Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 4. For the yoke of their burden, and the staff of their shoulder, and the rod of their oppression hast thou broken as in the day of Midian.

Vers. 4. For the yoke of their burthen, and the staffe of their shoulder, and the rod of their oppression hast thou broken as in the day of Midian.

HE shows the cause of this joy; to wit, that the faithful being delivered from an horrible and cruel tyranny, should esteem of this benefit even as much as if they had been drawn out of the jaws of death. Now to the end this favour might be the better illustrated, Isaiah sets forth the vile and insupportable slavery wherewith the Jews were oppressed: and hereunto belongs this heaping up of words, heavy yoke, rod of the shoulder, staff of the oppressor, or, exactor. For although we be overtender and delicate when afflictions press us; yet notwithstanding as soon as the bitterness is past, we by and by forget them. To the end then that this redeemed people might keep the singular benefit of God in remembrance, and in a reverend regard, the Prophet would have them to consider how hard and lamentable this servitude was, wherein they groaned and bowed underneath heavy burdens, when as the staff never moved from off their shoulders, being pressed by a Tyrant which insulted over them: for which cause they might well rejoice and be glad of their deliverance.

HE shewes the cause of this ioy; to wit, that the faithfull being deliuered from an horrible and cruell tyrannie, should esteeme of this benefit euen as much as if they had been drawne out of the iawes of death. Now to the end this fauour might bee the better illustrated, Isaiah sets forth the vile and insupportable slauery wherewith the Iewes were oppressed: and hereunto belongs this heaping vp of wordes, heauie yoke, rod of the shoulder, staffe of the oppressor, or, exactor. For although wee bee ouertender and delicate when afflictions presse vs; yet notwithstanding as soone as the bitternesse is past, we by and by forget them. To the end then that this redeemed people might keepe the singular benefit of God in remembrance, and in a reuerend regard, the Prophet would haue them to consider how hard and lamentable this seruitude was, wherein they groned and bowed vnderneath heauy burthens, when as the staffe neuer moued from off their shoulders, being pressed by a Tyrant which insulted ouer them: for which cause they might well reioyce and bee glad of their deliuerance.