John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 33:7

"Behold, their valiant ones cry without; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly." — Isaiah 33:7 (ASV)

Behold, their messengers shall cry without. It is difficult to determine whether Isaiah historically relates the fearful perplexity and imminent danger to which the Jews were reduced, to exhibit more strikingly the favor of deliverance, or predicted a future calamity, so that the hearts of the godly might not soon afterward faint under it. For my own part, I think it probable that this is not the history of a past transaction but that, since a heavy and severe temptation was near, it was intended to fortify the hearts of believers to wait patiently for God's assistance when their affairs were at their worst. However that may be, the sad and lamentable desolation of the Church is described here so that believers may not cease to entertain good hope even in the midst of their perplexity, and that, when they have been rescued from danger, they may know that it was accomplished by the wonderful power of God.

The ambassadors of peace wept bitterly. It is given as a token of despair that the ambassadors who had been sent to appease the tyrant were unsuccessful, for Hezekiah attempted every way and method of obtaining peace, but without any success. Accordingly, the ambassadors returned sad and disconsolate, and even on the road could not conceal their grief, which was difficult to hide in their hearts when matters were in such a wretched condition.

He undoubtedly means that Sennacherib haughtily and disdainfully refused to make peace. Consequently, the ambassadors, as if they had forgotten their rank, were constrained to pour out their grief and lamentations in public. Before they even returned to their king and gave an account of their embassy, they openly proclaimed what kind of answer they had obtained from the cruel tyrant.

Others think that by the ambassadors of peace are meant those who were accustomed to announce peace, but that interpretation appears to me to be feeble and far-fetched. Therefore, by the ambassadors of peace, I understand those who had been sent to pacify the king, so that they might purchase peace on some condition.