Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Prophet adds this, to let the Jews understand that the Chaldeans should not come into the field at random, but should be appointed thereunto by God, and prepared by his hand. By the roaring of the sea, he meaneth such a great hurly burly, as should seem like unto a deluge, by which all Judea should be drowned. He also cuts off all hopes, in foretelling that there should be neither case nor end in these chastisements. The Jews (saith he) shall look up and down to find means to escape, as men are wont to do in any great perplexity, but on which side soever they turn them, be it to heaven or to the earth, they shall find no ease from either of them, because miseries and calamities should utterly overwhelm them on all sides. This manner of speech is very common, yea even among the rude people, at such time as destruction and calamities do threaten on every side, when no issue or ease can be perceived. It is necessary then that it should fare thus with us, when the Lord pursues us, to the end his high hand may always appear in our eyes; and that on which side soever we turn our selves, we might behold the creatures armed against us for the execution of his judgements: for we may sometimes escape mens hands, but which way shall we be able to flee from the hand of God?

THe Prophet addes this, to let the Iewes vnderstand that the Chaldeans should not come into the field at randon, but should be appointed thereunto by God, and prepared by his hand. By the roaring of the sea, he meaneth such a great hurly burly, as should seeme like vnto a deluge, by which all Iudea should be drowned. He also cuts off all hopes, in foretelling that there should be neither case nor end in these chastisements. The Iewes (saith he) shall looke vp and downe to finde meanes to escape, as men are woont to do in any great perplexitie, but on which side soeuer they turne them, be it to heauen or to the earth, they shall finde no ease from either of them, because miseries and calamities should vtterly ouerwhelme them on all sides. This maner of speech is very common, yea euen among the rude people, at such time as destruction and calamities do threaten on euery side, when no issue or ease can be perceiued. It is necessarie then that it should fare thus with vs, when the Lord pursues vs, to the end his high hand may alwayes appeare in our eyes; and that on which side soeuer we turne our selues, we might behold the creatures armed against vs for the execution of his iudgements: for we may sometimes escape mens hands, but which way shall we be able to flee from the hand of God?