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. YOu that call your selves Priests in Is∣rael, and passe under that name among your Countriemen, I have somewhat more for you to hear. And it will concern all you of the house of Israel, to listen to it: and you speci∣ally of King Menahem's Court. For there is a (i) just punishment readie to fall upon you, because you have been a snare to the house of Iudah, who, by your example, have been as easilie seduced, as birds are taken in nets, and gins, about the woody Mountains of Mizpah, and Tabor: which are famous for that art of fowling, and ensnaring of those crea∣tures.

2. And no wonder, if others were misled by their example: for, these (k) Apostates decli∣ning from the true wayes of my service, (l) went profoundlie to work in their butchering (for no better term deserve their so much sa∣crificing to idols.) But I will (m) find a way of

correction, that shall meet with them all, in a slaughter of men, not of beasts.

3. I know these, and other faults in those of the ten tribes, nor can any of their offences be concealed from me. I observe how Ephraim goes still forward in his spiritual fornication, and all Israel is defiled after their ex∣ample.

4. They will not frame their actions towards a way of conversion unto their God. For, the spirit of that kind of whordom is in the middest of them, and they have no mind to know the Lord.

5. Which proud, and obstinate demeanour of Israel doth testifie to their faces, what they are. Therefore their own iniquitie shall ruine those ten tribes, (under the Assyrian) And Judah shall, not long after, fall into the like miserie (under the Egyptians and Caldaeans.)

6. Then shall they think to make their atone∣ment, by bringing their stocks, and their herds to be offered in sacrifice unto the Lord. But, that way of seeking their peace with God, will not then prove the way to find it. They will rather find, that he hath (n) withdrawn himself from them, and will by no means admit of those former waies of accesse.

7. And so he might well do, because of their unlawful accesse to women of other Nati∣ons, whom they were commanded not to marry, which was a great offence against God, and a means to furnish them with strange children, that he will not own. Now therefore will he suffer souldiers of a strange nation (o) in a short time by their monethlie payments and exactions, to devour them, and that sub∣stance, which he had allotted, and laid out, as a peculiar portion to themselves.

8. Nor will I longer defer the calling of that armie, saith the Lord. Come on,(p) and let your trumpets and cornets give notice of your near approach. Let the sound of them be heard in Gibeah, and Ramah (within the portion of Benjamin, and not many miles from the Citie of Ierusalem) Let them shout aloud at (q) Be∣thaven, and that pincheth close upon thy back, O Benjamin. So near is that place unto thee.

9. And if this fall upon Judah. How will Ephraim be laid desolate in the day of his cor∣rection? (under the army of Salmanasser) when I shall show my (r) constant resolution of accom∣plishing all that, which I had foretold to be coming upon Israel.

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10. Nor, while they are so punished in Is∣rael, may the Princes of Iudah think to escape. For, many of them have often passed those bounds, that I set them. Therefore I will poure my anger upon them, like water (that will be kept in no bounds, and ever breaks out violent∣lie, and in great abundance.)

11. And while I resolve of Iudah's punish∣ment, I forget not the faults of Ephraim, and Israel: speciallie how the people there have been crushed and oppressed by the power of their great ones, and the iniquitie of their Courts of Iustice. (s) My justice suffering that punish∣ment to fall upon them, because they had a readier inclination to walk after the edicts and dictates of men, then after that which I justlie commanded.

12. Therefore as the moth eats and con∣sumes the garment, and rottenness the flesh: so will I for these offences cause both Ephraim and Iudah to be consumed, and eaten out of their own homes. And neither their own, nor other Princes shall be able to relieve them.

13. They may remember the time, when Ephraim perceiving his sicknesse, and Judah feeling his wound, that troubled him:(t) E∣phraim

applied himself to the Assyrian, (send∣ing presents to Pul) and (u) Judah made his addresses to Tiglathpelezer, that he would be his good King (x) Jareb, i. his Protector, and (x) avenger of his cause. But, all this while, he, that was so wooed, and humbly sent to, could not heal the disease, that they were sick of: nor cure those wounds, that put them to their pain and trouble.

14. For, to what end is it to seek favour, and succour of men, saith the Lord, when I resolve in my revenge, to be as a Panther sodainly to rush upon Ephraim, and as a Lion violentlie to fall upon the house of Judah? When (y) I my felf prove like these fierce creatures that first come abroad to tear in pieces, and then return again into their dens to dispose of their prey: who shall then be able to rescue that, which I have so taken away?

15. But I will retire my self from these sons of men, into heaven, my proper place: (z) till by repentance they acknowledge their guilt, and seek after my love and favour, which I know they will do (a) with all speed, and diligence, when the smart of their affliction hath wrought the right cure upon them.

Notes

• (i)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 paena (secundum judicium rectum (immine••) vobis.
• (k)

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pro fundarunt mactare (ut Kimchi) i. were deeply ingaged for that sin, ut 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sit verb. Infin. modo ut alibi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & sic Targum.
• (m)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ego correctionem pro illis pa••o, ut rectè Jonathan.
• Sic u. ul••.
• (n)

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pro utroque exponi potest, & pro menstrua pensione, & pro brevi tempore, quod Mercero magis placet.
• (p)

  Reg. 15. 19. Hos. 8. 10.
• (q)

  i. Bethel.
• (r)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 constantiam meam.
• (s)

  Sic & Mercero hunc locum suppleri posse videtur:
• (t)

  2 Reg. 15. 20. & 16. 6,
• (u)

  Paral. 28. 16.
• (x)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ca. 10. 6.
• (x)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ca. 10. 6.
• (y)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 gemina∣tio ad auxesin.
• (z)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 donec se re••s peragant. Id enim 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signif. ut Levit. 4. 13.
• (a)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉