Vers. 3. For thus saith the Lord, yee were sold for nought, therefore shall you be redeemed without money.
* 1.1THis verse hath bin ill expounded by ma∣ny, who haue descanted here too subtilty, for they haue inuented many things besides the Prophets purpose. Now this agrees with that which he hath said in the 50. Chapter vers. 1. where he asketh for the creditor to whom he sold them: and here he saith in like maner, you vvere sold for nought: as if he had said, that he tooke no money, neither was he engaged to any creditor at all that could challenge them by right of sale. This serues greatly to cōfirme the promise: for the Iewes might doubt touching the truth of this pro∣mised freedome, in regard the Chaldeans the mightiest of all nations, held them prisoners a long time. But the Lord preuēts this doubt, saying, I neither sold, nor pawned you. You were sold for nought, and therefore I may require you againe, and claime you as mine owne. Stand not so much then whether the matter be hard to compasse or no, seeing I haue pro∣mised you libertie, neither dispute you too and fro of the matter by your carnall reason, for ye Chaldeans haue no right at all to ke••pe possession, neither can they be able to hin∣der your passage. To conclude, euen as in the place before alleaged he cleared him∣selfe from the imputation of an vnthrift, who is compelled to make sale of, or to pawne his children for debt, so in this place he shewes that they were taken from him, and were let go of him gratis, for no other cause, but in re∣gard they had prouoked him thereunto by their ini∣quities, Chap. 50.1. Therefore there is no more difficultie to redeeme them, then there was in parting from them.
Some expound this more subtillie, that we are redeemed freely by Christ. The doctrine no doubt is true: but it agrees not with the Prophets intention (in this place) for his meaning is to correct the diffidence of the Iewes, that he might assure them of their freedome. Let it suffice then that when God is purposed to redeeme his Church, he will not stand much about beating the price with the Chaldeans, whom he will easily chase from their vniust possession, and that whether they will or no.