Isaiah 29:17 [Is] it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
Ver. 17. Is it yet not a very little while?] Nonne adhuc paululum paululum; or, A hundred years hence the Gentiles shall be called by the preaching of the apostles (for here beginneth the consolatory part of this chapter; see on Isa 29:1); and that is but a very small time with God. He speeds away the generation, that he may finish the calling of his elect, and so put an end to all.
And Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field.] Heb., Lebanon shall be turned into Carmel, the wide world; the wide waste of the Gentiles, confer Isa 42:15 the elect among them shall be made God's husbandry or vineyard, Eph 2:12 Rom 11:17 et e contra, Carmelus fiet Libanus. a
The fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest.] The obstinate Jews, with their seeming fruitfulness, shall be rejected. Lo, here is a turning of things upside down that you dream not of; this is that marvellous work, Isaiah 29:14 .
a Sylvestria corda electorum inter gentes. - Piscator