Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE follows the matter still, and commands the Babylonians to howl; not that he directs his speech to them, as if he were in hope that it should profit them, but in showing what effect it should have, he intermingles this manner of speech with great vehemency. He speaks of the day of the Lord after the usual phrase of the scripture, because that when the Lord defers his judgements, it seems he ceaseth from performing of his office, even as Judges do when they go not up into their Judgement seats. Let us then observe this language well; the reason is, Doctrine. we would willingly subject the Lord to our fancies, that so he might by and by pronounce sentence against the unbelievers. But he hath prefixed his own time, and knows the opportunities right well in which wicked men are to be punished, and when to give succour to the good. In the next place he shows that the rigour of Gods judgement shall be so great, that it shall not only give just occasion to the Babylonians to weep, but also to howl, because he will openly display his strength for their destruction. For the verb Shadad signifies to scatter and to destroy, whence Shadai one of the names of God, which some have translated Almighty, is derived. Here is then an elegant allusion to this etymology, as if he should say, The Babylonians in their destruction shall feel it is not vain that God is called Shadai, that is to say strong, and Almighty to destroy.