Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

1. *Or, nevertheless.Or, neuerthelesse.
2. *Or, shall brouze upon the tops thereof.Or, shall brouze vpon the tops thereof.

Yet.] Some take the Hebrew Conjunction Vau, for a particle of rendering the cause; and some, as if it signified Otherwise: therefore it will bear a double sense. If we interpret it For, then the Prophet should give a reason of that which went before: but that is against the drift of the text; and besides, it is utterly a very absurd exposition. Those who take it for Otherwise, have the most likelihood: for this threat may well agree, If you repent not, look to the issue; Your City which is so well fortified, shall be made like a wilderness. But yet me thinks this is too constrained a sense. I had rather then expound it, Notwithstanding, or nevertheless: for the Prophet meant to say, that Jerusalem and the rest of the Cities of Judea should be destroyed: neither could Jerusalem possibly escape, albeit God meant to spare his people. This admonition was very requisite, because the faithful might have been discouraged in seeing this holy City overthrown, and the Temple laid on heaps: but they knew by the former prophesies that God had means enow in store to conserve his Church, and the consideration thereof upheld them. The Prophet then goes about to prevent this temptation. And from hence learn, that we ought never to be out of heart howsoever we be brought to a great exigent; and that the Lord begins to handle us with all extremity. Now albeit this threatening may well concern all Judea, yet I rather think that he speaks here principally of Jerusalem, which was the Mother City of that country.