Vers. 3. I haue trodden the wine-presse alone, and of all the people, there was none with mee: for I will tread them in mine anger, and tread them vnder foot in my wrath, and their blood shall bee sprinkled vpon my garments, and I will staine all my raiment.
NOw the Prophet expounds the vision, and shewes wherefore the Lord is thus died with blood; namely, because he must be auenged on the Idumeans, and other ene∣mies, who haue vsed his people very inhu∣manely. It should bee a thing ridiculous to referre this verse vnto Christ; in re∣gard he hath redeemed vs without the helpe of any man: for the Prophets meaning is, that the Lord will so punish the Idumeans, that he shall stand in need of no mans helpe, because himselfe will bee strong enough to roote them out. [Ans.] For the Iewes might obiect, [Obiect.] that the Idumeans were mightie: that no warre was made vpon them, but that they florished and liued at their ease. But the Lord shewes yt this shall not hinder him from smi∣ting them, when him listeth. I grant he vsed mens helpe, when hee auenged himselfe of the Idumeans: but yet in such wise, that it was apparant to all how the whole action was managed by his owne hand: neither could any thing therein be ascribed either to the counsels, or forces of men. For they were surprized with a sudden and vnexpected de∣struction: in respect whereof the people could not doubt, but that God only was the author thereof, seeing they had been so often aduertised of it before.
Where he saith, And of all the people there vvas not one vvith him; it is to shew, that howsoeuer some should be raised vp to bring destruction vpon Edom, yet Gods worke therein should be separate from theirs. For the infidell enemies neuer dreamed of auen∣ging the vniust cruelties of the Idumeans. The Lord would then that his iudgement should shine and be considered of in the clat∣tering of the harnesse and weapons, and in these violent moouings.
I vvill goe vpon them. For mine owne part I willingly retaine the future tence, in regard the Prophet speakes of things to come, and not yet accomplished. For the Idume∣ans were to bee seuerelie punished for their crueltie: though for the present, they were at their case, and in great tranquillity.
Wee haue alreadie in part touched the cause why the Prophet hath vsed the simili∣litude of a bloodie presser, which is both a hi∣deous and wofull sight: yet therewithall he addes, that the punishments and vengeances of God against his enemies are properly his owne, as if himselfe had gathered them to∣gether, when he shall either consume or scat∣ter them. Euen as in Chap. 34.6. such an ex∣ecution is called a solemne sacrifice: to teach vs that wee are no lesse to glorifie God, when hee executes his iudgements, then when hee manifests the tokens of his mercie. In the meane while hee expresseth his singular loue towards the Iewes, seeing for their sakes he vouchsafeth to sprinkle him∣selfe with the blood of his enemies so farre; that hee vseth the verbe to staine, or to defile.
In my vvrath.] The Prophet shewes that this alone sufficeth for the destruction of the Idumeans: namelie, that the Lord is angrie with them. As if he should say, No man shall be able to deliuer them when God shal haue to doe with them. Hence we are to gather, that mens ruine proceedes from no other cause but Gods vvrath: as on the contrarie, our saluation depends wholly vpon his meere grace. To conclude, the Lord meant here to testifie that the Idumeans should not escape vnpunished, seeing they had bin per∣secutors of his Church.