many, which he foretels should be laid vpon heapes. Whereas others take it, that Ierusalem serued for a palace to the Romanes, they come nothing nigh the Prophets meaning; which will plainely appeere if we call to mind what hath been said before, to wit, that the Prophet busies not himselfe in thinking of the scourges wherwith God hath afflicted diuers nations, but rather aimes at the end and issue of them. For by them the Lord purposed to subdue and tame the pride and rebellion of men, whom he could neuer haue subdued vnto himselfe, vnlesse they had been smitten with diuers calamities. Moreouer, Isaiah saith not only that strangers shall inhabit the surprized Cities, out of which they were driuen that dwelt in them: for so that which he by and by addes would not agree, to wit, that the palace shall be no more a Citie: but his meaning is, that vagabonds who should haue no place of abode at all, shall find sufficient roome there, because the inhabitants shal betake them to their heeles. Now because Armon signifies goodly houses, he saith by way of derision, that theeues shall dwell there as in Palaces, in regard of the great space which should lie waste like vnto a desert.