Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

And yet whilst I consider better of every circumstance, I rather condescend to this opinion; namely, that the Lord calls the Assyrians here, as if he armed them by his edict to make war. He told the Jews before that they should come: but hypocrites are so senseless, that they are never touched with any fear of God, but when they see his plagues; or rather indeed till they feel them. This is the cause therefore why he now saith, Come: as if the Judge should call for the executioner, and command him to bind the malefactor; or rather to cut off his head. Thus the Lord calls the Assyrians, to the end he might execute his vengeance by their hands.

And yet whilest I consider better of euerie circumstance, I rather condiscend to this opinion; namely, that the Lord calles the Assyrians heere, as if hee armed them by his edict to make warre. He told the Iewes before that they should come: but hypocrits are so senselesse, that they are neuer touched with any feare of God, but when they see his plagues; or rather indeed till they feele them. This is the cause therefore why he now saith, Come: as if the Iudge should call for the executioner, and command him to binde the malefactor; or rather to cut off his head. Thus the Lord calles the Assyrians, to the end he might execute his vengeance by their hands.

Also the staff.] This may be referred to the Assyrians, and we may resolve it as if it should be a repetition of the same speech, the words only being a little changed. And yet I so distinguish them; that the Assyrians are called the staff of Gods wrath; moreover, that the swords and weapons wherewith they were furnished, are nothing else but the wrath of God himself: as if the Prophet should say, God serves himself (as it pleaseth him) of the Assyrians, even as of swords to execute his vengeance withal. Lastly, that they are no otherwise to be feared, but so far forth as God shall display his wrath by their means towards the Jews, although they be furnished with munition. In a word, he shows that all the force of the enemies shall proceed from the wrath of God, who by a secret instinct shall drive them forward to overthrow this people: for otherwise they could not have moved so much as one of their fingers. God also pronounceth, that the staff which the Assyrian beareth, is his indignation; to the end the Jews might know that the assaults and endeavours of the enemies were governed by his providence. For I approve not that which others translate, In the place, or, In their region: both are too much constrained. To be short, the Lord calls the Assyrians as executioners of his vengeance, to the end he may punish the sins of his people by their hand; and protests, that whatsoever they hold in their hands, is his indignation.