Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Some translate, They shall cut, and think that this is spoken by an excessive manner of speech, as if they should use the children of the Babylonians in stead of arrows, in regard they dashed them against the stones, that they might break them with the greater violence. But I had rather take it more simply, namely, that the cruelty of the Medes shall be so great, that they shall not spare so much as the little children, which notwithstanding are never touched except it be there where they commit exceeding outrages. In a word, that neither old nor young should be spared, as we have said erewhile. But we read not that the Medes used any such cruelty: and Babylon was in good estate, and flourished long time after this discomfiture: and although the seat of the kingdom was carried thence, yet she kept her renown still, for the very day and night before that it was taken, there was no hurt done, except it were to those which bare arms. In the mean while howsoever it was the Prophets meaning to comprehend other judgements of God also which threatened the Babylonians, and came to pass long time after this first calamity: yet is it not without reason, neither from the purpose that he describes the manners of barbarous nations, that so the Jews might the better understand that God had a just recompense ready in his hand to execute upon the Babylonish tyranny. No doubt but the faithful also upon the ground of this promise made the imprecation contained in the 137. Psalm, Blessed shall he be that takes thy children and dasheth them against the stones.