Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

1. *Or, after the manner of Egypt.

Isaiah useth here the word scourge, and not rod: thereby signifying, that the Lord would handle the enemies much more roughly and severely then they handled the Jews. For he threatens them with an utter destruction: and declares the same more plainly by two examples: the first is of the Midianites, who were horribly destroyed in the valley of Oreb; which was thus nominated because of their king: the second is of the Egyptians, which were drowned by the Lord in the red sea, when they pursued his people. […] ⟨p. 118⟩conquered all the country, will threaten Jerusalem, as if with his only look he could take and sack it. By he word Zion he comprehends all the city, taking a part for the whole, because this part was the highest, and overlooked all the quarters of the City. From the foolish overweening of this tyrant the Prophet shows that the city of Jerusalem was not far off from an utter downfall: for the whole country, yea the City it self was so astonished, that none durst oppose himself against the enemy. Thus the Prophet meant to amplify the benefit of God by these circumstances, to wit, that it was to be attributed to the special favour and good will of God, and not to mans help, which availed nothing that Jerusalem was delivered, even as if a man should have pulled a sheep out of the jaws of the wolf.