Commentary on Isaiah Volume 2 John Calvin
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH
describes more plainly who are they that shall be partakers of these benefits, in order that, as has been already said, he may entirely cut off reprobates and hypocrites. The sure mark by which lambs are distinguished from kids, and lawful children from bastards, is to "seek" the Lord; for it is not enough to shelter ourselves under a name and title, but we must seek the Lord with a pure conscience, that we may cleave to him with the whole heart. (Deuteronomy 6:5.)
11. But ye forsakers of Jehovah, who forget the mountain of my holiness. That hypocrites may not abuse these promises, or think that what is said about the restoration of the people relates to them, he again addresses them by these words, and calls them "forsakers," 451 because they "have forgotten" Mount Zion; that is, have revolted from the true worship of God. By "the mountain of holiness" he denotes figuratively the rule of a holy life which had been laid down in the word of the Lord; for the temple had been built by the command of the Lord, that these men might call upon him; and likewise the altar on which the Lord wished that sacrifices should be offered. Thus those sacrifices and oblations were impure which were offered in other places, or to other gods, or in any way different from the strict observance of the ceremonies of the Law. It is not lawful for men to undertake anything at their own suggestion; for the Lord demands nothing but obedience, (1 Samuel 15:22,) and there is no obedience without faith; and there is no faith without the word, (Romans 10:17,) by which alone we are at liberty to inquire or think concerning God.
Who prepare a table for the army 452 He enumerates their superstitions. The word {( }גדGad) is variously explained. Some think that it denotes Jupiter, or the star of Jupiter; and others that it denotes Fortune. Jerome translates the words, "Ye who spread a table for fortune;" for he thinks that it means prosperity. But I think it more probable that {( }גדGad) means "a band," or "a troop," or even "an army;" and this agrees well with the etymology of the word and the context. One passage is especially worthy of notice, (Genesis 30:11,) in which Leah rejoices on account of the addition of children; for I think that the word which he employs, {( }בגדbegad), ought to be understood as if she had said, "Now, I have plenty of children;" for she had many children before that time, and hence she gave the name {}גד (Gad) to her fifth son. Accordingly, I think that {( }גדGad) ought to be interpreted, in this passage, as meaning "a troop," or "an army;" because their false gods were so numerous, that they could scarcely be numbered for multitude.
And fill an oblation to the number. To fill may here be taken in two
451"Et les appelle apostats." "And calls them apostates." 452"That prepare a table for that troop, (or, Gad.)" — Eng. Ver. "A table. A lectisternium the Romans called it. Gad and Meni were heathen deities, or perhaps two appellations of the same idol, according to the scriptural manner of expressing the same thing, in the same sentence, by its different names; so in Jeremiah 32:35, Baal and Moloch mean one false god. Gad, in Arabic, is Goodness. Meni denoted the Moon, from {{( מנהmanah), to number; whence {μὴν}, a month, and {μηνὴ}, the ancient Greek name for the moon." — Stock, who quotes Rosenmuller as his authority.