Commentary on Isaiah Volume 2 John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
senses; either that they supplied everything largely and bountifully for the worship of idols; (for superstition has no limit or measure, and they who are niggardly in the worship of God very cheerfully spend all that they have for the sake of idols;) or that they passed by no idol to which they did not render their worship. I prefer the latter meaning; for idolaters do not think that they have done enough, if they do not give honor to each of the saints; and the more numerous the saints whom they have honored, they think that they will have better success. We have too great experience of this every day in the Papists.
By "number" he means the same thing as he formerly meant by "army;" for it is a repetition which is very customary among Hebrew writers. He means, therefore, that "a table is prepared," that is, sacrifice is offered, not to a single idol, but to a great number of idols; in order to shew clearly how grievous are the punishments which they have deserved.
12. Therefore I will number you to the sword. He alludes to the number of the gods; and the Lord declares that he will easily ascertain how numerous they are, for he "will number them to the sword." And hence we see that the Prophet, in the preceding verse, does not speak of the two planets, Jupiter and Mercury, as some think, but means that they were not satisfied with one God, and collected for themselves various idols. It is an idle conjecture that the word {( }מניmeni) denotes Mercury, because {( }מנהmanah) signifies "to number," and Mercury presided over numbers and merchants. 453 The design of the Prophet is manifest, who declares that the people "shall be numbered to the sword," because they delighted in a vast number of gods, and did not choose to rely on one God.
Because I called, and ye did not answer. He heightens the extent and heinousness of that treason, by saying that the Jews sinned through deliberate malice, and on purpose, rather than through ignorance. They had been often instructed and warned, but had disdainfully rejected all warnings, and consequently were far less excusable than others, to whom no prophets were sent; for although ignorance cannot be pleaded as an excuse by any man, yet much less can it be pleaded by the Jews and those to whom the word of God is proclaimed, and who, on that account, will be condemned and punished more severely than others.
I spake, and ye did not hear. He describes the manner of calling, namely, that he exhorted the people by the prophets; for by the word "speak" he twice repeats the same thing, as we have already stated to be the custom of Hebrew writers. To "hear" the Lord is to obey his word; for it would be a trivial matter to lend our ears, if we did not submit to the word; and it would then be with us as the proverb says, "They listen with the ears of an ass." 454 God wishes to be heard sincerely, and does not approve of a
453"Et que Mercure estoit le dieu des marchans qui out leurs livres de contes." "And because Mercury was the god of merchants, who have their account-books."
454"Comme aux asnes qui font signe d'oreilles." "As with asses that make a show of ears." Greek proverbs of the same kind are still more abundant. {́̓Ονῳ} {τὶς} {ἔλεγε} {μῦθον·} {ὁ} {δὲ} {τὰ}