Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Now he speaks of the seed, whereof the Ploughman puts not in as much as he can; neither pours he it out by heaps, but views the ground, and then sows it with as much as is convenient: for otherwise, great heaps would lie and rot, and there would not so much as one kernel take root. Again, he mingles not divers seeds together, but reserves one part of his field for wheat, another for fitches, and the rest for Cummin: all which he doth by measure, which is here understood by the word Shorah, which ought thus to be understood as I take it, and not for good, or excellent, for he speaks here of measuring. He saith the like of reaping and threshing: for corn is not beaten out all after one manner, but wheat is beaten out with the cart wheel, or some ragged or toothed instrument: fitches with a rod, and Cummin with a flail. Now he speaks here after the custom of his Country: for wheat is threshed in France only with a flail, Provence only excepted. To be short, his meaning is, that every kind of grain is not beaten out after one fashion, but every one hath such an Instrument as fits the nature thereof. Also that the Husbandman is not alway threshing, but keeps a measure, lest otherwise he should bruise the corn.

NOw he speakes of the seede, whereof the Plowman puts not in as much as he can; neither powres he it out by heapes, but views the ground, and then sowes it with as much as is conuenient: for otherwise, great heapes would lie and rot, and there would not so much as one kirnell take roote. Againe, he mingles not diuers seeds together, but reserues one part of his field for wheate, another for fitches, and the rest for Cummin: all which he doth by measure, which is here vnderstood by the word Shorah, which ought thus to be vnderstood as I take it, and not for good, or excellent, for he speakes heere of measuring. He saith the like of reaping and threshing: for corne is not beaten out all after one manner, but wheate is beaten out with the cart wheele, or some ragged or toothed instrument: fitches with a rod, and Cummin with a flaile. Now he speakes heere after the custome of his Countrie: for wheat is threshed in France only with a flaile, Prouence only excepted. To be short, his meaning is, that euery kind of grain is not beaten out after one fashion, but euery one hath such an Instrument as fits the nature thereof. Also that the Husbandman is not alway threshing, but keepes a measure, lest otherwise he should bruise the corne.