Isaiah

PROLOGUE OF ST. JEROME ON THE PROPHET ISAIAH

THE LIFE OF ISAIAH[n: (Ex Epiphanio, lib. de Vitis prophetarum.)]

Isaiah was born at Jerusalem of noble stock, and there he prophesied: under king Manasseh, cut into two parts, he met his death. And he was buried beneath the oak of Rogel, beside the crossing of the waters which king Hezekiah had once blocked up with cast dust. For God makes the spring Siloam for the Prophet's sake, since before he died he prayed a little while that he might deign to fashion waves there. And at once he sent down to him from heaven living water, whence that place obtained the name Siloam, which, if one interpret it, sounds "sent down." Under king Hezekiah also, before he had built the pool and the fish-ponds, it was brought about by Isaiah's prayers that a scanty water should well up, because the people was being held in a siege of enemies, and lest the city itself should perish, forsaken of waters. In everlasting memory of which thing the people carefully gave the Prophet back to the soil in that place with glory and honor, so that through his intercessions, even to the consummation of the age, the fruit of water of this kind might be obtained, to whom, that is, they credited the use they had received. And the monument of Isaiah stands next to the burial-place of the princes, behind the tombs of the priests, toward Notus and the southern quarter. For Solomon, in building Jerusalem, raised up the mausolea of the kings, according as David had prescribed them.

PREFACE ON ISAIAH

[1231] Isaiah, a man noble and of urbane eloquence, having nothing of rusticity in his speech, is to be called not so much a prophet as an evangelist: for he pursues the mysteries of Christ and of the Church so clearly that he might be thought to be weaving a history of things past. Now he prophesied in Jerusalem and in Judah, the ten tribes not yet being led captive; and of both kingdoms he wove his oracles, now mingled together, now apart. And although at times he looks to the history then present, and signifies the return of the people into Judaea after the Babylonian captivity, yet he bends all his care upon the calling of the nations and the coming of Christ.