Commentary on Isaiah Volume 1 John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
than in their native country, for nowhere will they be safe." But since God always takes care of his Church, nowhere shall we find a safer retreat, even though we shall compass sea and land.
13. The burden upon Arabia. He now passes on to the Arabians, and foretells that they too, in their own turn, will be dragged to the judgmentseat of God; so that he does not leave unnoticed any of the nations which were known to the Jews. He declares that they will be seized with such fear that they will leave their houses and flee into the woods; and he states the direction in which they will flee, that is, to "Dedanim."
14. To meet the thirsty bring waters. 340 He heightens the description of that trembling with which the Lord had determined to strike the Arabians in such a manner that they thought of nothing but flight, and did not take time even to collect those things which were necessary for the journey. Isaiah therefore declares that the Arabians will come into the country of Dedanim, empty and destitute of all things, and that they will not be provided with any food. On this account he exhorts the inhabitants to go out and meet them with bread and water, because otherwise they will faint through the want of the necessaries of life.
I am aware that this passage is explained differently by some commentators, who think that the Prophet mocks at the Arabians, who had been cruel and barbarous towards the Jews; as if he had said, "How gladly you would now bring water to the thirsty!" But that exposition is too constrained. And yet I do not deny that they received the reward of their cruelty, when they ran hither and thither in a state of hunger. But the meaning which I have given is twofold, 341 that the Arabians in their flight will be so wretched that they will not even have the necessary supply of water, and they will therefore faint with thirst, if they do not quickly receive assistance; and he intimates that there will be a scarcity both of food and of drink. He calls on the neighbors to render assistance; not to exhort them to do their duty, but to state the fact more clearly; and he enjoins them to give their bread to them, not because it is deserved, but because they are suffering extreme want. Yet as it is founded on the common law of nature and humanity, the Prophet indirectly insinuates that the hungry and thirsty are defrauded of their bread, when food is denied to them.
15. For they flee from the face of the swords. 342 He means that the calamity will be dreadful, and that the Arabians will have good reason for betaking themselves to flight, because the enemies will pursue them with arms and with swords, so that they will have no other way of providing for
340"Brought water (or, bring ye, or, prevent ye) to him that was thirsty." — Eng. Ver. Calvin's version follows closely that of the Septuagint, , and agrees with other ancient versions; but modern critics assign strong reasons for reading this verse in the preterite rather than in the imperative." — Ed
341It would appear that, instead of "geminus est sensus," some copies had read, "genuinus est sensus;" for the French version gives "Cependant l'exposition que j'ay mise en avant est plus simple;" "but the exposition which I have given is more simple." — Ed
342"From the swords," or, for fear (Heb. from the face.) — Eng. Ver. "From before the swords." — Stock. "From the presence of swords." — Alexander