John Trapp on Isaiah 9:1

CHAP. IX.

Ver. 1. NEvertheleſs the dimneſs ſhall not be ſuch] Dimneſs of anguiſh had been fore-threatened, chap. 8.22. Now this is added for an allay, as being a promiſe of a mitigation of their miſery, and yet further of Chriſts Incarnation, which is the ſum of all the good news in the world. Evangeliſtam hic agit Iſaias, Scult. non prophetam, ſaith One, i. e. Iſaiah here acteth the part of an Evangeliſt rather then of a Prophet: He foretelleth, ſaith another Interpreter, that as the Aſſyrians preyed upon Samaria and Galilee, ſo ſhall the Lord Chriſt alſo prey upon them ſpiritually, A Lap. and for their greateſt good, ver. 2. And as Tiglath-pileſer firſt carried away a few out of Galilee, lightly afflicting the Land of Zebulon, and the Land of Nephthaly: and then Salmaneſer more grievouſly afflicting her carried captive thoſe and all the reſt of the ten Tribes: Semblably Chriſt, firſt preaching in Galilee, Oecolamp. converted and called therehence ſundry of his Diſciples: and afterwards when he was lifted up from the earth he drew all men unto him, John 12.32. He rode upon his white-horſe (the Apoſtles) conquering the world, and to conquer, Rev. 6.2. And hence that ſincere Joy in the hearts of his ſervants, far exceeding that of Harveſt which is not without great toil; or that of Souldiers dividing the ſpoil, which is not atchieved without confuſed noiſe, and garments rolled in blood, ver. 2.3, 5.

By the way of the ſea] The ſea of Tiberias, John 21.1. or lake of Geneſareth, Luke 5.1.

Beyond Jordan] Or, beſide Jordan.

In Galilee of the Gentiles] See the Note on Matth. 4.15.