John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 30:6

"The burden of the beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit [them]." — Isaiah 30:6 (ASV)

The burden of the beasts of the south. After speaking loudly against the consultations of the Jews about asking assistance from the Egyptians, he ridicules the enormous cost and the prodigious inconveniences they endured for that reason; for at such a high price they purchased their destruction. He threatens the same curse as previously, because unfortunately they acted in opposition to the word of God.

He mentions “the south” because they journeyed through a southern region, Egypt being situated to “the south” of Judea. He therefore calls them “beasts of burden” because of the journey, and addresses them in order to show contempt for people, because speaking to them was futile, and they were deaf to all exhortations. Accordingly, he threatens that the effect of this prediction will reach the very “beasts of burden,” even if people do not understand it.

In the land of trouble and distress. The people having proudly disregarded the threats, the Prophet timely turns to the horses and camels. He declares that, although they are lacking reason, they will still perceive that God has not spoken in vain. He also declares that, although the people imagined there was uninterrupted prosperity in Egypt, it would be a land of anguish and affliction even to the brute animals.

The journey was laborious and difficult, and yet they spared no effort to satisfy their mad desire; and to such a point of madness was their passion carried, that they were not discouraged by the tediousness of the journey.

The young lion and the strong lion. In addition to the inconveniences already mentioned, Isaiah threatens the special vengeance of God: that they will encounter “lions” and beasts of prey. There was nothing new or uncommon in this for people who traveled from Judea into Egypt, but here he threatens something extraordinary and more dangerous. In addition to the inconveniences and toils, and to the sums of money which they will spend, God will also send disastrous occurrences, and eventually they will be miserably ruined.

This doctrine should be applied to us, who are guilty of a very similar fault. For in dangers we fly to unlawful remedies and think that they will benefit us, though God disapproves of them. We must therefore experience the same result and fall into the same dangers, if we do not restrain our unbelief and wickedness by the word of God.

We should also observe and guard against that madness which hurries us along to spare no expense and avoid no labor, while we obey with excessive passion our foolish desire and wish.

We had abundant experience of this in Popery, when we were held captives by it, running about in all directions and tiring ourselves with long and toilsome pilgrimages to various saints. Yet, we considered the greatest possible annoyances to be light and trivial.

But now, when we are commanded to obey God and to endure the light yoke of Christ (Matthew 11:30), we find that we cannot endure it.