Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 28:24

24. Doth the plowman plow all day to sow ? doth he open and break the clods of his ground ?

The plowman doth not spend all his time in plowing the Ground, in order to the sowing it, or, as it follows, in open[illegible: 1+ letters]g it, and breaking its clods; but he hath several times for several works, a time for plowing, and a time for sowing and harrowing, and a time for reaping, and a time for threshing or beating, and bruising his Corn for his own use. Which wisdom God hath put into him. This is the Sum of the similitude propounded here, and in the following Verses. The design and meaning whereof seems to be this, to teach them, That God had his times and seasons for several Works, and that the methods of his providence were various at several times, and towards several persons or people; and therefore, that those scoffing Israelites were guilty of great Folly, in flattering themselves, and despising God's Threatnings, because of God's long Patience towards them, and because of their present impunity and prosperity; for God would certainly and speedily take a time to Thresh, and break them with his Judgments, as at present He Plowed and Harrowed them, and so prepared them for it by His threatnings.

Understand, all day, or continually, out of the foregoing Clause,

Which they used to do with a kind of Harrow, or other proper Instrument. See Ier. 4. 3. Hos. 10. 11, 12.