Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 4. And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of caterpillars: and he shall go against him like the leaping of the grasshoppers.

Vers. 4. And your spoile shall be gathered like the gathering of caterpillers: and he shall goe against him like the leaping of the grashoppers.

HE speaks here of the Assyrians. Unless any had rather refer it unto the Jews, and so take the word spoil, in the active signification; albeit the first sense agrees best. Now this change of persons gives great vehemency to the prophecy, in that he so plainly advanceth himself against such proud adversaries, and doth as it were name them. Yet some doubt whether he speaks here of the final destruction of this nation, or of that discomfiture in which the host of Sennacherib was destroyed before the walls of Jerusalem, by the hand of the Angel. All expositors almost have followed this latter opinion, which notwithstanding, as I think, is too much constrained. For it seems the Prophet meant to say somewhat more in the beginning of the Chapter, when he spake of the destruction of this people. Yea, as I have touched a little before, this prophecy may be extended further off; so as it may comprehend also the Chaldeans, which were the last enemies of the Jewish Church. But not to stand much upon it, it appears sufficiently that the Prophet directs his speech against the Monarchy of the Ninevites.

HE speakes here of the Assyrians. Vnlesse any had rather referre it vnto the Iewes, and so take the word spoile, in the actiue signification; albeit the first sense agrees best. Now this change of persons giues great vehemencie to the prophecie, in that he so plainly aduanceth himselfe against such proud aduersaries, and doth as it were name them. Yet some doubt whether he speakes heere of the finall destruction of this nation, or of that discomfiture in which the host of Sennatherib was destroied before the walles of Ierusalem, by the hand of the Angell. All expositors almost haue followed this latter opiniō, which notwithstanding, as I think, is too much constrained. For it seemes the Prophet meant to say somewhat more in the beginning of the Chapter, when he spake of the destruction of this people. Yea, as I haue touched a little before, this prophecie may be extended further off; so as it may comprehend also the Caldeans, which were the last enemies of the Iewish Church. But not to stand much vpon it, it appeares sufficiently that the Prophet directs his speech against the Monarchy of the Niniuites.