Commentary on Isaiah Volume 1 John Calvin (continued)
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH
punishment which the Lord inflicts on them on account of their unbelief.
In order that we may apply this statement of the Prophet for our own use, it is proper to observe, that these words of the Prophet must not be understood to be commands, as if he enjoined them to stop and think longer; but, on the contrary, he mocks and reproves their stupidity, as we have already said. (Pensez y tant que vous voudrez, vous n'y entendres rien) "Think as much as you please about it, you will not at all understand it."
They are blinded, and they blind. 533 He means, that they are destitute of judgment and understanding, and that consequently it is useless for them to contemplate these works of God; for as the brightness of the sun is of no avail to the toad, so a blinded understanding in vain does its utmost to comprehend the majestic works of God. When he says that "they are blinded," he means that by nature we are created so as to be endued with reason and understanding for contemplating the works of God; that our being "blinded" is, so to speak, an accidental fault, and that the drunkenness does not naturally belong to us, for it is owing to the ingratitude of men, which the Lord justly censures.
They stagger. This "staggering" of the mind is contrasted by him with a calm and quiet exercise of reason; for he means that violence of the passions which agitates the mind, and causes it to waver and reel.
10. Because Jehovah hath overpowered you with the spirit of slumber. For the purpose of shewing more clearly the source of this blindness, he attributes it to the judgment of God, who determined to punish in this manner the wickedness of the people. As it belongs to him to give eyes to see, and to enlighten minds by the spirit of judgment and understanding, so he alone deprives us of all light, when he sees that by a wicked and depraved hatred of the truth we of our own accord wish for darkness. Accordingly, when men are blind, and especially in things so plain and obvious, we perceive his righteous judgment.
Your prophets and principal seers. 534 He adds, that the people are deprived of those aids and helps which ought to have imparted light to the understanding and given direction to others. 535 Such was the office of the prophets, whom he describes by both of these names,( ,נביאיםnēbīīm,) and
( ,חזיםchōzīm,) "prophets" and "seers." In short, he means not only that men who are endued with reason and understanding will be deprived of common sense, but that their teachers also, whose duty it was to enlighten others, will be altogether senseless so as not to know the road, and, being covered with the darkness of ignorance, will shamefully go astray, and will be so far
533"Cry ye out, and cry, or, Take your pleasure and riot." — Eng. Ver. "Turn yourselves and stare around." — Stock. Lowth's rendering resembles this, but is somewhat paraphrastic, "They stare with a look of stupid surprise." Professor Alexander's comes nearer that of Calvin, "Be merry and blind!" — Ed
534"Your prophets, and your rulers (Heb. heads)." — Eng. Ver. Our translators very correctly state that the literal meaning of( רשיכםrāshēchĕm) is, ``your heads.'' Calvin treats it as an adjective,
principal seers.'' --- Ed
535"Et monstrer le chemin aux autres;" — "And point out the way to others."