Isaiah 16

My Notes Authors John Calvin - Commentaries **For the vines of Heshbon have been cut down. 262262 {Bogus footnote} Here the Prophet describes allegorically the desolation of the whole country. There is reason to believe that it abounded in the choicest vines, 263263 {Bogus footnote} as may readily be inferred from this and the parallel passage. (Jeremiah 48:32 .) When Prophets threaten destruction to countries, they usually delineate their more remarkable features. For instance, were we to speak of Picardy, we certainly would say nothing about vines, as if we had been speaking about Orleans or Burgundy. Now, the cities mentioned by the Prophet were the chief cities of Moab.

My Notes Authors John Calvin - Commentaries **Therefore I will bewail. The Prophet here takes upon him the character of another person, as we have formerly remarked; for in the name of the Moabites he laments and groans. It is undoubtedly true that believers always shudder at the judgments of God, and cannot lay aside the feelings of human nature, so as not to commiserate the destruction of the wicked. Yet he does not describe his own feelings; but his intention is to give additional weight to his instruction, that no one may entertain a doubt as to the accomplishment. He therefore represents in the person of a Moabite, as on a stage, the mourning and grief which shall be felt by all after that calamity, in order to hold out to the Jews a confirmation of this promise, which otherwise might have been thought to be incredible.