A paraphrasticall explication of the twelve minor prophets. Viz. Hoseah. Joel. Amos. Obadiah. Jonah. Micah. Nahum. Habakkuk. Zephaniah. Haggai. Zechariah. Malachi. / By Da. Stokes. D.D.

CHAP. V.

1. WHat hath hitherto been said to thee, O Babylon, comes to this upon the matter: that thou shalt (b) very shortly be exposed as a prey (to thine enemy) O thou

daughter of an arrand spoiler (of Nimrod, that first began that sport over men, as well as beasts.) And (hear the rest from my people Israel) Therefore is the Babylonian spoyled, because he was the man, that laid siege against us, and (that succeeding) they were all so injurious and insulting over the very Iudges of Israel, that they presumed to strike them upon the check (c) (which is a blow of the greatest disgrace that can be.)

2. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratha, (lay none of these scornes and abuses to thy heart, for great matters are intended unto thee) It is but a little honour, that thou shouldest be reckoned among the Governours of the thou∣sands of Iudah. For out of thee (d) a spe∣ciall Prince shall be raised up for my own de∣signes (the Messias) that shall be King and Ruler over the true Israel of God: (e) whole originall may be deduced (f) from the top of royall antiquity, (from the first Kings of Ju∣dah) and more than that from the dayes of eternity, (for who can declare his genera∣tion?)

3. Therefore will he (g) give to them of

Judah (what he hath promised, i. a safe re∣turn out of their captivity, and a place of abode again in their own Countrey) till the time, wherein she that is to bring forth the Messias, shall bring forth that happinesse to the world: and till the residue of his brethren (for (h) with that title shall he honour the lost sheep, which he shall come to seek, and reduce to his fold) till they shall be (i) con∣verted and united (k) to the rest of the chil∣dren of Israel (and so begin all, to make one flock under one Shepherd.)

4. And he shall (l) never cease to feed, and govern that flock, by no lesse than a divine power, being advanced thereunto, in no other name and authority, then that of the great Iehovah, his God (m) (as he shall then stile him, when he hath humbled himself to that brother-hood, which we named before) under that care and government shall that flock of his (n) dwell (in joy and safety) And good reason, because (o) from henceforth this our Prince and Messias shall be magnified and re∣nowned

not in Jurie onely, but to all the ends of the earth.

5. And this (p) peace and prosperity of our nation shalt thou begin (and not till then) (q) when the Assyrian shall have often entred into our land (sometime of himself, sometime as an auxiliarie of the Chaldaeans) For, he shall enter in a proud and hostile manner, trampling down our fairest Palaces. (But, this pride and malice shall be the occasion of his utter ruine, and so of our more setled peace. For, we shall at last so far prevaile over the Assyrian, by the assistance of Almighty God, and his blessing upon our prayers, and pati∣ence, that) we shall be the meanes of as great a tyranny over him, to be exercised by (r) many severall Governours, great Princes, and Com∣manders over men (that shall lead them and rule them as easily as Sheep are by their Shep∣herds.)

6. (And, if these may be called Shepherds, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as other Kings and Rulers are) they shall be such as shall subdue and govern their stocks of Assyrians by the sword, and the suc∣cessors of Nimrod in Babylon, (s) with her own naked and terrible weapons. Thus shall God

punish them, and give us a sure peace, by deli∣vering us from further fear of the Assyrian, and letting us be revenged of him, (t) be∣cause he would needs enter so cruelly upon our land, and so proudly trample us under him in our own borders.

7. After this, the remnant of Iacob, being freed from all such tyranny, shall be accounted by many other nations, among whom they are seated, as the dew which falls from heaven, and as the drops of rain upon the grasse, which expect not the power or pleasure of man, or any son of man, for their accesse, or recesse from this or that place (but are sent thither, and blessed there by the sole power and favour of Almighty God.)

8. And in processe of time, the posterity of this remnant of Iacob (specially in the time of the Maccabies) shall be (in respect of their power, and authoritie, and command) among the Gentiles, and in the midst of many people, as the Lion is among the beasts of the forrest, and the young Lion among the flocks of the sheep: who, when he is pleased to passe thorough them, doth tread them down, and tear them in pieces, without controule of any other, that is

able; to rescue and deliver them, in that dis∣tresse.

9. Thus prosperously shall it fare with thy children, and with thee, O Israel, when thy hand shall no sooner be lift up against thy ene∣mies, but they shall be cut off, and fall before thee. (All which about the times of the Maccabies shall be but a figure of greater con∣quests, that they shall have over all nations, when, after the dayes of the Messias, they shall begin to subdue them, and reduce them to his spirituall kingdom.)

10. This mention of Israels prosperity in these times must be accompanied with the Prophesie of thy ruine, O Babylon. For, thus saith the Lord, I will cut off the strength, wherein thou makest thy boast, the multitude of thy horses and chariots. (u) Them will I de∣stroy, with the riders that were so expert in managing of them both.

11. And the best Cities of thy land will I lay waste, and throw down all thy strong holds.

12. And I will down with thy witch-crafts, and thy magicall divinations. And thy Sooth∣sayers, that were so cunning at them, shall have no more to do within thee.

13. Thy graven images, and thy rich statues will I remove from the midst of thee: so that thou shalt give no more worship to those vani∣ties, the workmanship of thy own hands.

14. Thy superstitious groves, and thy wealthy Cities will I utterly destroy.

15. And in the fiercenesse of my anger will I revenge my self upon those nations, which shall not then hear and obey (x) those Conque∣rors, and Governors which I shall please to set over the kingdom of Babylon.

Notes

• Hunc v. refer ad v. praeced.
• (b)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut c. 4. 10, 11.
• (c)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Demosth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & Psal. 3, 8.
• (d)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 mihi.
• (e)

  Mat. 2 & supra. c 4.
• (f)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ab antiquo, vel ab aeterno.
• (g)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pro 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut saepe alias.
• (h)

  Psal. 22, 22.
• (i)

  hoc n. est 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 unde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 poenitentia.
• (k)

  vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cum reliquis Isr.
• (l)

  perget pascere (in hebraismo) stay, or continue to feed.
• (m)

  Psal. 22, 1.
• (n)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (o)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pro 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ex nunc.
• (p)

  utrumque in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sign.
• (q)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quum vel quia, ut v. seq.
• (r)

  septem, & octo.
• (s)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 gladii stricli.
• (t)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 v. 5.
• (u)

  Jer. 50, 37.
• (x)

  hebr. desideratur accusativus, ut saepe alias.