Ishodad of Merv — Commentary on Scripture

Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.

The words “its strength is in its cover” [mean] its strength and vigor are precisely in the animal itself. Animals usually take shelter in different places, but [the author] says this animal does not need a shelter at all.

Job 40:20-24

Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

The words “the shadows surround it.” Because of the size of the animal, [the author says], anywhere it goes, it casts shadows around it. The words “the crows like a torrent surround it.” [This is said] because the habit of these birds is to approach and croak anytime they see something terrifying.

Job 42:16-17

After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

If it is true that Moses knew Job, why did he never mention him in any of his works? It is evident that [Job] lived before the law, because we know that in every time, in every place and in every person, the knowledge of God exists without the need of a human instruction, as is attested by [Job’s] friends, who composed a high doctrine on God. Evagrius says, … There is no time in which virtue did not exist, nor a time in which it will not exist.

Joel 1:4

That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.

The mashota (“cutting locust”) is similar to a larva. It is black and longer than a larva; when it falls to the ground, it does not destroy completely the plant but devours just the leaves and does not touch the rest. Through it the prophet signifies Tiglath-pileser, because the troubles that he caused to the people of Israel were mild. He calls Shalmaneser the flying locust, because the destruction that he caused was more serious than that by Tiglath-pileser. He calls zahla the crawling locust, which does not fly and feeds on everything. He signifies through it Sennacherib, because he surpasses his predecessor in the ruin caused and brings about the annihilation of ten tribes. The sarsoura creeps on the ground and is only equipped with a sting; when it strikes the roots of a tree, any tree it finds, it immediately withers. And he signifies through it Nebuchadnezzar, the cause of total destruction. He calls vines the common people, fig trees the important persons, whom the Assyrians and Babylonians deported in captivity. Hanana says “the vines” represent the ten tribes; “the fig tree…

The mashota (“cutting locust”) is similar to a larva. It is black and longer than a larva; when it falls to the ground, it does not destroy completely the plant but devours just the leaves and does not touch the rest. Through it the prophet signifies Tiglath-pileser, because the troubles that he caused to the people of Israel were mild. He calls Shalmaneser the flying locust, because the destruction that he caused was more serious than that by Tiglath-pileser. He calls zahla the crawling locust, which does not fly and feeds on everything. He signifies through it Sennacherib, because he surpasses his predecessor in the ruin caused and brings about the annihilation of ten tribes. The sarsoura creeps on the ground and is only equipped with a sting; when it strikes the roots of a tree, any tree it finds, it immediately withers. And he signifies through it Nebuchadnezzar, the cause of total destruction. He calls vines the common people, fig trees the important persons, whom the Assyrians and Babylonians deported in captivity. Hanana says “the vines” represent the ten tribes; “the fig trees” the house of Judah. When the Assyrians were about to come, Ezekiah sent some of the Levites to the ten tribes, before they could be destroyed. They blew the trumpet throughout the land and gathered men and women into the temple of Jerusalem, so that all prayers might be said in the temple; and a prayer more fervent than any other was said. And the prophet relating what they said through their prayer says: “Alas, alas, for the fateful day. The heifers have been roasted,” that is, they have been burned by an atrocious hunger as by a fire. “The fire has devoured, that is, a fierce heat, the pastures of the wilderness.” He uses [this name] for those places suitable for sowing, which many call “farms.” Others say, “fertile land or places which face the south,” that is, estates which are turned to the sun.

Joel 2:14

Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

The prophet in effect says what you need to do. I know, however, that you will not really repent before you are deported. But, when you would have done penance for your sins after being punished by captivity, then God will take care of you and will bring you back to your land.

Joel 2:20

But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

“I will remove the northerner,” both the Assyrian and Babylonian. Someone may ask, “Since for its position Babylon is not situated north of Jerusalem, why does God say through the prophet, ‘I will remove the northerner far from you’ and ‘Out of the north evil shall break forth upon’ these people”? And we answer that first of all, these words are not said in consideration of the geographical position of Babylon and Jerusalem but of those northern nations subject to the Babylonians—the Arzanites, the Araratites2—who will come down to Jerusalem with the Babylonians. Second, it is because those who want to reach Jerusalem from the regions of Babylon, Persia and the east go up toward the region of the north and then come down toward Jerusalem in the south.

Joel 2:28-29

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

“I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.” In the first instance he talks about Ezekiel, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah and other prophets whose names are not mentioned. In addition, “your daughters” will sing and intone psalms in happiness, as well as the rest of the people. This means I will openly reveal to you my fondness and will largely pour it onto you. Therefore these words follow: “My Spirit abides among you,” and also, “My spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh.” But the truth of these words is found in Christ and in the apostles, as well as in the prophets and in the righteous ones, who were filled with the Spirit, and in the daughters of Philip. Recall Peter, who testifies when he preaches to the Jews: “This is,” he says, “what Joel predicted.” Then the words: “The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood.” He talks according to the state of mind of those who are plunged into their afflictions.

Joel 3:10-11

Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

“Beat your plowshares,” that is, change your farm implements into weapons. In fact, after coming back from captivity, they would have been poor, but then they would have acquired wealth at the expense of the house of Gog.

Joel 3:12

Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

The words “come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat” will not gather them and bring them down, but he will let them accomplish their plan. In fact, he talks about the people over whom the house of Gog rules. “To the valley of Jehoshaphat,” that is, to the valley of judgment. “Jehoshaphat” is interpreted as judgment and sentence.

Micah 5:2 · 2 passages

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

“But you, O Bethlehem, you are too little for what you are.” That is, even though in comparison with your enemies you are little in force and number and incapable to lead “the thousand of Judah,” yet, thanks to the help that I give you, the powerful ruler will be able to make war against them. For I have destined him to that from the beginning, through the promises already made to David. This is said with the usual reference to Zerubbabel, but its true meaning has been revealed in Christ, because when he appeared, all the promises made to Abraham and David were fulfilled.

The text says, “His origin is from the beginning,” the beginning, that is, according to the promises made to Abraham and David.

Micah 5:3

Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

“He shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth.” This is what the prophet calls Jerusalem. This means he will abandon them to the afflictions of captivity until the time of the return. This means that these predictions will not come true before they are back from their captivity. Henana of Adiabene says “she who is in labor” means Jerusalem because she is in the pains of labor, which are her afflictions, and waits the birth of her salvation, until according to her expectations it sets to her return and her pains’ end. But in the same manner they will endure different difficulties until the Virgin gives birth to Christ.

Micah 5:5

And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

“We will raise against them seven shepherds and eight princes.” By means of the events that happened in the days of Hezekiah, at the time of the ruin of the Assyrians, Micah provides information about those things that will happen through the agency of Zerubbabel toward the people of the house of Gog. By the numbers seven and eight he has indicated the complete and total destruction that befell the Assyrians through the intervention of the angel. The allusion is to the words of Ecclesiastes: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what evil may happen on earth.”However, others suppose that he means by “seven shepherds” the prophets who lived before the invasion of the Assyrians, who prophesied their ruin, and that he means by the “eight princes of men” Hezekiah and the princes who assisted him.… The phrase “seven shepherds” may indicate the fullness of the punishment that the Assyrians will undergo through the agency of the angel, while “eight bites of men” indicates what was in store for the…

“We will raise against them seven shepherds and eight princes.” By means of the events that happened in the days of Hezekiah, at the time of the ruin of the Assyrians, Micah provides information about those things that will happen through the agency of Zerubbabel toward the people of the house of Gog. By the numbers seven and eight he has indicated the complete and total destruction that befell the Assyrians through the intervention of the angel. The allusion is to the words of Ecclesiastes: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what evil may happen on earth.”However, others suppose that he means by “seven shepherds” the prophets who lived before the invasion of the Assyrians, who prophesied their ruin, and that he means by the “eight princes of men” Hezekiah and the princes who assisted him.…
The phrase “seven shepherds” may indicate the fullness of the punishment that the Assyrians will undergo through the agency of the angel, while “eight bites of men” indicates what was in store for the survivors after their flight. What happened was that the Assyrian king was murdered by his sons and the others were exterminated by their fellow citizens.… From the spiritual point of view the verse applies to Satan, the abolisher of the law and the gospel, who was defeated by the prophets, the apostles and the angels.