Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
Ver. 4. Out of him came forth the corner] Angulus, not Angelus, as some Vulgate Latin translations have it: and a Lapide justly finds fault with it. A like fault Surius and Caranza (his fellow popelings) are content to wink at, nay, to defend in the Laodicean Council, because it makes for their angel worship. For whereas the Council truly saith, ου δει χριστιανους αγγελους ονομαζειν, Christians must not pray to angels. They make the words to be Non oportet Christianos ad angulos congregationes facere. Christians ought not to hold their meetings in corners; and they make the title say the same thing. But is this fair dealing thus to falsify antiquity for their own ends, and to maintain their own errors? As for the text,
Out of him came forth, &c.] That is, Out of Judah shall be had all things necessary, both at home (and here the prophet proceeds from the foundation to the nails, or fastening of the house together) and abroad; both for the mastering of the enemy by the battle bow, &c., and the making of him tributary: for
Out of him shall come every exactor] sc. Of homage and tribute, as the fruit of their victory. Danaeus senseth it thus. Out of Judah shall go every oppressor which did vex his people before, God driving him forth.