Isaiah 34

1–7

(Chapter 34, Verse 1, etc.) Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth and all that fills it hear, the world and all that springs from it. For the Lord's indignation is against all the nations, and His fury is against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them and given them over to slaughter. Their slain will be thrown out, and the stench of their corpses will rise; the mountains will be drenched with their blood. And all the host of heaven will rot away; the skies will roll up like a scroll, and all their host will wither away like a withered leaf from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree. For my sword is drenched in the heavens; indeed, it is drunk with blood. Behold, he will come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my slaughter, to judgment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made thick with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fatness of the kidneys of rams: for there is a victim of the Lord in Bosra, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls: and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their soil made fat with fatness. After the overthrow of Jerusalem, and the shipwreck of the once very firm ship, and the plunder of all its furnishings, it is said concerning the destruction of all nations, and concerning the consummation of the world, which is in the future day of judgment. Whereby all peoples and nations of the earth and its fullness, the world and all its offspring, both those inhabited places and those uninhabitable due to excessive cold and heat, are commanded to hear, and to know with every trembling of the mind what is to come. For the wrath of the Lord is not only against one nation, the Jews, but also against the Assyrians and Chaldeans, the Egyptians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and the Philistines; but also against all nations, and against the entire host, or as the Septuagint translated, their number. She is described as a venture, which kills them and causes the stench of decaying bodies to rise up high, signifying the sins of all nations, so that their filth and impurities fill the mountains with blood. The lofty virtues and angels that presided over each nation and all the celestial hosts wither away, or fold up like a book, and all their armies and forces, as the LXX have translated, and the stars flow down like leaves, which, with the approaching cold, fall off dried and contracted from the vine and fig tree. Which also the Savior speaks in the Gospel: Stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken, and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven (Matthew 24:29-30). And it is to be considered that it does not say that the heavens will perish, but that they will be folded up or rolled up, like a book, so that after all sins have been exposed and read, those that were previously open may be folded up, so that the sins of many may no longer be written in them. Regarding these type of books, Daniel speaks in his volume: Judgment sat, and the books were opened (Dan. 7:10), in which the deeds of each individual were described. Many people think that the stars are falling, according to the Book of Revelation of John (Rev. 6 and 8). And that which is written elsewhere: All the stars will burn out and the sky and earth will pass away (Luke 21:2). For the figure of this world is passing away. Some believe that these stars are being referred to. which glow in the sky, so as to show in part and as a whole, namely that through the fall of the stars even the destruction of the heavens is revealed. But others think that these stars are going to fall, of which even the Apostle Paul writes: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. It is not surprising, therefore, if the demons who dwell in the air are said to be heavenly, since even the birds of the sky, which certainly do not fly in the heavens but in the air, are called celestial in Scripture. For Satan himself transforms into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11), simulating a star. And the Savior saw him falling from heaven like lightning (Luke 10). And in a metaphorical sense, he is called fallen from the great star: How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! (Isaiah 14:12). All these things will happen, because his sword is drunk in the sky, the punishment and the sentence, and the vengeance against sinners, which is brought forth by the Lord. This sword and dagger in Ezekiel (Ezek. XXI) is sharpened against the wicked; and after many are killed, he is ordered to enter his sheath. And when he is drunk and filled in the sky; that is, in the air, which is called heaven according to the custom of the Scriptures, then he will also descend to Edom, that is, to the earthly: so that after the punishment of the demons, even the souls of men may be judged. Idumaea indeed in our language means earthly. And it is filled with blood; and thickened with the fat of lambs and goats, and of the marrow of rams and bulls: that it may signify both princes and people to be punished. For the Lord's victim is in Bosra, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. Of which Bosra and Idumaea the same prophet also witnesses in the following, saying: Who is this that comes from Edom, with red garments from Bosra? And some think that Bosra, which means 'flesh', is called so because through the sacrifice of the Lord in Bosra, the torments of all are shown in the flesh: they are caught in a pious error. In the present place, it is not by the letter Sin, which is put in Bosor (), that is, in the flesh: but it is written with Sade, and it is called Bosra (), which according to Jesus and Jeremiah is not in Edom, that is, Edom; but it is found in the land of Moab (Jeremiah 48). But Bosra in our language sounds fortified and surrounded, or firm: it teaches that the city of the lands of the Lord is solidified by His will, according to what is sung in the psalm; He founded it above the seas, and He placed it above the rivers (Psalm 24, 2); and about the firmness of the earth, it is said in the person of God: I have strengthened its pillars (Psalm 75, 3). And when the sacrifice of the Lord shall be in Bosra, and his slaughter in Edom, unicorns shall come down with them, and the powerful bulls, namely kings and princes of the earth; and all the slaughter and blood shall be filled with the fat of the once rich and powerful. Through these words, according to human custom, instilling terror in those who hear them, torments are shown to all the rulers and powerful ones, as well as the people and the humble. Bosra, that is, fortified and strengthened, and Edom, or Duma, and Idumea, are understood by the Jewish teachers to refer to Rome, and everything concerning it is said in the following chapter.

Commentary on Isaiah

734. Come near, you Gentiles. In this part, he threatens those who were assistants to the Assyrians, and first, he threatens all of them together; second, he threatens the Idumeans in particular, where it says, behold it shall come down upon Idumea (Isa 34:5). Concerning the first, he does two things. First, he stirs up attention, setting out the order of attention, so that those approaching might come near, those nearby might hear, and those who hear might listen, below: give ear, you islands, and hearken, you people from afar (Isa 49:1). And he sets out the universality of those called together: let the earth hear; and the world, as to those of middle rank, using the container to signify what it contains; the fullness, as to the great; every thing that comes forth of it, as to the lowly: he shows that he is prepared to announce to all, not that all are able to hear: the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof (Ps 23[24]:1).

743. Man comes near to God (see Isa 34:1), through the reception of grace: we have access through him (Rom 5:2); through the contemplation of divine wisdom: come to God and be enlightened (Ps 33:6[35:5]); through the ministry of obedience: the sons of Sadoc, who among the sons of Levi, come near to the Lord, to minister to him (Ezek 40:6); through the expectation of firm confidence: come to her as one that ploughs, and sows (Sir 6:19); through the spirit of concord: you have access in one Spirit to the Father (Eph 2:18).

Commentary on Isaiah

735. Second, he sets out the threatening: for the indignation, as to three things. First, as to the destruction of their people, setting out the indignation of the judge, namely, God: the indignation of the Lord, above: this is the hand that is stretched out upon all nations (Isa 14:26); above: to destroy the nations unto nothing (Isa 30:28); the killing of men: he has killed them, by his authority, he delivered them, as if to say, he delivered them to others to be killed, as to executors: behold I will deliver the men, every one into his neighbor's hand (Zech 11:6).

Commentary on Isaiah

And the throwing out of their corpses: their slain shall be cast forth, without burial: his stench shall ascend (Joel 2:20). Second, as to the end of their tyrants: the mountains, that is, the tyrants, shall be melted with their blood, that is, because of the fault of shedding blood, below: the mountains would melt away at your presence (Isa 64:1).

Commentary on Isaiah

So, our Lord Jesus Christ comes from heaven, and he comes with glory at the last day to bring this world to its close. For this world will accomplish its course, and the world that once came into being is hereafter to be renewed. For seeing that corruption, theft, adultery and every form of sin has been poured out on the earth, and in the world fresh blood has been ever mingled with previous blood, this astonishing habitation filled with iniquity is not to last. This world passes away that the fairer world may be revealed. Now would you have this proved by the express words of Scripture? Listen to these from Isaiah: “And the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all the stars shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.”

Catechetical Lecture 15:3

Daniel said, “I beheld in the night a vision, and saw one coming with the clouds of heaven as the Son of man, and he came on to the Ancient of Days and was brought near to him. To him was given the dominion and the honor and the kingdom. And all people, tribes and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an eternal dominion, which shall not pass away. And his kingdom shall not be destroyed.” … Then all the gates of heaven will be opened, or rather the heaven itself is taken away. For we read, “The heaven shall be rolled up like a scroll,” wrapped up to the middle like the skin and covering of some tent, so as to be made into a more useful shape.

Letter to the Fallen Theodore 1:12

“You have spread out the heavens like a tent cloth.” The prophet means to say that from the beginning God spread out the heavens, just as if he were unfolding a scroll and rolling it back again, as it is written in Holy Scripture: “And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll.” You have constructed your palace upon the waters, as similarly in Genesis, there were waters above the firmament and, likewise, below the firmament. “You travel on the wings of the wind.” This typifies the presence of God everywhere.

Homilies on the Psalms 30 (psalm 103)

Third, as to the destruction of their idols; and concerning this he does three things.

736. And first, he shows that the help of idols will cease in wars: and all the host of the heavens, namely, of the air, that is, the demons; or, literally, the spirits, which, according to the opinion of the gentiles, governed the stars, shall pine away, above: the idols of Egypt shall be moved (Isa 19:1); and in counsels, namely, inasmuch as they divined from the stars; and the heavens shall be folded together, that is: just as no one can read what is in a closed book, so they will not be able to foresee in the heavens the evils coming to them: the heaven departed as a book folded up (Rev 6:14). Second, he shows that worship of idols will cease: and all their host shall fall down, or the ease with which these prophecies will be fulfilled: the stars from heaven fell upon the earth (Rev 6:13).

Commentary on Isaiah

To us this life is a race course: we contend here, we are crowned elsewhere. No one can lay aside fear while serpents and scorpions beset his path. The Lord says, “My sword has drunk its fill in heaven,” and do you expect to find peace on the earth? No, the earth yields only thorns and thistles, and its dust is food for the serpent. “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We are hemmed in by hosts of foes; our enemies are upon every side. The weak flesh will soon be ashes: one against many, it fights against tremendous odds. Not till it has been dissolved, not till the prince of this world has come and found no sin therein, not till then may you safely listen to the prophet’s words: “You shall not be afraid for the terror by night nor the arrow that flies by day; nor for the trouble which haunts you in darkness.” … When the hosts of the enemy distress you, when your body is hot with fever and your passions roused, when you say in your heart, “What shall I do?” Then Elisha’s words shall give you your answer, “Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” He shall pray, “Lord, open the eyes of your handmaid that she may see.” And then when your eyes have been opened, you shall see a fiery chariot like Elijah’s waiting to carry you to heaven, and you shall joyfully sing, “Our soul has become free like a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken and we have been set free.”

Letter 22.3

Because God did not spare the sinful angels who lost their heavenly home through their own fault, therefore does he say through Isaiah, “My sword in heaven is satiated.” For every sinner among the people will die by the sword, yet not by a physical sword (there are many and varied ways to die other than by a sword) but by the spiritual sword with which all who fail to do penance must be stricken.

Commentary on Zechariah 1:5.1-4

Third, he shows the effect of both: for my sword, that is, my vengeance, is inebriated in heaven, that is, I have carried out vengeance on the demons abundantly: I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh (Deut 32:42).

737. Behold it shall come down upon Idumea. Here he threatens the Idumeans in particular, who came with the enemies against Jerusalem, as it says in Obadiah 1:11: when strangers carried away his army captive. And concerning this, he does three things: first, he threatens the slaughter of their men; second, the destruction of their land: and the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch (Isa 34:9); third, he sets out the confirmation of both of these threats, where it says, search diligently in the book of the Lord (Isa 34:16).

738. Concerning the first, he does three things. First, he describes the fairness of the punishment: behold it shall come down upon Idumea, to crush them; the people of my slaughter, deserving to be slaughtered by me: I have brought the destruction of Esau upon him (Jer 49:8).

Commentary on Isaiah

Second, he describes the killing as to those of middle rank, setting out the diversity of those killed: the sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made thick with the blood of lambs and buck goats, with the blood of rams, through all of which are to be understood the various ranks of those killed: this is the sword of a great slaughter (Ezek 21:14); and the magnitude of the killing: there is a victim of the Lord in Bosra and a great slaughter in the land of Edom, that is, many animals are killed, as in a banquet of a great king: I slay for you a great victim (Ezek 39:17).

Commentary on Isaiah

And as to the great, setting out their killing: and the unicorns, a fierce animal the size of a cat, with one horn, and thus it signifies the powerful and monarchs, shall go down, into death, above: their strong ones, and their high and glorious ones shall go down into it (Isa 5:14); and the magnitude of the killing, their land shall be soaked with blood: the land was killed with blood (Ps 105[106]:38).

Commentary on Isaiah

8–17

(Verses 8 and following) For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, the year of retribution in the judgment of Zion. Its streams will be turned into pitch, and its soil into sulfur; its land will become burning pitch. Night and day it will not be extinguished; its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will pass through it forever. The pelican and the hedgehog will possess it, the owl and the raven will dwell in it. It will be stretched out with a measuring line, and it will be reduced to nothing, and its plumb line to desolation. Her nobles will not be there; rather, they will call upon the king, and all his princes will be nothing. Thorns, thistles, and briers will grow in his palaces; it will become a haunt for jackals, a feeding place for ostriches. And wild creatures will meet with hyenas; the wild goat will cry to his fellow; indeed, there the night bird settles and finds for herself a resting place. There the owl nests and lays and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow; indeed, there the hawks are gathered, each one with her mate. Search diligently in the book of the Lord and read. One of them did not fail, and one did not seek the other. For what proceeds from my mouth, he commanded, and his spirit gathered them. And he sent them a lot, and his hand divided it for them in measure; they will possess it forever, and they will dwell in it from generation to generation. The Hebrews, as we have said above, contend that these things are prophesied about the Roman Empire and are preached as a vengeance on Zion, the former devastation of the most powerful kingdom, which many of ours also think is written in the Apocalypse of John according to the letter. But we consider this to be the year of the vengeance of the Lord, the year of retributions and judgments in Zion, of which the Savior himself spoke: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' (Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:1-3). Also, as it is written: 'Rise up, you women who are at ease.' (Isaiah 32:9). And remember the days of the year in sorrow with hope, so that, after the general consummation of the whole world, the prophecy may return to Jerusalem, to which it was spoken at that time, and its devastation be described in full detail: namely, that after the time of the Roman siege has come, everything will be consumed by pitch, sulfur, and burning flames, and its smoke will remain forever, and it will be inhabited by the pelican and the hedgehog, and the ibis and the raven, which are creatures accustomed to inhabiting desolate places. And let this be done, because the cord and the plumb line of the Lord, that is, his judgment, cannot be changed. His nobles, that is, the Apostles and believers, will not be there, nor will they be joined with the number of the damned: but rather they will invoke King Christ. But all the leaders of the city, namely the Scribes and the Pharisees, will be reduced to nothingness, and thorns and nettles and brambles will grow in their once ornate houses. And there will be a haunt for dragons, and pastures for ostriches, which themselves are signs of extreme desolation. And there they will encounter, according to the LXX, various apparitions of demons, or as all others have translated according to the Hebrew, Siim and Iim, onocentaurs, and shaggy figures, and lamia, which the fables of the Gentiles and the creations of poets describe. Also, there the hedgehog nurtures its puppies, and it has a very faithful watchpost: there the kites gather, a very carnivorous bird, which in Hebrew is called Dajoth (or, as the LXX translated, deer, which we will discuss later). Among these things, the Prophet speaks to those who hear: O men (or, all) who hear me speaking, what I announce about the future, all things will be fulfilled. For in the book the words of the Lord are written, and His intention is determined, and not even one thing will be in vain. For whatever proceeds from my mouth, he has commanded, that is, I speak on his behalf; but the words are the Lord's, and by his spirit whatever is said will be accomplished. Each thing will be fulfilled according to his decree and measure: and they will not leave their order even unto eternal generations. Let these things be said according to the Hebrew and historical explanation. Moreover, those who follow the allegory, expelling the people of the Jews under the names of beasts and monsters, affirm that they will dwell in Jerusalem, serving idols and various superstitions: and these are the onocrotali and hedgehogs, the raven and dragons, and ostriches, and onocentaurs, and demons, and shaggy creatures, and the lamia, which is called Lilith in Hebrew (); and the lamia has been translated from the ground by Symmachus, which some Hebrews suspect to be the Fury. And indeed, if we consider the various colonies brought to Jerusalem from different nations, and according to the customs of their provinces, each family worshipped their own demons as wonders, we will affirm that all of this existed in Jerusalem. And what the LXX translated: 'There the deer met them and saw their own faces: they passed by in number, and not one of them perished or sought another. For the Lord commanded them, and his spirit gathered them; and he himself gave them lots, and his hand divided them: that they may feed forever, and possess it in generation after generation, and rest in it.' We will interpret this allegorically, teaching that the deer, that is, the Apostles and all holy teachers, about whom it is written: 'As the deer longs for the fountains of water, so my soul longs for you, O God' (Ps. 41:1); and elsewhere: 'The voice of the Lord perfects the deer' (Ps. 28:9); and again: 'Let the deer of friendship and the colt of your graces speak to you' (Prov. 5); and in Job: 'You keep the minds of the deer, and you send forth their offspring' (Job. 39:2); and in the Song of Songs it is said: 'My beloved is like a roe or a young deer on the mountains of spices' (Song. 2:9); that they met each other in Jerusalem and saw each other's appearances, and passed by and left it, and went to different provinces, because the Lord had commanded them: 'Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit' (Matthew 28:19); and his spirit gathered them, giving them lots and dividing them, so that some would go to the Indians, others to Spain, others to Illyricum, others to Greece; and each would rest in their own province of the Gospel and teaching. What we have said above about Jerusalem being prophesied, and the Jews suspecting that it refers to the Roman rule, some people attribute to the whole world, so as not to seem to differ from the earlier interpretations.

Commentary on Isaiah

Sacred Scripture has stature, because it directs conduct toward standing, so that the minds of hearers may not be bent toward earthly desire. It has height, because it promises the joys of eternal life in the heavenly homeland. It also has a horrible appearance, because it threatens all the reprobate with the punishments of hell. Therefore it shows its stature in the building of conduct, it shows its height in the promise of rewards, it shows its horrible appearance in the terrors of punishments. For it is upright in precepts, lofty in promises, horrible in threats. ... It has a horrible appearance when, describing hell, it says: "The day of vengeance of the Lord, the year of retribution for the judgment of Zion; and its torrents shall be turned into pitch, and its soil into sulphur; and the land shall be burning pitch, day and night it shall not be extinguished forever."

Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 6

Third, he sets out the reason of the punishment: for it is the day of the vengeance of the Lord, the year of recompenses of the judgment of Zion, namely, that Zion be vindicated against the Idumeans, below: the day of vengeance is in my heart, the year of my redemption is come (Isa 63:4); but, according to the Gloss: the judgment of Zion, that is, against Zion; hence it explains everything that follows as concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.

Commentary on Isaiah

739. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch. Here he sets out the threat as to the destruction of the land. And concerning this he does three things: first, he foretells the destruction; second, the desolation of the destroyed land: it shall lie waste (Isa 34:10); third, the horror of its desolation: and it shall be the habitation of dragons (Isa 34:13). Concerning the first, he sets out two things: first, the destruction: shall be turned into, that is, the whole land shall be so burned up by their enemies, as if the water were pitch and the land brimstone: fire and brimstone, and storms of winds (Ps 10:7[11:6]).

Commentary on Isaiah

Second, he places the duration of the punishment: it shall not be quenched, that is, the effect of this fire will remain forever; smoke, the sign and memory of preceding fire: her smoke ascends for ever and ever (Rev 19:3); and this is to be understood as being while the cause of the threat remains, namely, sin: for thus all prophecies of this sort are to be explained conditionally inasmuch as the Lord himself explains himself: I will suddenly speak against a nation . . . If that nation against which I have spoken, shall repent of their evil, I also will repent of the evil that I have thought (Jer 18:7–8).

740. It shall lie waste for ever and ever. Here he sets out the desolation of the land, and first, he foretells the desolation itself as to inhabitants: it shall lie waste: he has made me desolate (Lam 1:13); as to travelers, none shall pass through it: no man shall abide there, nor son of man inhabit it (Jer 49:33).

Commentary on Isaiah

As to the free habitation of beasts: the bittern, which is the same as the pelican, shall possess it, as if without fear, and the ibis, a bird hostile to snakes: "ibex, ibicis" is a four-footed beast; "ibis, ibidis" is a bird, and the ibis is envious: the highest of them is the house of the heron . . . the rock is a refuge for the irchins (Ps 103[104]:17–18). Second, he sets out the fairness of the desolation, and first, the judgment of fairness: and a line shall be stretched upon it, the measure of the punishment against the measure of their fault, a plummet, the rule of the stone-cutter, above: in measure against measure (Isa 27:8);

Commentary on Isaiah

second, he sets out the manner of judgment: the nobles thereof, in whom they boasted: I will take away out of the midst of you your proud boasters (Zeph 3:11).

Commentary on Isaiah

Which conduct the Lord by the Prophet well reproves, under the character of Babylon, saying; "Thorns and nettles shall spring up in her houses, and the bramble in the fortresses thereof." For what do we understand by 'nettles,' but the irritations of thoughts, and what by 'thorns,' but the piercings of sins? Nettles therefore and thorns spring up in the houses of Babylon, because in the disorder of a reprobate mind there arise longings of thoughts which exasperate, and sinful deeds which wound. But they who act thus have others also more wicked than themselves as their defenders. Whence he there fitly subjoined immediately, "And the bramble in the fortresses thereof." For the bramble is crowded with such a circle of thorns, that it can hardly be touched from its roughness. The nettle and the thorn therefore spring up within, but both of them are fortified without by the bramble: because, namely, smaller offenders commit any kinds of evil, but greater and most abandoned ones defend them.

Morals on the Book of Job, Book 33

And thorns and nettles shall grow up in its houses, which they built so carefully, and the thistle, a kind of plant with many thorns, which sticks to cloaks, having broad leaves: nettles shall inherit their beloved silver, the bur shall be in their tabernacles (Hos 9:6), so that as much as she has glorified herself and lived in delicacies, so much torment shall she have (Rev 18:7).

Commentary on Isaiah

741. And it shall be the habitation of dragons. Here he shows the horror of the desolation from the monsters which dwelt there: demons, monsters of demons, which appear most in deserts; onocentaur, which is half ass and half ox, or this is the illusion of a demon rather than a natural animal; the hairy ones, an ape, or a wild man, or a demon incubus; lamia, having the feet of a horse and the other members of a woman; cried out one to another, above: wild beasts shall rest there (Isa 13:21).

Commentary on Isaiah

Hence it is rightly said through the prophet, under the similitude of Judah, to the soul that sins and excuses itself, "There the urchin had her nest." For by the name of urchin is denoted the duplicity of a mind that is insincere, and cunningly defends itself; because, to wit, when an urchin is caught, its head is perceived, and its feet appear, and its whole body is exposed to view; but no sooner has it been caught than it gathers itself into a ball, draws in its feet, hides its head, and all is lost together within the hands of him that holds it which before was all visible together. So assuredly, so insincere minds are, when they are seized hold of in their transgressions. For the head of the urchin is perceived, because it appears from what beginning the sinner has advanced to his crime; the feet of the urchin are seen, because it is discovered by what steps the iniquity has been perpetrated; and yet by suddenly adducing excuses the insincere mind gathers in its feet, in that it hides all traces of its iniquity; it draws in the head, because by strange defences it makes out that it has not even begun any evil; and it remains as it were a ball in the hand of one that holds it, because one that takes it to task, suddenly losing all that he had just now come to the knowledge of, holds the sinner rolled up within his own consciousness, and, though he had seen the whole of him when he was caught, yet, illuded by the tergiversation of dishonest defence, he is in like measure ignorant of the whole of him. Thus the urchin has her nest in the reprobate, because the duplicity of a crafty mind, gathering itself up within itself, hides itself in the darkness of its self-defence.

The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3

742. Search. Here he confirms all that was said by the authority of divine inspiration: search, you who are to come, in the book of the Lord, that is, in this book, which I learned from the Lord; not one of them was wanting, that is, all the monsters I have named will be there; one has not sought for the other, that is, the male for the female; his spirit it has gathered them, namely, the monsters, male and female.

Commentary on Isaiah

And he has cast the lot for them, distributing to each suitable places to stay: heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away (Luke 21:33). Or, if this is explained as concerning Judea, these various monsters are understood to be the various errors of the gentiles, who were placed there as colonists by the Romans.

Commentary on Isaiah