Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

But to whom is this voice directed? Is ⟨p. 402⟩it to the faithful? No such matter. To whom then?¹ To Cyrus, to the Medes and Persians which held this people captive, who because they were no voluntary servants of God, they were constrained to deliver them whether they would or no. This is the cause why they are commanded to prepare and make ready the way, that the people might pass home into Judea, as if he should say, Make passage for them in those ways where none was before. And this sets forth the efficacy and force of this prophecy, for when God gives power to his servants to command cruel tyrants given to robbery (and were then conquerors over the Babylonians) to prepare the way for his people: he thereby shows, that nothing shall be able to foreslow the accomplishment of his promise, because he will serve his turn of the Medes and Persians, as of his hired servants.

But to whom is this voice directed? Is ⟨p. 402⟩it to the faithfull? No such matter. To whom then?¹ To Cyrus, to the Medes and Persians which held this people captiue, who because they were no voluntarie seruants of God, they were constreined to deliuer them whether they would or no. This is the cause why they are commanded to prepare and make readie the way, that the people might passe home into Iudea, as if he should say, Make passage for them in those wayes where none was before. And this sets forth the efficacie and force of this prophesie, for when God giues power to his seruants to commaund cruell tyrants giuen to robberie (and were then conquerors ouer the Babylonians) to prepare the way for his people: he thereby shewes, that nothing shall be able to foreslow the accomplishment of his promise, because he will serue his turne of the Medes and Persians, as of his hired seruants.

1. 1To whom this voice is directed. Cyrus. The Medes, and Persians.