Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

¹Because this promise (to wit, that those who trusted in the Lord should possess the land) might seem ridiculous, seeing soon after they should be banished out of their country:² therefore this second promise is added for the little remnants sake which yet remained. In which he promiseth that they shall be brought home again into the land of Canaan, though for a time they were cast out and driven into a far country. He meets with a doubt which might arise, that so the faithful might not be discouraged during this long and tedious exile, nor esteem Gods promises to be vain.

¹BEcause this promise (to wit, that those who trusted in the Lord should possesse the land) might seeme ridiculous, seeing soone after they should be banished out of their countrie:² therefore this second promise is added for the little remnants sake which yet remained. In which he promiseth that they shall be brought home againe into the land of Canaan, though for a time they were cast out and driuen into a farre countrie. He meetes with a doubt which might arise, that so the faithfull might not be discouraged during this long and tedious exile, nor esteeme Gods promises to be vaine.

1. 1See vers. 13.
2. 2A prevention.A preuention.

Some expound, That the Lord would send true and faithful Prophets which should remove and purge out those offences of the Church, wherewith it was corrupted by false prophets, and wicked governors. For they, as he showed in Chap. 56.10.11. were the cause of the ruin of it, and therefore they judge that here is a better and more desirable estate promised. But this exposition suits very ill, and therefore I had rather follow the first, namely, that albeit the Jews for a time were to be deprived of this land, yet the Lord would establish them therein again, who will to that end command the rough ways to be made smooth, for their return. This place therefore agrees with that which we have seen in Chap. 40.1.2.3.4. where the Lord