Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

BY deserts, the Prophet means an horrible waste which befell the Jews at that time,¹ when they were led captives: for the Land became like a desert, the cities were ruinated, the Temple was razed, the people made bondslaves, and scattered into all quarters. He calls them deserts, and old, because they could not be so soon reedified; neither was there any hope left that the people should be restored to their first estate. If any City be wasted or laid on heaps, yet as long as the inhabitants remain there, it may in short time be restored: but if the inhabitants which dwelt therein be dead, or have bin carried away into a far Country, and shall be long absent, what hope is left that such a City should be new built again? Will it not seem strange if a long while after the ruin thereof, one should say; The people which seemed forlorn, shall build and repair it again? Seeing this promise then was incredible, the Prophet meant to meet with this doubt. For they might object; If the Lord meant to raise us to our former estate, why suffers he us to languish so long a time? He answers, that the length of time shall not let God to raise up the things again that were fallen to the earth for many years together. Now this must not be restrained to the building of the Temple begun by Zerubbabel, and continued by Nehemiah, Ezra. 3.8. but it comprehend• the restoration of the Church, which was effected some ages after.

BY deserts, the Prophet meanes an horrible waste which befell the Iewes at that time,¹ when they were led captiues: for the Land became like a desert, the cities were ruinated, the Temple was razed, the people made bondslaues, and scattered into all quarters. Hee calles them deserts, and old, because they could not be so soone reedified; neither was there any hope left that the people should be restored to their first estate. If any Citie be wasted or laid on heapes, yet as long as the inhabitants remaine there, it may in short time be restored: but if the inhabitants which dwelt therein be dead, or haue bin carried away into a farre Country, and shall be long absent, what hope is left that such a Citie should be new built againe? Wil it not seeme strange if a long while after the ruine thereof, one should say; The people vvhich seemed forlorne, shall build and repaire it againe? Seeing this promise then was incredible, the Prophet meant to meete with this doubt. For they might obiect; If the Lord meant to raise vs to our former estate, why suffers he vs to languish so long a time? He answers, that the length of time shall not let God to raise vp the things againe that were fallen to the earth for many yeeres together. Now this must not be restrained to the building of the Temple begun by Zerobabel, and continued by Nehemias,