Isaiah 9

Isaiah 9:1

IN her vexation] namely, the Nation, or the Land of Israel, shall suffer a more grievous desolation, then that of the two Kings of Assyria was, who are spoken of hereafter At the first] namely, when Pul made an inrode into the Countrey at the first, and then for money went away againe, 2 King. 15. 19. And afterward] namely, by Tiglathpilezer, 2 King 15. 29. who though he were not yet come, at that time as Isaiah prophesied these things, yet he is here spoken of as though he were come already, according to the manner of Prophets More grievously] with more grievous warre, and fiercer onset The Sea] of Genezareth or Tiberias. Beyond Jordan] namely, in Gilead, and other Countries Of the Nations] the Italian, Of the Gentiles; Galilee is so called, because it was in the confines of the Tirians and Sidonians, and therefore the people were there mingled with the Pagans, 1 King. 9. 11.

Isaiah 9:2

The people] a prophecie of Gods grace, through the Messias, to man, who lay buried in darknesse of ignorance and extreame misery; such as the state of the people of Israel was, set down here before by Isaiah. Now he sets down this gift which was to come, as if it were come already In the Land] as who should say, in the infernall cloisters of death, under the earth.

Isaiah 9:3

Thou hast multiplied] by joyning the Gentiles unto it, having called them by the Gospell.

Isaiah 9:4

Thou hast] freed her from the bondage of sin, the divell, and other spirituall enemies.

Isaiah 9:5

For every] he gives a reason why he hath likened the Churches deliverances to the peoples deliverance from the Midianites tyranny, namely, because that by the preaching and light of the Gospel, like unto Gideons lights and trumpets, Judges 7:20. the enemies shall be put to flight and terrified, and the world shall be filled with blood and wars, and at last shall be consumed with fire at the day of judgement.

Isaiah 9:6

A childe] namely, that childe which was spoken of, Isaiah 7:14. which is Jesus Christ, the everlasting Sonne of God, who hath taken humane flesh by being born of the Virgin, and defends the Churches right against all her enemies, in quality of Mediatour and head of the same The govern¦ment] God the Father hath made him Head and King of the universe, and especially of his Church, being his generall Deputy in the quality of Mediatour Upon his] hee seems to have a relation to those who were in eminent places and great Offices about Kings, who for a badge of their office carried a key upon their shouldes, Isaiah 22:22. Revelation 3:7. And his name] he shall be such a one in effect as these names demonstrate him to be.Wonderfull] in his divine, glorious, adorable person, and in his wonderfull and incomprehensible works, Judges 13:18. Counsellour] he that is the fathers everlasting wisdom, and by reason of the unitie of essence is partaker of all his counsells, see Proverbs 8:14; Proverbs 8:27. Everlasting Father] the Italian, Father of eternity; the head, and as it were the stocke of the spirituall and everlasting life of all beleevers, who have that life from him by the communication of his justice, life, and spirit, as all men have their naturall and animall life from Adam: The ancient did translate it, Father of the age, that is to say, the head and author of the renewed state of the world in grace and justice, Hebr. 2. 5. and 6. 5. opposite to the evill world, Galatians 1:4. of sinne and death, of which the devill is prince The prince] that is to say, the onely and supream King of the Church, who hath made peace between God and it, and giveth true peace to the conscience, and reigneth thereby to life and salvation over it, Colossians 3:15. and by his Kingdom establisheth the said peace amongst beleevers, Isaiah 60:17.

Isaiah 9:7

Of David] namely, of Christ, figured by David, and descended from him according to the flesh, who shall change Davids temporall Kingdom into an everlasting and spirituall one,Luke 1:32. The zeale.] that is to say, God shall give his Sonne for a Saviour to the world, for to maintaine his glory against the attempts of the Devill, and for to accomplish the salvation of those who are his.

Isaiah 9:8

The Lord] the Prophet now returnes to the predictions of Israels calamities.

Isaiah 9:9

Shall know] that is to say, Shall feele it, and finde the effects of it.

Isaiah 9:10

The bricks] proverbiall kinds of speeches, the meaning whereof is, True it is that our State hath suffered many great overthrowes and ruines, but wee will raise it up againe in greater splendour and glory then ever it was. A vain hope conceived upon the happy reigne of Jeroboam the sonne of Joas, 2 King. 14. 16.

Isaiah 9:11

Shall set up] namely, shall give the Assyrians victorie over the Syrians, and Rezin their King, 2 King. 16. 9.

Isaiah 9:12

The Syrians] their invasions are not any where made mention of in Scripture.

Isaiah 9:14

The head] a kinde of speech taken from beasts and plants, meaning, he shall cut off all from the greatest to the least, see Isaiah 19:15.

Isaiah 9:15

He is the taile] he seems to meane that in the Church vices and vertues, and not titles and dignities, make a difference of degrees, see Matth. 5. 19.

Isaiah 9:16

Cause them to erre] the Italian, shall be seducers; in the triall shall be knowne and found to be such.

Isaiah 9:17

No joy] for to spare them in these universall judgements.

Isaiah 9:18

Wickednesse] that is to say, the sinnes being common both to great ones and little ones, shall cause them likewise all to perish indifferently as in an universall burning.

Isaiah 9:19

No man shall] that is to say, The land shall be full of seditions, discords, and civill wars, see 2 Kings 15:14; 2 Kings 15:16; 2 Kings 15:25; 2 Kings 15:30.

Isaiah 9:20

The flesh of] that is to say, those that are neerest and most allied unto him.

Isaiah 9:21

And they] the Italian, though they; the ten tribes shall not agree together, but onely in warring against Judah, and in other things they shall continually bee divided into severall factions amongst themselves.