Commentary on Isaiah (Super Isaiam)

Woe to the land of the cymbal. Here he threatens against the Egyptians: and first he threatens their punishment by comparison to the desert of the punishment; in the second he carries out the manner of the punishment, chapter 19: the burden of Egypt; in the third he designates the time of the punishment, chapter 20: in the year. Concerning the first he sets down three things. First he designates the fault, which is the desert of the punishment; in the second he threatens the punishment: all the inhabitants; third he shows the fruit of the punishment, in that time. Concerning the first he does two things. First he describes the situation of the land, in which they proudly trusted, saying: woe — that is, it impends — to the land, Egypt, of the cymbal of wings; on account of the sound of the Nile, whose swiftness is compared to the motion of wings on account of its swiftness, or on account of the multitude of peoples, or on account of the help of protection, which they were sounding forth to the people of the two tribes; which is beyond the river of Ethiopia, that is, beyond the Nile, which comes from Ethiopia. Ezekiel 29: behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, great dragon, who lie in the midst of your rivers. This, however, the Jews expound of Gog, who dwell beyond Ethiopia, against whom the prophet Ezekiel testifies in chapter 38. Second he describes the help which they were promising to the two tribes. And first he describes the manner of the announcing, saying: who, namely the Egyptian people, will send legates, that is, messengers, to the two tribes, in the sea, that is, by sea, and upon the waters of the river, or of the sea, in vessels of papyrus, a kind of rush, from which little cases were made for carrying letters, or reeds so great that ships were made from them, as is read in the history of Alexander: from pyr, which is fire. Second he sets down the precept of the embassy, in which he determines two things. First the manner of announcing, saying this: o angels, that is, o my messengers, go, swift ones, that is, swiftly. Second the motive, to the nation, namely of the two tribes, which he shows to be pitiable on four counts. First from the greatness of the affliction: torn away, from its own firmness through subjugation, and lacerated, through the affliction of punishments. Second from its former dignity: terrible, formerly — after whom there is no other comparable in power; but now waiting, for another's help, trodden down, as though reduced to vileness. Third from the power or iniquity of enemies: whose rivers, the kings of the Assyrians, plundered unjustly. Fourth from the sanctity of the place: to the mountain. They were, however, punished, because they were drawing them away from the worship of God. Ezekiel 29: they shall no longer be to the house of Israel.

All inhabitants of the world. Here he threatens the punishment: and concerning this he does two things. First he sets down the evidence of the punishment. You shall see, that is, it will be made known to you, the sign, the standard of Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah 46: the nations have heard your shame, and your wailing has filled the earth. Or, the abundance of enemies: you shall see, being present in his army. Ezekiel 30: the strongest of the nations shall be brought. Second he takes away confidence in the divine defense: for thus says the Lord. And first because he will withdraw from them the help of his defense: I will be still, as though helping you in nothing; I will consider, I will see what you are able to do. Deuteronomy 32: I will consider their last things. Second because he will furnish to the enemies help in the assault: as to counsel in doubtful matters, as the noonday light — thus it is clearly shown to them what is to be done by them. As to relief in their labors, like a cloud. Psalm 88: you have exalted the right hand of those who oppress. Third, there, before the harvest, he describes a metaphor of the punishment, namely through the destruction of the fruit in the field: and he sets down three things. First as to the loss of the fruit, which is lost in the flower, when it begins to flower too soon: for before the harvest, entirely so. Likewise Egypt, before it had power, displayed the flower of its glory; concerning which below, 40: all its glory is like the flower of the field. It is lost also in the bud, when the moisture from which the fruit ought to be made is not yet mature. And immature. Likewise Egypt presumed beyond the power which it had. It is lost also in the fruit, when the branches on which the fruits are, are cut off. They shall be cut off, before the ripening of the fruit. Job 15: it shall be harmed like a vine in its first flower. Proverbs 13: substance hastily gotten shall be diminished; the same, 20: the inheritance to which one hastens. Second he sets down the taking-away of the fruits that remain: what shall have been left whole by the Egyptians shall be cut off from its own firmness by the Assyrians, and shall be shaken from its place by the Chaldeans. Below, 24: as when a few olive trees (or olives), which remained, are shaken from the olive tree. Third he sets down the desertion of the field itself. And it shall be left like an untilled field: in which is signified the slaughter of men, after which many beasts were in the land of Egypt. Ezekiel 39: thus says the Lord God: say to every bird.

In that time. Here is set down the fruit of the punishment. Namely, that the people of the two tribes, trusting in God, will also invoke his help with the offering of gifts. Above, 10: in that day the remnant of Israel shall no more add, and they who have escaped of the house of Jacob, to lean upon him who strikes them; but it shall lean upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.

Note on that word, the immature perfection has sprouted, that perfection is manifold. The first, of nature. Genesis 2: thus the heavens were made perfect. The second, of knowledge. Job 22: can man be compared to God, even when he shall have been of perfect knowledge? The third, of grace. 1 John 4: perfect love casts out fear. The fourth, of glory. 1 Corinthians 3: when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away.

Note on that word, its bud, that the bud is, first, of wicked authority. Ecclesiastes 10: woe to you, land, whose king is a boy, and whose princes eat in the morning. Second, of erroneous teaching. Jude: but these, who do not know, blaspheme. Third, of presumptuous opinion. Romans 12: to each one, as God. Fourth, of present consolation. Luke 16: remember that you received good things in your life.

Note on that word, a gift shall be brought, that the gift is manifold. First, of fervent love. Proverbs 21: a hidden gift. Second, of devout prayer. Psalm 140: let my prayer ascend like incense in your sight. Third, of perfect work. Malachi 1: I will not accept a gift from your hand. Fourth, of due offering. Psalm 75: vow, and render to the Lord your God, all you who bring gifts round about him.