John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 3:2

"the mighty man, and the man of war; the judge, and the prophet, and the diviner, and the elder;" — Isaiah 3:2 (ASV)

The strong man, and the man of war. He mentions other elements that contribute to the safety and good order of nations or cities. He threatens that the Jews will be wholly deprived of these, so that they will have neither wisdom nor bravery in battle, nor military forces abroad. He is not careful to maintain order but is satisfied with giving a short summary, mixing one subject with another.

He begins with men of war, into whose hands the defense of the country was committed. God sometimes takes them away by death, and sometimes by making them soft and effeminate. The latter is more frequent, so that posterity degenerates from the bravery of their ancestors, and those who were formerly courageous become, in time, cowardly and unfit for war. But we also see that the former sometimes happens, as a consequence of which the boldest men suddenly lose heart.

The judge and the prophet. We know that in the Hebrew language, the word judge stands for every kind of governor; and it is certain that by prophets are meant every kind of teacher. Accordingly, he threatens that civil government will be set aside, instruction will end, and thus the Jews will be destroyed. Indeed, magistrates and teachers hold the same place in the commonwealth as the two eyes do in the human body.

I consider old men to denote the same rank as those previously mentioned, who are more fit for governing because age brings with it prudence, wisdom, and gravity.

As for the word diviner, though it is used in a bad sense in Scripture, here it appears to be used in a good sense, as Isaiah enumerates those things that contribute to preserving the good order of a city and of a kingdom. The term might, therefore, be applied to a soothsayer who divines or penetrates obscure matters, not by omens or superstitious arts, but by extraordinary acuteness and skill.

But since God forbade them to consult magicians, soothsayers, and diviners (Deuteronomy 18:20), and since Balaam himself declares that there is no divination against Israel (Numbers 23:23), I do not quarrel with those who would prefer to use the word diviner as denoting magical divinations. Nor will there be any absurdity in listing among the punishments of the nation that it would also be deprived of those aids that were sinful and criminal; for along with the altar and sacrifices, Hosea mentions teraphim (Hosea 3:4).

The captain of fifty. He employs this term according to the custom that then prevailed. For just as the Romans had centurions, or captains of hundreds, so the Jews had captains, or rulers of fifties (whom the Greeks call πεντηκοντάρχους); but since that custom did not exist among the Latins, the name was unknown to them. By persons of venerable aspect he means those whose reputation for bravery gave them influence among the people.

The senator. The word יועף (yognetz), for which I have put senator, may be applied to men in private life who are eminent for prudence; but as it is strictly applicable to counsellors, who discharge a public office, I resolved not to depart from the common opinion.

The skillful artificer. Because the mechanical arts are no less advantageous for upholding the prosperity of a nation and for the support of human life, Isaiah likewise mentions that, through the lack of them, the destruction of the Jews is near.

And the eloquent. The word that is placed last in the enumeration has been variously explained by commentators. Literally it means, “skilled in muttering, or in a subdued tone of speech.” Now, since the heathen oracles give out their replies by whisperings or in mutterings, some think that the word denotes enchantments. A better exposition is given by those who interpret לחש (lahash) to mean secret designs; but as a style that is both mysterious and weighty may be appropriately denoted by this word, I had no hesitation in rendering it by the word eloquent.

Yet if it is thought preferable to view it as denoting wise and cautious men who, though not qualified for public speaking, give private advice about what may profitably be done, I have no objection.

We must pay attention to this comprehensive description of a well-regulated state. For Isaiah has placed:

1. Corn and other things necessary for bodily support;
2. Military forces;
3. Skill in governing a nation and the various parts of civil government;
4. The prophetical office;
5. The mechanical arts.

With these ornaments God adorns the nations that He intends to make safe and sound; and, on the other hand, He takes them from those nations that He intends utterly to destroy.

Let us, therefore, know that everything that we find to be profitable for the support of life flows from the undeserved goodness of God. From this also follows another instruction: namely, that we ought to beware lest, by our ingratitude, we deprive ourselves of these excellent gifts of God.