John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 11:13

"The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and they that vex Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim." — Isaiah 11:13 (ASV)

And the envy of Ephraim shall depart. Here he promises that the Church will be in such a state of peace that neither will the Israelites and the Jews contend in civil strife, nor will they suffer any harassment from their enemies. Furthermore, they will not be liable to hatred or envy, as they formerly were.

This does not mean there will be no wicked men, but the Lord will eventually cut them off and destroy them. However, we should especially observe what he adds about calming domestic quarrels, so that from now on the children of Abraham will not harass each other but unite in the same religion and in the pure worship of God. It was indeed a disgraceful and shocking spectacle that their mutual strife and hostilities had been maintained for so long.

With good reason, he points out the source of quarrels, namely, envy, because of which the descendants of Abraham have torn each other, while the tribes of Judah and Ephraim strive with each other for renown. This horrible torch has always kindled wars in the world, while each person is unwilling to yield. In short, the Lord here promises outward and inward peace, which is a very great and most desirable blessing.

It will be objected that this was never accomplished, and that the very opposite of this took place. As soon as the gospel began, it was followed by various wars, upheavals, and dreadful persecutions, and nearly the whole world was disturbed and shaken. And inwardly, what peace did the Church enjoy? Among Christians themselves, Satan, by his tares (Matthew 13:25), has stirred up dreadful disturbances, so that no enemies were more ferocious and destructive than those nurtured within the Church.

I reply, the Prophet here includes the whole of Christ’s kingdom, and not merely a single age or century. In this world we experience only the beginning of Christ’s kingdom; and while the Church is harassed by enemies from within and without, still the Lord defends and preserves her, and conquers all her enemies. Besides, this prediction properly belongs to the true and lawful children of Abraham, whom the Lord has purified by the cross and by banishment, and has compelled to lay aside ambition and envy, just as those who have been tamed in the school of Christ cease to desire renown. Thus the promise which Isaiah makes in this passage has already been partly fulfilled and is fulfilled every day. But we must continue in these struggles and must fight earnestly from within and without, until we obtain that everlasting peace which we will joyfully experience in the kingdom of God.