presse the Iewes in such wise then, that they were constreined to seeke help of other na∣tions. The holie historie witnesseth, that Tar∣tan was one of the Captaines of Senacherib: for which cause we must needs acknowledge that this Sargon was Senacherib, who (as wee [ 2] may see by this place) had two names. We are likewise to consider in what case the state of Israel was: for the ten Tribes had been led away captiue: and it seemed that the king∣dome of Iudah was vtterlie wasted, in regard the whole Countrie was almost conquered, Ierusalem excepted, which was besieged by Rabsache. Tartan, on the other side, laid siege against Ashdod, 2 King. 18.13. & 17. Now in the 17. verse of the 18. Chapter there are three Captaines named: whence wee rightlie col∣lect, that Sennacheribs camp at that time was diuided into three parts, that so at one in∣stant all being amazed and troubled, and some put to their shifts, the rest might haue no opportunitie to aid and succour one ano∣ther. The Iewes therefore had no other re∣fuge but to seeke for help of strangers. The Prophet in the meane whil•• is sent from God to tell them in flat termes, that it is but in vaine for them to depend vpō the succour of the Egyptians, who were alreadie pursued e∣uen by Gods immediat hand: and so farre was it off that they should be helpfull to o∣thers, that they were scarce able to defend themselues against their enemies. Thus the Iewes were to know for certaine, that they were iustlie punished for their infidelitie, be∣cause they left God, to flee for help to the E∣gyptians.
We are heere then to obserue the drift and scope of the text: for it is not Gods meaning to admonish the Egyptians, but to correct the infedelitie of his people: which infideli∣tie often caried them away to false and per∣uerse hopes. That the Prophet might teach them therefore to rest vpon God alone, he heere sets before them what issue and successe they should haue frō these vaine helps which they so greedily sought after. Now this ad∣monition doubtlesse was very seasonable, because the Egyptians had now begun to hinder the passage of the Assyrians, and had constreined them to returne from whence they came: which was the best newes the Iewes could possiblie heare tell of. But to the end they might not reioice too much in these goodly beginnings, he threatens that this succor shall turne into smoke, because the E∣thiopians and Egyptians shall in short space be ouercome to their great disgrace and confusion.