Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 27:1

IN that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish Leviathan the piercing serpent , even Leviathan that crooked serpent , and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

What kind of Creature the Leviathan is, see in my Notes on Iob 41. 1, &c. Whence it is evident, that it was a very great and terrible Sea-monster. But here it is certain that the Expression is metaphorical, and that by this Leviathan, Serpent, and Dragon, (for all signifie the same thing) he understands some very powerful Enemy or Enemies (for the Singular Number may be here put for the Plural, as it is in many other places) of God, and of his Church or People, which may well be called by these Names, partly for their great Might, and partly for the great Terrour and Destruction which they cause upon the Earth, as the Leviathan doth in the Sea. He seems to have a special respect to some particular Enemy and Oppressor of God's People; either the Assyrian Emperour, who now was so; or rather the Babylonian, who should be▪ so. Some understand this of the Devil: But although it may be applied to him in a mystical sence, it seems to be literally meant of some potent and visible Adversary; which seems more agreeable to the following Verses, and to the Usage of this and other Prophets.

Which by its Sting pierceth quickly and deeply into Mens Bodies. Or, the bar (as this Word is elsewhere used) serpent, as this may be called, either for its length, or strength, or swift motion.

Win[illegible: 1+ letters]ing and turning it self with great variety and dexterity. Whereby he seems to signifie the Craftiness and Activity of this Enemy, which being added to his Strength, makes it more formidable.

Or rather, the whale, as this Word is rendred Gen. 1. 21. Iob 7. 12. and elsewhere; which agrees better with the following Words, that is in the sea, which possibly were added onely to limit that general and ambiguous Word to a Sea-monster, and not to describe▪ the Place in which the Enemy signified by this Dragon had his abode. Although the sea, which here follows, may be metaphorically understood of the great largeness of his Empire, and the multitude of his Subjects, by comparing this with Revel. 17. 1, 15.

Marginal references: Or, crossing like a bar.; Chap. 51. 9.