But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Ver. 7. But when the king heard thereof] And kings have long ears, this King of heaven especially. Cui etiam muta clamant cadavera.-Ut taceant homines iumenta loquentur. In case of the abuse of God's servants, a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter, Ecclesiastes 10:20. John Baptist was beheaded in the prison, as if God had known nothing of the matter, said that martyr. But when he maketh inquisition for blood (which he often doth with great secrecy and severity) he remembereth such to purpose,Psalms 9:12, as he did Herod, Maximinius, Charles IX of France, Felix of Wartenburg, and various other bloody persecutors. The king is said to hear of what was done, for blood crieth.
Sent forth his armies] The Roman spoilers, who were the rod in God's hand, and revenged the quarrel of his covenant. Howbeit they thought not so,Isaiah 10:7. As in letting blood by leeches the physician seeks the health of his patient, the leech only filling of his gorge; so when God turns the wicked upon his people, he hath excellent ends, howbeit they think not so, but to destroy and cut off nations not a few, Isaiah 10:7 .