Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

He means not only the siege which Sennacherib planted with a mighty army before Jerusalem, ¹but the other discomfitures also whereby this city was destroyed, the Temple razed, and the people carried away captives. For it was needful that the faithful should be fortified against these grievous adversaries with such promises as these. Which we are diligently to observe; because if we lightly pass this over, as other expositors do, we cannot fitly join these things together. Thus the captivity of the people was as a consumption; because Babylon was as their sepulchre, and their exile as a kind of death. When necessity then appeared, and that Sennacherib with his army began to press near upon them, so as they were in great distress being thus besieged, this very consolation was exceeding necessary. For it might seem that Judea was utterly consumed, and there was little or no hope of succour left touching outward appearance: as if he should say; Observe therefore this consolation diligently; to wit, the Lord will spare thee: true it is he will defer it for a little while, and will hold his succour hidden as it were from thine eyes; but in the end he will deliver thee, and will be revenged upon thine enemies, whom he hath determined utterly to consume.

HEe meanes not onely the siege which Senacherib planted with a mightie armie before Ierusalem, ¹