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. ISrael is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself; according to the multitude of his fruit, he hath increased the al∣tars, according to the goodnesse of his land, they have made goodly ima∣ges.

2 Their heart is divided: now shall they be found faul∣ty: he shall break down their altars: he shall spoil their images.

3 For (now they shall say) we have no King, be∣cause we feared not the Lord, what then should a King do to us?

4 They have spoken words, swearing falsly in making a covenant: thus judge∣ment springeth up as hem∣lock in the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Sa∣maria shall fear, because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoyced on it, for the glory thereof, be∣cause it is departed from it.

6 It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to King Iareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Is∣rael shall be ashamed of his own counsell.

7 As for Samaria, her King is cut off as the some upon the water.

8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the moun∣tains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

9 O Israel, thou hast sin∣ned from the daies of Gi∣beah: there they stood: the battail in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did

not overtake them.

10 It is in my desire that I should chastise them, and the people shall be ga∣thered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.

11 And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn, but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride: Iudah shall plow, and Iacob shall break his clod••.

12 Sow to your selves in righteousnesse, reap in mer∣cy: break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousnesse upon you.

13 Ye have plowed wick∣ednesse, ye have reaped iniquity, ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy for∣tresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth∣arbel in the day of bat∣tel: the mother was dash∣ed in pieces upon her chil∣dren.

15 So shall Bethel do unto you, because of your great wickednesse: in a morning shall the King of Israel be utterly cut off.