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. X.

1 ASk ye of the Lord rain in the time of the later rain, so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grasse in the field.

2 For the idols have spo∣ken vanity, and the divi∣ners have seen a lie. and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shep∣herd.

3 Mine anger was kind∣led against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Iudah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battel.

4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle∣bow, out of him every op∣pressor together.

5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle, and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confoun∣ded.

6 And I will strengthen the house of Iudah, and I will save the house of Io∣seph, and I will bring them

again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.

7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall re∣joyce, as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad, their heart shall rejoyce in the Lord.

8 I will hisse for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.

9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries, and they shall live with their children, and turn a∣gain.

10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria, and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, and place shall not be found for them.

11 And he shall passe through the sea with af∣liction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart away.

12 And I will streng∣then them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.