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 §1he beholds the discomfiture of the people, and from the other the Assyrians conquering §2and overflowing in all pride. Then being §3comforted by the sight and name of Christ, he forgets all his afflictions, as if he ailed nothing;

THe Verb Raaf signifieth to bruise, or to breake, whether it descends from the word Roa, or from Raah. But because Raah signifies to conioyne 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, Breake you, to wit, either the kingdome of Iudah, or the Assyrians; it seemes too cōstrained, & too farre fetched. But it appeeres that ye Prophet describes the counsels and enterprises by which they thought to cut off the Church of God, because he by and by addes, Gird your selues. Also in the beginning of ye next verse, Take counsell. The word then of Assembling, properlie agrees to this place, vnlesse any had rather take the word to Breake by a figure; to which I willinglie yeeld, and so the word amounts to as much as to heape vp, or (as we commonlie say) to pack vp hard together, because things which are pressed, are also consequētlie pressed with violence and thrust together. He meanes then not only an heape, but an heape well pressed together: as if he should say, Gather your selues close together, as if you were some very thick heape. This signification as it seemes agrees very well to the circumstance of this place; and that which is added afterward tends also heereunto, Arme you, Gird your selues. But the Prophet incourageth himselfe 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 selfesame meanes conceiued a new hope against the enemies, who although they might seeme to haue obteined all their desires when they had spoiled the countrie: yet should the Lord be conqueror, and would maintaine his owne against the crueltie of their aduersaries. And thus withdrawing his mind from the contemplation of this calamitie, he turnes it to Christ, and in beholding of him, he so fortifies himselfe, that he is bold to triumph ouer his enemies, as if he had alreadie ouercome them. We are to place the Prophet then as it were in the watch-tower, from whence on the one side