Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 59:5

5 They hatch cockatrice-eggs , and weave the spiders web : he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed, breaketh out into a viper .

Or Adder, or Basilisk; one kind put for any venemous creature, a proverbial speech signifying by these Eggs mischievous designs, and by hatching them their putting them in practice; this is to shew, that mischief is natural to them, and they can do no otherwise, as poison is natural to these Eggs.

Another Proverbial speech, whereby is taught, both how by their plots they weave nets, lay snares industriously with great pains and artifice, whereby they may entangle, and involve their poor Neighbours in intricacies, and perplexities, and so devour them, as the Spider weaves her web to catch flies, and then to seed on them: And also how that they contrive nothing but what will [illegible: 1+ letters]end to their own ruine, as the is[illegible: 1+ letters]ue of the Viper is the death of the Mother; and they, and their designs will come to nothing, and not answer their end, as the Spiders web is soon swept away, and is seen no more, which doth well agree with what follows.

Here is a Catachrestical allusion noting, that he who hath commerce with them, and approves their Counsels, which are the Eggs which they hatch, will be poysoned with them.

If and be copulative here, then the sense is either, if any seek to crush, and disappoint their plots, or if they be sprinkled, or dispersed abroad (as the margin seems to favour) they will seek his ruine, will be as a Viper to him: But if and be Cau[illegible: 1+ letters]l, as it often is, and may be here, then the sense is, q. d. he dieth, because the Eggs being crushed, a poysonous Viper proceeds from it, the more you partake of their counsels, the more you are insected, there lies such a deadly poison embodied in them.

Marginal references: Or, adders.; Or, that which is sprinkled, is as if there brake out a viper.