Thomas Aquinas, on Isa 54:2

“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and stretch out the skins of thy tabernacles, spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.”

“978. Second, he exhorts them to enlarge their place under the metaphor of a tent: enlarge the place, as to the ground over which the tent is extended; and stretch out the skins, with which it is covered; lengthen your cords, with which the stakes are tied; and strengthen your nails, with which the boards are joined, or the stakes themselves. And we read that these things were in the tabernacle of the covenant (Exod 26 and 36). Because of this great multitude of men it is necessary to seek a dwelling larger than the promised land, above: the children of your barrenness shall still say in your ears: the place is too strait for me, make me room to dwell in (Isa 49:20). 984. Note also on the words: enlarge the place of your tent (Isa 54:2), that the heart is to be enlarged first, because of the greatness of its guest: do not I fill heaven and earth, says the Lord? (Jer 23:24); second, because of the multitude of his gifts, below: then shall you see, and abound, and your heart shall be enlarged (Isa 60:5); third, because of the completion of the way: I have run the way of your commandments, when you didst enlarge my heart (Ps 118[119]:32).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.