Commentari biblici

Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Who is this that cometh from Edom? — It had been said, in Isaiah 62:11 , "Behold, thy salvation (thy Saviour) cometh." Here, therefore, by an elegant hypotyposis, Vivid description of a scene, event, or situation, bringing it, as it were, before the eyes of the hearer or reader. the Sionidae, or saints, are brought in wondering at his coming in such a garb, and asking, Who is this? What gallant conqueror have we here? Edom, or Idumaea, signifieth red; Bozrah, (the chief city of Idumaea), a vintage. compare Isaiah 63:2 It may very well be also that this prophecy was uttered in vintage time, and therehence haply might grow the comparison here used. John the divine, representing to us Christ’s coming to judgment, useth the same simile. Revelation 19:13 Some also of good note, do understand this prophecy of Christ’s triumphing over all his and our enemies (the Romish Edomites especially), at the last day.

With dyed garments. — Heb., Leavened, i.e., drenched, Metaph. a massa conspersa. besmeared.

This that is glorious in his apparel. — Which is the more glorious, because laced or embroidered with the blood of his enemies.

Walking in the greatness of his strength. — Fortiter grassans, walking and stalking, going in state, gressu grallatorio, emperor like, so as Epaminondas marched before his army; which, when Agesilaus, king of Spartans beheld, he cried out, O virum magnificum! Plutarch. in Epam. O that is a gallant man! "Ye shall see the Son of man coming with great power!" saith Christ.

I that speak in righteousness. — Christ’s answer, q.d., " Fear not, little flock"; this strange garb and gait of mine portendeth no hurt but good to you; to whom whatsoever I have faithfully promised, I will powerfully perform. As King of Zion, I will

“ Parcere subiectis et debellare superbos. ”

At the last day also I will "come to be glorified in my saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." 2 Thessalonians 1:10 See Revelation 19:11 .

Mighty to save. — Suficiens ad salvandum, sive Magister ad salvandum, a Master to save. This those lepers had learned, and therefore cried, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." Luke 17:13

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Wherefore [art thou] red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel? — The wondering Church had proposed two questions in Isaiah 63:1 - viz., Who that was? and why so bloodied? To the first she bad an answer in few, but very full in Isaiah 63:1 . To the second, she here again presseth for an answer; and the rather because, candor magis quam cruor, clemency would better beseem a Saviour than cruelty. Augustine.

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I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

I have trodden the winepress alone. — I, the sole and all-sufficient Saviour of my Church, have executed God’s just vengeance upon all her enemies, spiritual and corporal; compare Lamentations 1:15 Revelation 14:19-20 ; Revelation 19:15 and this with as much ease as men tread grapes in a winepress.

And of the people there was none with me. — Christ maketh use of men for the beating down of Satan’s strongholds; but the power whereby it is done is from Christ alone. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ; 2 Corinthians 4:7 Papists, who will needs share with Christ and make him but a half Saviour, have no share in his salvation.

For I will tread them in mine anger. — I have already done it; and I will much more at that great "day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." Romans 2:5 See Revelation 19:20-21 .

And their blood shall be sprinkled. — Or, Was sprinkled. Their blood; not his own. The Fathers, therefore, and others who interpret this text of Christ’s passion, were mistaken. There is one among the rest who thus descants upon this verse, but not so well. The wild bull, saith he, of all things cannot abide any red colour. Therefore the hunter, for the time being standing before a tree, puts on a red garment; whom, when the bull seeth, he runs hard at him, as hard as he can drive. But the hunter slipping aside, the bull’s horns stick fast in the tree; as when David slipped aside, Saul’s spear stuck fast into the wall: such a hunter is Christ. Christ standing before the tree of his cross, putteth on a red garment dipped and dyed in his own blood, as one that cometh with red garments from Bozrah. Therefore the devil and his angels, like wild bulls of Bashan, run at him; but he, saving himself, their horns stick fast in the cross; as Abraham’s ram, by his horns, stuck fast in the briers. Thus he.

Stain my raiment. — Heb., Pollute it; for other blood polluteth, Isaiah 59:3 Lamentations 4:14 but "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7

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For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

For the day of vengeance is in mine heart. — Or, Was in mine heart. Hence I made such havoc. Christ is the "Lord God of recompenses," Jeremiah 51:56 and the "Lord God of revenges"; Psalms 94:1 he is "jealous and furious," Nahum 1:2 ; see the note there his feet, wherewith he treadeth down his enemies, are "like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace." Revelation 1:15 Oh, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the punishing hands of this living God." Hebrews 10:31

And the year of my redeemed is come. — Their joyful jubilee. It is hail with the saints when ill with the wicked. The deliverance of those is oft the destruction of these.

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And I looked, and [there was] none to help; and I wondered that [there was] none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

And I looked, and there was none to help. — See on Isaiah 59:16 .

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And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

Make them drunk in my fury. — I will give them large draughts of my displeasure. as Psalms 75:9 I will infatuate and utterly disable them to rebel and resist; yea, I will make them drunk with their own blood, as with new wine. Isaiah 49:26 Revelation 16:6 See Trapp on " Revelation 16:6 " The perverse Jews, at the last destruction of their city, became a famous instance, being buried, as it were, in a bog of blood.

And I will bring down their strength. — Or, Their blood, as it is rendered Isaiah 63:3 , eo quod vita et virtus hominis in sanguine, Oecolam. because life and strength is in the blood.

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I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, [and] the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, — Summam Cantici sui paucis complectitur. scil., As an aggravation of Israel’s great unkindness and unthankfulness to so liberal a Lord, so bountiful a benefactor. Good turns exaggerate unkindness; and men’s offences are increased by their obligations. See Deuteronomy 32:7 ; Deuteronomy 32:14 .

According to his mercies, … — Which are such as words are too weak to utter; hence this Copia verborum, and all too little. See the like, Ephesians 2:5 ; Ephesians 2:7 .

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For he said, Surely they [are] my people, children [that] will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie, — q.d., I presume they will not; it were a foul shame for them if they should deceive my expectation, deal disloyally, show themselves deceitful in the covenant. The officers of Merindol, in France, answered the Popish bishop that moved them to abjure, that they marvelled much that he would offer to persuade them to lie to God and the world. And albeit that all men by nature are liars; yet they had learned by the Word of God that they ought diligently to take heed of lying in any matter, be it never so small. Also that they ought diligently to take heed that their children did not accustom or use themselves to lie, and therefore punish them very sharply when they took them with any lie, even as if they had committed a robbery; for the devil is a liar, … Here the bishop rose up in a great anger, and so departed. Acts and Mon., 866.

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