Thirdly, The Hebrew word which signifies a day of Battle, signifies also a Sphere, or round Globe, we translate it,1 a Ball (Isa. 22.18.) where it is prophesied against Shebna, that the Lord would make him an example, and that (as the Hebrew is) Tossing, he would toss him with a tossing; that is, he would surely toss, and turn him like a Ball, into a far Country; as a Ball is tossed or thrown, so the Lord would throw him into Captivity. Now because it is a usual way of embattling, to draw an Army into the form of a Globe, or Ball; therefore the same word which signifies a Sphere, or Globe, signifies also a Battle, from the form of it. Taking it in this sense, for any thing that is round, or circular as a Ball, or Sphere. This third interpretation of the similitude riseth thus, Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid, they shall prevail upon him, as a King put in Chains, or into a hoop of Iron; some labour much for the maintaining of this interpretation, That Eliphaz intends to show how wicked oppressors shall be surrounded and held fast with trouble, like some great Kings, who falling into the hands ⟨p. 124⟩of their Enemies, have been shut up in round Iron Cages, as Tamerlane carried Bajazet the Turkish Emperor; or bound in Chains, as it is Prophesied in the 149. Psalm. It was the use of those times,2 to make hoops of Iron, for the securing of Kings and Princes taken in Battle; the forms of which, and how those captivated Kings were locked up in them, with the posture of their bodies in that base imprisonment, may be seen in Boldue upon this Verse; and he annexeth diverse texts of Scripture, in which he conceives there is an allusion to this coarse way of handling Kings.
Thirdly, The Hebrew word which signifies a day of Battell, signifies also a Spheare, or round Globe, we translate it,1 a Ball (Isa. 22.18.) where it is prophesied against Shebna, that the Lord would make him an example, and that (as the Hebrew is) Tossing, he would tosse him with a tossing; that is, he would surely tosse, and turne him like a Ball, into a farr Countrey; as a Ball is tossed or throwne, so the Lord would throw him into Captivity. Now because it is a usuall way of embattailing, to draw an Army into the forme of a Globe, or Ball; therefore the same word which signifies a Spheare, or Globe, signifies also a Battell, from the forme of it. Taking it in this sense, for any thing that is round, or circular as a Ball, or Spheare. This third interpretation of the similitude riseth thus, Trouble and anguish shall make him afrayd, they shall prevaile upon him, as a King put in Chaines, or into a hoop of Iron; some labour much for the maintaining of this interpretation, That Eliphaz intends to shew how wicked oppressors shall be surrounded and held fast with trouble, like some great Kings, who falling into the hands ⟨p. 124⟩of their Enemies, have been shut up in round Iron Cages, as Tamerlane carryed Bajazet the Turkish Emperour; or bound in Chaines, as it is Prophesied in the 149. Psalme. It was the use of those times,2 to make hoops of Iron, for the securing of Kings and Princes taken in Battell; the formes of which, and how those captivated Kings were lockt up in them, with the posture of their bodies in that base imprisonment, may be seen in Boldue upon this Verse; and he annexeth diverse texts of Scripture, in which he conceives there is an allusion to this coorse way of handling Kings.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] Significat globum pilam aut Sphaeram. Apud Latinos Globus est hostium aut Armatorum militum cuneus. Liv. lib. 1. Annal. Romulus cum globo Juvenum. [Greek or Hebrew] Erit. [Greek or Hebrew] Ad praelium a forma orbiculari, Castra in orbicularem formam disponuntur ut fortiora sint. Merc.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Significat globum pilam aut Sphaeram. Apud Latinos Globus est hostium aut Armatorum militum cuneus. Liv. lib. 1. Annal. Romulus cum globo Juvenum. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Erit. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Ad praelium a forma orbiculari, Castra in orbicularem formam disponuntur ut fortiora sint. Merc.
- 2Declarare volens extremas impii angustias ut illum eo pacto undique stringi tribulationibus, quo Rex ab hoste superatus & captus; pro spectaculo publicè ponebatur in Ferricernio. Bold. Ita etiam textum explicat, Vatablus.
