THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
The term prophet and the axe encompass concepts that are remarkably evident and clear. When Israel rejected Christ and turned against Him, the land of the Jews suffered devastation; the temple and Jerusalem were set ablaze, leaving Judah desolate, as noted by the blessed prophet Isaiah on numerous occasions. He proclaimed, "There shall be seven wives for one husband, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our garments; only let your name be called upon us, take away our reproach" (Isaiah 4:1, 2). The law stipulates that there shall be no barrenness among the people of Israel (Exodus 23:26; Deuteronomy 7:14), and they viewed the disgrace of barrenness as intolerable.
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Due to the war that resulted in a decimation of the male population, those who survived were few, prompting the prophecy that seven wives would be assigned to one man to alleviate their shame—symbolizing their perceived fruitlessness. Acknowledging the challenge for one man to provide for seven wives, they vowed to sustain themselves with their own provisions, declaring their independence from his resources; their only concern was the stigma of childlessness. Thus, as their land lay in ruin, the promise was made to restore it, as the desolate inhabitants were to be consumed, specifically referring to those who had devastated it, akin to wild beasts. Isaiah envisioned a vast multitude would be called forth, stating, "For thy sons, saith he, whom thou hast destroyed, shall say in thine ears, Make me a place." Additionally, it is declared to the metaphorical Zion, “Thou shalt enlarge the place of thy tent, and of thy coverings; thou shalt build, thou shalt not spare; thou shalt stretch forth on the right hand and on the left” (Isaiah 54:2, 3). The Mosaic writings reveal that around the tabernacle in the wilderness, constructed of skins, were spacious courtyards aligned to the east, west, north, and south, demonstrating the expansive nature of the sacred spaces or congregations of that era. Even now, through the ever-present grace of Christ, believers are welcomed into crowded sanctuaries, leading the Church, representing spiritual Zion, to rejoice and declare, "Who shall I bear these for?" It is by faith in Christ that you, once barren and widowed, have become fruitful; you have nurtured your nations independently; once forsaken, you have transcended to unmatched richness; once desolate, you have multiplied abundantly.