John Trapp on Isaiah 5:24

Ver. 24. Therefore as the fire devoureth the ſtubble] For all the crimes afore mentioned, and for that, to all the former they add this, that they have caſt away the Law of the Lord and deſpiſed his word.

As the fire] Heb the tongue of fire, that is, the top of the flame, which reſembleth a tongue, that is alſo thin, broad, long, and of a fiery colour; ſetting on fire the courſe of nature, and is it ſelf ſet on fire of hell, Jam. 3.6.

Devoureth the ſtubble, and the flame conſumeth the chaff] Sin doth as naturally draw and ſuck judgments to it, as the loadſtone doth iron, as dry ſtubble and light chaff doth fire: ſuddenly and with no ado ſhall ſinners be conſumed, when God once taketh them to do: exorientur & exurentur.

So their root ſhall be rottenneſs] in alluſion to the vine, ver. 1. which brought forth rotten grapes, ver. 4.

And their bloſſom ſhall go up as duſt] ſhall vaniſh and come to nothing, as it needs muſt where the root is putrified. Of wild vines Pliny ſaith, Oſtentant fructum potius quam porrigunt, Lib. 16. cap. 27. they rather make a ſhew of fruit then yeeld any. And there are ſome vines ſaith Varro, whoſe fruit ever rotteth before it hath time to ripen.Var. ap. Caſ. D on. He meaneth they ſhall vaniſh in their greateſt flouriſh of ſeeming felicity.