Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Their conjecture is frivolous, who by the word Meni, which we have translated, Number, understand Mercury, because Mena signifies to number; and that Mercury was the god of the Merchants,¹ who have their books of accounts. For the Prophets meaning is plain enough, in that he shows the people shall be numbered to the sword, because they rejoiced in an heap of gods, and refused to rest upon the only true God.

Their coniecture is friuolous, who by the word Meni, which we haue translated, Number, vnderstand Mercurie, because Mena signifies to number; and that Mercurie was the god of the Merchants,¹ who haue their bookes of accounts. For the Prophets meaning is plaine enough, in that he shewes the people shall be numbred to the sword, because they reioiced in an heape of gods, and refused to rest vpon the onely true God.

1. 1Mercury, god of the Merchants.Mercurie, god of the Merchants.

Because I have called.] He amplifies the greatness and heinousness of this revolt, in regard the Jews sinned of a set malice, and rather against knowledge, then of ignorance. For they had been often taught and instructed, but they insolently rejected all admonitions. In which respect, they were much less excusable then those to whom the Prophets were not sent. For as no man alive can pretend any cause of ignorance;¹ so yet the Jews much less, and those to whom the word of the Lord hath been published: who for this cause shall have a sharper sentence of condemnation pronounced against them then, and shall be more severely punished then any other.

Because I haue called.] He amplifies the greatnesse and hainousnesse of this reuolt, in regard the Iewes sinned of a set malice, and rather against knowledge, then of ignorance. For they had been often taught and instructed, but they insolently reiected all admonitions. In which respect, they were much lesse excusable then those to whom the Prophets were not sent. For as no man aliue can pretend any cause of ignorance;