As a woman is travel with child.] Surely the Babylonians had just occasion of fear, seeing themselves assailed by valiant and warlike men; but yet the Prophet threatens them that they shall quail and be in a swoon, although they were strong enough to resist them; because they should be dulled by a secret judgement of God. To this appertains that which he adds; namely, that every one shall be amazed at his neighbour, even as when men affrighted, look ghastly here and there: and not only that, but also when there shall be any hope of succour, yet they shall stand still like blocks, as men deprived of all feeling. But the vehemency of the fear is yet much more clearly expressed in the member following, when he attributes unto them faces like fire. For they are too sparing, who think (as some do) that this word signifies shame; as if it were said in one word, they shall blush with shame. Isaiah meant a greater and a more fearful thing then so. When torments press us indeed, the face will be inflamed, and we shall glow as being closed in with dolours: truly it were too light then to refer it to a blushing only, in such an horrible desolation. For he describes so strange a calamity, that for the bitterness of it, flames shall sparkle as it were out of the face: which indeed comes to pass, when men are vexed with extreme dolour. The similitude of a woman in travail, not only expresseth the greatness of the grief, but also a sudden hurly-burly. Even as the calamity then should be bitter and violent, so also Isaiah saith, it shall be sudden: and good reason, for the Babylonians, who we furnished with so many forces, could never have dreamed that they should ever be molested by any means whatsoever.
As a woman is trauell with child.] Surely the Babylonians had iust occasion of feare, seeing themselues assailed by valiant and warlike men; but yet the Prophet threatens them that they shall quaile and be in a swound, although they were strong enough to resist them; because they should bee dulled by a secret iudgement of God. To this appertaines that which he addes; namely, that euerie one shall be amased at his neighbour, euen as when men affrighted, looke gastly here and there: and not onely that, but also when there shall be any hope of succour, yet they shall stand still like blockes, as men depriued of all feeling. But the vehemencie of the feare is yet much more cleerely expressed in the member following, when he attributes vnto them faces like fire. For they are too sparing, who thinke (as some doe) that this word signifies shame; as if it were said in one word, they shal blush with shame. Isaiah meant a greater and a more fearefull thing then so. When torments presse vs indeed, the face will be inflamed, and wee shall glow as being closed in with dolours: truely it were too light then to referre it to a blushing onely, in such an horrible desolation. For he describes so strange a calamitie, that for the bitternesse of it, flames shall sparkle as it were out of the face: which indeed comes to passe, when men are vexed with extreame dolour. The similitude of a woman in trauile, not onely expresseth the greatnesse of the griefe, but also a sudden hurliburly. Euen as the calamitie then should be bitter and violent, so also Isaiah saith, it shall be sudden: and good reason, for the Babylonians, who wee furnished with so many forces, could neuer haue dreamed that they should euer be molested by any means whatsoeuer.
