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What the Fathers say

Isaiah 37:3

Western Saints

Jerome

And they said to him: Thus says Hezekiah, not a king, not swollen with the name of empire: The day of tribulation, and the day of corruption, and the day of blasphemy: the day of our tribulation, the day of God's correction, the day of the enemies' blasphemy. And the likeness of a woman in labor and in distress, that she has come to labor and cannot give birth, nor can she say: We have conceived, O Lord, from fear of you, and we have grieved and given birth to the spirit of salvation. …

Commentary on Isaiah ↗

Thomas Aquinas

The messengers explain the tribulation—and it ought to be read thus: and they came (Isa 37:5), and they said to him—this day is a day of tribulation, which we suffer in outer persecutions, and of distress, as to sorrows of heart, of divine rebuke, and of blasphemy, of enemies; the children are come, that is, the concepts of counselors, and there is not strength to bring forth, to execute them; or: we suffer so like women in labor: that day is a day of wrath, a day of tribulation and distress (Zeph 1:15).

Commentary on Isaiah ↗