Verse 8

Vers. 8. And the daughter of Zion shall remain like a cottage in a vineyard, like a lodge in a garden of Cucumbers, and like a besieged city.

Vers. 8. And the daughter of Zion shall remaine like a cottage in a vineyard, like a lodge in a garden of Cucumbers, and like a besieged citie.

HE alludes even to that custom which is now in use amongst us in France: namely, to a little cottage which the Vine-keepers prepare when the grapes do ripen. Also he useth another Similitude which is almost like unto the former; drawn from the manner of that nation, when the servants watched to keep the gardens of cucumbers. Afterwards in vers. 9. he himself expounds what he means both by the one & by the other. Now the exposition may be double; to wit, that all the country should be wasted, and nothing left in safety, but the city of Jerusalem, which should remain as a cottage: or, that the city it self should be brought to nought. The Jews follow the first interpretation, and understand this place of the siege of Sennacherib: but I think it reacheth further off; namely, to the destructions which followed afterwards. We may al•o refer it to the nearness of neighbourhood, which being ruinated and destroyed amongst them, it could not be avoided, but that the city should feel great loss thereby. But as I take it, the true meaning of the Prophet is, that the evils whereof he speaks, should come even to the city it self, so as it being consumed, ruinated, and brought to nothing, and into derision, should become like a cottage. Now he calls Jerusalem, the daughter of Zion, by a phrase of speech usual in the Scriptures, which entitleth some people by the name of daughter, as the daughter of Babylon, and Tyre, for the Babylonians, and Tyrians themselves. Also he rather mentioneth Zion, then Jerusalem; because of the dignity of the Temple: and this manner of speech also is very frequent throughout the whole Scriptures.

HE alludes euen to that custome which is now in vse amongst vs in France: namely, to a little cottage which the Vinekeepers prepare when the grapes doe ripen. Also he vseth another Similitude which is almost like vnto the former; drawne from the manner of that nation, when the seruants watched to keepe the gardens of cucumbers. Afterwards in vers. 9. he himselfe expounds what he meanes both by the one & by the other. Now the exposition may be double; to wit, that all the countrie should be wasted, and nothing left in safetie, but the citie of Ierusalem, which should remaine as a cottage: or, that the citie it selfe should bee brought to nought. The Iewes follow the first interpretation, and vnderstand this place of the siege of Senacherib: but I thinke it reacheth further off; namely, to the destructions which followed afterwards. We may alo referre it to the neerenes of neighbourhood, which being ruinated and destroyed amongst them, it could not bee auoyded, but that the citie should feele great losse thereby. But as I take it, the true meaning of the Prophet is, that the euils whereof he speakes, should come euen to the citie it selfe, so as it beeing consumed, ruinated, and brought to nothing, and into derision, should become like a cottage. Now he calles Ierusalem, the daughter of Zion, by a phrase of speech vsuall in the Scriptures, which intitleth some people by the name of daughter, as the daughter of Babylon, and Tyre, for the Babylonians, and Tyrians themselues. Also hee rather mentioneth Zion, then Ierusalem; because of the dignitie of the Temple: and this manner of speech also is very frequent thorowout the whole Scriptures.