Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
Ver. 13. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion] "Go in this thy might" (wherewith thou so lustily threshest out thy wheat by the winepress, said the angel to Gideon, Jdg 6:14), and thresh the Midianites another while, "thou shalt smite them as one man," Judges 6:16; thresh them as the sheaves of the floor, that lie ready for the flail, or, as the custom of those countries was, Deu 25:4 1 Corinthians 9:9 1 Timothy 5:18, for oxen to tread out, or the wheel to turn over, Isaiah 28:28 .
For I will make thine horn iron, &c.] So that thou shalt do great exploits, by mine assistance, against Sennacherib, Antiochus, and other enemies subdued and threshed down to straw by the valiant Maccabees. Spiritualiter etiam hoc intelligendum, saith Sa. here; this is also spiritually to be understood of converting people to the faith, separata palea infidelitatis. This the apostles did vigorously and effectually, being furnished by Christ with horns of iron and hoofs of brass; with spiritual courage and mettle, whereby they did soon beat in pieces many people, and brought them to Christ by the obedience of faith, together with all their wealth and substance, which they cheerfully consecrate unto the Lord of the whole earth. This was typified of old by the tabernacle built with the spoils of the Egyptians; and by David's dedicating to the Lord the gold and silver which in great abundance he had taken from the enemies, 2 Samuel 8:11. It is prophesied of Tyre, that being converted, she should find another manner of merchandise than formerly, viz. to feed and clothe God's poor with durable clothing, Isaiah 23:18. The centurion, when once he became a proselyte, built the Jewish synagogues, that had been thrown down by Antiochus, Luke 7:5. Constantine the Great was bountiful to the Church above measure, insomuch as that he was by the heathens in scorn called Pupillus, orphan, as if he had wanted a guardian to overrule and order his expenses. Sed refriguit hoc studium hodie in magistratibus plerisque, as Gualther here complaineth, and not without cause. The Church is not only scanted, but spoiled of her revenues; and that which was piously consecrated is impiously converted to other uses, &c. Thus he.