Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE here more fully expresseth after what manner they should see the estate of Judea miserably distressed, yet so, that their faith in the end should break forth as out of a bottomless gulf. He also names the places particularly, to wit, Lebanon, Bashan, and Carmel, which are far distant one from another, being as it were the borders of the holy land: all which is to show, that no corner shall be spared, or rest in safety. And in the description of this desolation, he attributes to every several place, that which agreed with the situation of it; as to Lebanon, shame and confusion: because glory and beauty are attributed unto it in other places,¹ in regard it was replenished and adorned with great and goodly trees. As touching Sharon, because it was a plain and fertile soil, he saith, it shall be like a wilderness. That Bashan and Carmel is shaken, because there grew abundance of fruits. Thus he alludes to the nature of these places, and describes the misery and calamity which should befall the same, that he might the better amplify and set forth the mercy and goodness of God, which should be the cause of their deliverance, albeit for the present, they saw themselves as good as forlorn. For here was cause to behold the immediate hand of God. Unless any had rather say, that the Prophet recites a thing already done, to stir the people up to thanksgiving.