Vers. 2. Then I tooke vnto mee faith∣full witnesses, to record, Ʋriah the Priest, and Zechariah the sonne of Iebere∣chiah.
THe Prophet vseth a noune and verbe de∣riued from one roote, and the meeting together of the words hath elegancie: as if we should say, I haue witnessed my selfe with wit∣nesses. Now because this matter was of great importance, he tooke witnesses with him, as men were wont to doe in things of consequence. Hee calles them faithfull; that is to say, true and meete: and yet notwithstanding one of them was a cursed and wicked apostata, who to flatter the King, built an Altar like vnto that at Damascus; and openly consented to an horrible impietie and abomination. I know there are others who are indeed of a contra∣rie opinion: but if wee consider the circum∣stance of the time well, we shall finde it to be euen that same Vriah, who like a trencher-chaplaine, conformed himselfe to the vngod∣ly humour of the King; as the holy historie witnesseth. Whereas they thinke it was some other, because Isaiah calleth him faithfull: it is too weake a reason; for the Prophet did not so much looke to the man, as to the office which he exercised; in regard whereof, hee was sufficient to be a witnesse in this case. He meant not to say then, that Vriah was a good man; but that his person was not to be reie∣cted, in regard of the authoritie of his office; but was in respect thereof, a witnes free from all exception; as they say. Moreouer, I thinke this prophecie was fixed to the doores of the Temple, in the presence of Ʋriah and Zecha∣riah, who were taken to be witnesses to it. For hee speakes of no vision, but of a commande∣ment of God, which hee indeed did and per∣formed: to the end these words might be as a common prouerbe in the mouthes of all the people.