Commentary on Isaiah (Super Isaiam)

"Behold, the Lord." In this part he threatens the destruction of the whole earth — whether that which was brought about in individual kingdoms and diverse regions, or that which is to come on the day of judgment, according to what was said above, 14: "this is the counsel that I have planned" — although some here expound it of the land of the Jews, or the land of Babylon, or the land of the Idumeans.

It is divided into two parts. First he threatens against the inhabitants of the earth; in the second, against the rulers of the peoples, at "and it shall be in that day."

Concerning the first he sets down three things. First, the destruction of men; second, the withdrawal of joys, at "the vintage has mourned"; third, the multitude of dangers, at "the transgressors."

Concerning the first, three things. First he threatens destruction: "he shall lay bare," by emptying it of inhabitants; "he shall lay waste," by depriving it of cultivators; "he shall afflict," with various punishments, "the face," that is, those dwelling on the surface; "he shall scatter," by dividing them into diverse places through captivity. Joel 1: "laying bare, I have despoiled you."

Second, the universality of the destruction as to those punished, equating those who differ in dignity, as "the people"; in condition, as "the servant"; in possession of goods, as "the buyer." Job 3: "the small and the great are there, and the servant free from his master." As to the diversity of punishments: "with wasting," setting down the loss of goods; as to immovable things, "it shall be laid waste"; as to movable things, "it shall be plundered." Jerem. 12: "with desolation the whole land has been made desolate."

As to the casting down of power: "it has mourned and decayed" — the past for the future, that is, it shall decay, mourning on account of weakness; and this is, "it has been made weak"; so that this is said as to the common people. But as to the powerful: "the world has decayed," that is, the rulers of the world. Above 13: "I will visit evils upon the world." He also sets down the slaying of men: "and the earth," Psal. 105: "the earth is slain."

Third he shows the equity of the punishment, because "they have transgressed"; and this by comparison to the fault: whence he does two things. First he sets down the fault: "the laws," written or natural, "the right," of custom, "the covenant," of friendship, "everlasting," because caused from likeness of species. Osee 8: "they have transgressed my covenant, and they have violated my law." Soph. 3: "they have polluted my sanctuary, they have acted unjustly against the law."

Second he threatens a fourfold punishment on account of this. First, of the divine curse: "the curse." Jerem. 23: "from the face of the curse the earth has mourned." Second, of the divine forsaking: "they shall sin," as though the Lord were abandoning them. Rom. 1: "therefore God delivered them up to the passions of shame." Apoc. ult.: "he who is filthy, let him be filthy still." Third, of infatuation: "and therefore they shall go mad." Ps. 77: "they were turned into vanities." Fourth, of diminishment: "and they shall be left." Deut. 28: "you shall remain few in number."

"The vintage has mourned" — here he threatens the withdrawal of joys as to the wicked; and second he sets down the joys of the good, at "as if there were few." Concerning the first, three things. First he sets down the cessation of gladness, which came from three things: either in the fruitfulness of things, "the vintage has mourned," failing, that is, it was the cause of mourning — above 16: "in the vineyards there shall be no exultation, nor joyful shouting"; or in the practice of games, "gladness shall cease": Apoc. 14: "the voice of harpers harping on their harps"; or in the delights of feasts: "with the song, no," above 5: "the harp and the lyre are at your feasts."

Second he sets down the recompense of sadness: "bitter," because at their feasts they shall have sadness, against the delights of feasts. Amos 8: "I will turn your feast days into mourning." "Ground down," against the vanity of games. Ps. 38: "all vanity." Eccl. 1: "vanity of vanities, and all is vanity." "The city": of Babylon, any soul. "A cry," of those complaining of the lack of wine, against fruitfulness. Amos 5: "in all the vineyards there shall be wailing."

Third he concludes the change: "desolate," it is changed into sadness. Luc. 6: "woe to you who laugh, for you shall weep." Ps. 14: "laughter shall be mingled with sorrow."

"How" — here he sets down the joys of the good. And first he foretells the praise of those to come, whose salvation he foretells: "as if there were few": few shall be saved in respect of the others. Above 17: "there shall be left in it as the shaking of an olive tree, of two or three olives." And he sets down their praise: "these shall lift up," "they shall neigh," like horses, to signify great gladness. Below 52: "the voice of your watchmen: they have lifted up their voice, together they shall praise."

Second he induces the praise of those present, on account of this. And first he sets down the precept: "in doctrines," that is, by teaching others. Another translation has, "in praises." Eccl. 43: "glorify God as much as ever you can." Second he designates the fulfillment of the precept: "from the ends of the earth." "Of the just," that is, of Christ. Below 62: "behold, the Lord will make it heard to the ends of the earth."

Third, the reward of those who fulfill it: "and I said"; "the secret," concerning their rewards. 1 Cor. 2: "eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love him." "To me," alone. "Woe to me," because I cannot recount it to others. 2 Cor. 12: "I heard secret words, which it is not lawful for a man to speak." Concerning the punishments of the damned: "woe to me," how great punishments I see. And thus it holds together with the following part.

"Transgressors" — here he threatens the multitude of dangers; and concerning this he does two things. First he charges the diversity of sins: "transgressing," by omitting; "transgressed," by committing. Ps. 118: "I have accounted all the sinners of the earth transgressors."

Second he threatens the multitude of dangers. And first he sets down this multitude: "dread." He speaks after the likeness of one who through fear flees those pursuing. Above 8: "they shall fall and be ensnared," Ier.: "woe to those on earth." Second, the impossibility of escaping: "and it shall be, he who shall flee" — as if to say: he shall fall into Scylla, wishing to avoid Charybdis. Joel 1: "what the caterpillar left, the locust has eaten." And he assigns the cause, because tribulation shall come upon them both from heaven and from earth. And this is "the floodgates," that is, the hidden channels through which water passes. Genes. 7: "the floodgates of heaven were opened."

Third, the impossibility of repair, under a threefold likeness: namely, of a thing divided, which is not made whole again — "with breaking," as to the great parts, "with crushing," as to the small. Amos 9: "behold the eyes of the Lord." And by the likeness of a thing shaken, which is not made stable: "it shall be moved," from place to place, "it shall be shaken," as if trembling in its own place, like a drunken man. Above 19: "they have caused to err"; and by the likeness of a wayfarer's tent, which is not fixed firmly in the same place, "and as it were a tabernacle." Below 38: "my generation is taken away, and is folded up from me like the tents of shepherds." And he assigns the cause: "and it shall weigh it down," like a heavy weight, so that it does not rise again, Eccli. 22: "upon lead, etc.," Zach. 5: "iniquity sits upon the talent, et cetera." Psalm. 37: "my iniquities like a heavy burden are weighed down upon me."

"And it shall be" — here, against the rulers of the peoples: and concerning this he sets down three things. First he sets down their punishment: "in that day," of judgment, "the host," the demons, "and upon the same kings." Joan. 12: "now the prince of this world shall be cast out." Or also the wicked kings. "And they shall be gathered together," together into Hell. Matth. 25: "which is prepared for the Devil and his angels." "A bundle." Matth. 13: "bind them into bundles to burn"; that they may be alike in punishment who were alike in fault. Apoc. 19: "I saw the beast, et cetera." Or "in that day," namely of the destruction of each kingdom, "the host," namely the idols of the sun and moon, and of the other stars. 4 Reg. 21: "he worshipped all the host of heaven." "And they shall be gathered together," through destruction. Below 34: "all shall waste away."

Second he determines the measure of the punishment as to time: "and after many days they shall be visited," because after however much time they shall be punished with torments in eternity. Matth. 25: "go, you cursed, into everlasting fire." Or "in the day of judgment," so that immediately upon the judgment's being finished they return to Hell. Or, according to another exposition, "they shall be consoled," because after the storm he brings some tranquility to all. Tob. 3.

Third, the glory of the one who punishes: and first, of the judge: "and it shall be ashamed," that is, its splendor shall be reckoned as nothing in comparison with the splendor of the body of Christ. Joel 2: "the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes." Or the worshippers of the sun and moon. Second, of the assessors: "when he shall reign (...) of the elders": above 3: "the Lord shall come to judgment with the elders of the land."

Note on that word, "bitter drink," that the drink of sin is bitter — first, on account of the remorse of conscience. Proverb. 5: "her last things are bitter." Second, on account of the fear of death. Eccl. 41: "O death, how bitter is the remembrance of you." Third, on account of the lack of divine sweetness. Jer. 2: "know, and see, that it is an evil and bitter thing to have left the Lord your God." Fourth, on account of the lament of penitence. Below 38: "I will recount to you in the bitterness of my soul."

Likewise, note on that word, "secret," that the great things of God are secret — first, on account of their greatness. Matth. 19: "not all can grasp this word." Joan. 3: "if I have told you earthly things, and you do not believe: how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" Second, on account of their dignity. Matth. 13: "to you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God"; third, on account of the unfitness of others. Matth. 7: "do not give what is holy to dogs."

Likewise, note on that word, "and it shall be in that day, he shall visit," that the visitation of the Lord is manifold. The first, of condemnation. Jerem. 8: "in the time of visitation"; the second, of correction. Ps. 88: "I will visit their iniquities with a rod." The third, of consolation. Luc. 1: "the dayspring from on high has visited us."