Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE here describes in particular the cruel and horrible war which shall be made upon the Babylonians: as also the faithful being instructed by these prophesies, wished (by the spirit of prophecy) for that which was the extremest and most cruel stratagem of war, to wit, that the Medes and Persians might pluck the little children from their mothers breasts to dash them against the stones: the sum is, that Babylon shall not only be destroyed, but also wholly rooted out. For when he saith the life of man shall be more p••tious then gold, he means, that the enemies shall be so fleshed in shedding of blood, that men shall not escape their hands for any ransom whatsoever. Why so? Because they shall love rather to massacre then to take any ransom.

HE heere describes in particular the cruell and horrible warre which shall be made vpon the Babylonians: as also the faithfull being instructed by these prophesies, wished (by the spirit of prophesie) for that which was the extreamest and most cruell stratageme of warre, to wit, that the Medes and Persians might pluck the little children from their mothers breasts to dash them against the stones: the summe is, that Babylon shall not only be destroyed, but also whollie rooted out. For when he saith the life of man shall be more p••tious then gold, he meanes, that the enemies shall be so fleshed in shedding of blood, that men shall not escape their hands for any ransome whatsoeuer. Why so? Because they shall loue rather to massacre then to take any ransome.

Quest. Some may demand whether this discomfiture were so cruel as Isaiah here describes it, for histories witness otherwise: and Daniel himself (who was there present) saith,¹ that the city was taken only, Dan. 5.30. This is the cause why some expositors have been driven to refer every thing which is said here of Babylon to all reprobates: Ans. but therein they have wrested the text, for the Prophet by and by after speaks of the Medes and Persians. Moreover, the threatenings which will orderly follow hereafter touching the Moabites, Tyrians, Egyptians, and other nations, do sufficiently show that this prophecy is properly against the Chaldeans, whom the Prophet placeth in the first rank: not that their destruction was so near at hand as was the destruction of the rest; but because the Church had no greater nor more dangerous enemies then they. And we must observe that Isaiah spake not this whilst the Monarchy of Nineveh flourished, but whatsoever he foretold against the profane nations in the whole course of his ministry, is put all upon one heap as it were. Thus then the order of time was not kept, but the likeness of things was the cause why they have put all these prophesies in one. For whence is it that Isaiah makes no mention of Nineveh, seeing he afterward showeth that the Assyrians only were they which molested the Jews (with whom the Babylonians were in league) but in regard that he speaks not of the histories of his time till he comes to the three and twenty Chapter, but only prophesieth of the judgements of God which came to pass after his death?