Ver. 1. Take thee a great roll.] Or, Volume; so called either because it was rolled up together like the web upon the pin; or, as others, because it revealeth that unto us which otherwise we knew not. Blasphemous was that jeer of the Jews who called the evangel or gospel Aven gillaion, a volume of vanity. And no better was that of Bishop Bonner’s chaplain, who called the Bible, that blessed book, in scorn, his “little pretty God’s book.” This one small piece of it is here styled grande volumen, a great roll, for the fulness of the matter in fewness of words. And write in it with a man’s pen.] That is, plainly and clearly, that when it shall be fastened to the gate of the temple, or some way else be exposed to public view, “he that runneth may read it,” (Habakkuk 2:2) and he that readeth may understand it. And not be so written as that was, (Daniel 5:5,7) which none could read and unriddle but the prophet himself. Nor be, as Aristotle’s Acroamatics, published and yet unpublished. Concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz.] Make speed to the spoil, hasten the prey; words whereby God calleth the King of Assyria out of his country to take the spoil speedily of Syria and Samaria; both which groaned for his coming, and hanged for his mowing. This was afterwards given for a name to Isaiah’s newly born babe, viz., at his circumcision; and that before two sufficient witnesses, who might attest both the child’s name and the reason of it, which the prophet likely told them. Such another compound name was Shear-jashub, (Isaiah 7:3) Zorobabel, Hagio-Christophorites, &c, and among us Keep-Sabbath, Hope-still, &c. Chald. vertit Scripturam claram [see Isaiah 30:8] Εκδεδομενος και ουκ εκδεδομενος
Ver. 2. And I took unto me faithful witnesses.] So they might be, and yet not godly men; as Galba and our Richard III were said to be bad men, but yet good princes. Some think that this Uriah was the same with him that brought in the altar of Damascus. He had been better perhaps, but at last revolted; as did Demas, of whom Dorotheus saith that he became a priest in an idol temple at Thessalonica; and Damascen, who turned Mohammedan, as some write. Zechariah, the other witness, was a man of great eminence, as being grandfather, by the mother’s side, to good Hezekiah.
Ver. 3. And I went unto the prophetess.] Prophets’ wives were anciently called prophetesses; like as bishops’ wives, saith A Lapide the Jesuit, were also called bishopesses, presbyters’ wives, presbyteresses, deacons’ wives, deaconesses. Jesuits have still their Jesuitesses, as majors their majoresses, &c. Maher-shalal-hash-baz,] q.d., Make haste, come away to so rich a booty, to the rifling and ruinating of these two potent and opulent kingdoms. God hereby seemeth to speak of the Assyrian, as Cicero once did his friend, Si dormis, expergiscere: si stas, ingredere: si ingrederis, curre: si curtis, advola, &c. and at the calling of this child by his name, the prediction was remembered, and the thing ascertained.
Ver. 4. For before the child, &c.] That is, within a year or two; for it was an extraordinary thing that is reported of Maximilian the Emperor, that he was eight years old at least ere he spake anything, but afterwards he became a fluent and elegant speaker. The riches of Damascus.] Riches do many times change their masters, and kingdoms are oft turned upside down, when they fall to persecuting the people of God especially, as did these Syrians and Israelites. Before the king of Assyria.] Spoils taken from the enemy were and are usually carried in triumph before the conqueror.
Ver. 5. The Lord spake also unto me again, saying.] Heb., And the Lord further added to speak unto me. Here the Israelites, apart from the Syrians, are specially threatened with destruction, because they abandoned their brethren, the two other tribes, and trusted to confederacies and aids of foreign princes.
Ver. 6. Forasmuch as this people.] The ten revolted tribes, not worth the naming. [see Isaiah 7:6] Refuse the waters of Shiloah.] Slight and contemn the small means and strength of the Church: Humilem et obscurum stature regni Zionis. That run softly] At the foot of Mount Zion, creeping and crooking, slowly and slyly; called therefore, as some think, the dragon’s well. (Nehemiah 2:13) Caesar saith the like of the river Araris, probably Sone; and the poet Claudian of the Nile, “ Lene fluit Nilus, sed cunctis amnibus extat Utilior, nullas coafessus murmure vires.” And rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son.] “Rejoice in a thing of nought,” as Amos’s expression is in Amos 6:13. The Hebrew here hath it thus: And joy is to Rezin, &c.; that is, the Syrians and Israelites both are much cheered up to see that Judah is at so great an under, and so easy to be overcome, as they think. De Bell. Gall., lib. i.
Ver. 7. Wow therefore behold the Lord bringeth.] They that slighted still running Shiloah, shall have the waters of Euphrates, strong and many, to overwhelm and swallow them up. God loveth to retaliate. Even the king of Assyria and all his glory,] i.e., His armies and forces, wherein he glorieth. See Isaiah 10:8 36:9. And he shall.] Or, It shall, viz., the river Euphrates, whose exundation is here graphically described, and thereby depainted to the life; the practice of tyrants in overrunning whole countries as by a deluge, as did the Assyrian of old, and as doth the great Turk at this day. Καθ υποτυπωσιν.