Commentary on Isaiah Volume 1 John Calvin (continued)
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH to others, it is proper that "the same measure which he meted should be measured to him again." (Matthew 7:2.)
This is the ordinary judgment of God against tyrants, as the Prophet says in a subsequent passage of this book, "Woe to thee that spoilest, for thou shalt be spoiled." (Isaiah 33:1.) The second reason is, because the power of the Assyrian king appeared to be so great that he could not fall. Although, therefore, he was fortified on every hand, not only to defend himself, but also to attack others, yet the Prophet says, that "by the voice of God" alone he shall be bruised. Hence we learn how groundless is the confidence of wicked men, who rely on their garrisons and arms, and presumptuously despise God, as if they had not been liable to his judgment. But in order to destroy them, the Lord will have no need of any other arms than his own "voice;" for by the slightest expression of his will he will lay them low. Nor can it be doubted that the Prophet intends to withdraw the minds of believers from earthly means, that they may not inquire how it shall be done, but may be satisfied with the bare promise of God, who is fully able to execute his word as soon as it has gone forth from him.
32. And there shall be in every passage. He means that the Assyrians will in vain try every method of escaping from the hand of God; for wherever they go, whether they attempt to go forward or to turn back, the hand of God shall pursue them. As to the phrase, fastened staff, 581 I readily adopt the opinion of those who think that the metaphor is taken from those on whom have been inflicted strokes so heavy, that the marks of the instrument of punishment remain, as if a rod or staff were "fastened" in the wound. It will perhaps be thought preferable to interpret it to mean, that the wound is "fastened" 582 on the Assyrian, as a foundation is fixed in the earth; for what is not "fastened" may be moved out of its place and carried away. But he shews that that wound is so deeply fixed that it cannot be shaken off or removed. In like manner, the weight of God's wrath lies on the reprobate, and holds them weighed down to the end. To shew that there is no hope of being able to derive advantage from a change of place, he says everywhere, thus declaring that there shall be no retreat. The clause ought to be thus arranged, "wherever the staff shall pass, there it will stick firmly."
With tabrets and harps. He means that the issue of the battle will not be 581Calvin's phrase, baculus fundatas, is followed by almost all the Latin interpreters, including Vitringa, and appears to have suggested the rendering, grounded staff, which is given in our common version, and has been followed by other translators. Almost all the commentators treat( מוסדהmūsādāh) as the particple Hophal of( יסדyāsăd); but there are strong reasons for viewing it as an abstract noun, for Rosenmüller has justly remarked that( מטהmăttēh,) with Tzere instead of Segol, is in the construct state. Availing himself, as it would seem, of this suggestion, Professor Alexander very felicitously renders it ``the rod of doom.'' ``The common version, grounded staff,'' says he, ``is almost unintelligible. It is now very generally agreed that( מוסדהmūsādāh) denotes the divine determination or decree, and that the whole phrase means the rod appointed by him, or, to put it in a form at once exact and poetical, the rod of destiny or doom.'' Diodati's Italian version gives ``Ed ogni passagio della verga ferma,'' ``and every passage of the firm staff.'' --- Ed
582"Que la playe a esté attachee au dos de l'Assyrien;" — "That the wound has been fastened to the back of the Assyrian."