Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Verb Raaf signifieth to bruise, or to break, whether it descends from the word Roa, or from Raah. But because Raah signifies to conjoin or assemble, some had rather take it in this sense; which also agrees best with the argument and context of the Prophet. For whereas some translate, Break you, to wit, either the kingdom of Judah, or the Assyrians; it seems too constrained, & too far fetched. But it appeareth that the Prophet describes the counsels and enterprises by which they thought to cut off the Church of God, because he by and by adds, Gird your selves. Also in the beginning of the next verse, Take counsel. The word then of Assembling, properly agrees to this place, unless any had rather take the word to Break by a figure; to which I willingly yield, and so the word amounts to as much as to heap up, or (as we commonly say) to pack up hard together, because things which are pressed, are also consequently pressed with violence and thrust together. He means then not only an heap, but an heap well pressed together: as if he should say, Gather your selves close together, as if you were some very thick heap. This signification as it seems agrees very well to the circumstance of this place; and that which is added afterward tends also hereunto, Arm you, Gird your selves. But the Prophet encourageth himself with trust and confidence, after he had made mention of Immanuel, that is to say, God, who was to assist his people. And by the selfsame means conceived a new hope against the enemies, who although they might seem to have obtained all their desires when they had spoiled the country: yet should the Lord be conqueror, and would maintain his own against the cruelty of their adversaries. And thus withdrawing his mind from the contemplation of this calamity, he turns it to Christ, and in beholding of him, he so fortifies himself, that he is bold to triumph over his enemies, as if he had already overcome them. We are to place the Prophet then as it were in the watch-tower, from whence on the one side