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. XIII.

1. THe time was also, when if Ephraim stood up to speak, a kind of (q) fear, and reverence seazed upon all those of the ten Tribes. This height of Honour was he come to in Israel. But, the times of that respect are past, and for the sinne, which he hath commit∣ted in his (r) calves, and Baals, he must look for nothing but death, and destruction,

2. For now, this sinne hath more and more increased, amongst them, and (not content with their calves, in Dan and Bethel,) they have made themselves other molten images of their silver, after their own phansie, all of those i∣dols the work of craftsmen. And they spare not to say to them, They among us, that offer men too in sacrifice, shall also perform (s) their homage to the calves.

3. Therefore they shall not hold out long in

this wickednesse. For, I will make them leave the place, which they have so abused, and sud∣denly vanish, like the morning-cloudes, and the early dew, that is soon gone, and the chaffe that is hurried away, with the whirlwind, out of the floor: and the smoak out of the chimney, that quickly leaves that place, and knows it no more.

4. And justly will this fall upon thee, ô Israel, For, I am thy God that brought thee out of the land of Egypt. Therefore thou shouldst have acknowledged no other God besides me, who only can save, and deliver thee, out of all thy troubles, and am the onely Preserver of man∣kind.

5. I vouchsafed to take notice, and care of thee, in the vast wildernesse, a dry, and barren place, where thou couldst otherwise have been supplied with no provisions.

6. I fed them there like sheep in variety of severall pastures, and when they were fully satis∣fied, and fatted with good fare, their hearts were puffed up with pride: that is it, that made them so soon forget me, that fed them.

7. Therefore I will be (no longer as a Shep∣herd to feed them so fat, but rather) as a Lion, and a Leopard to watch, (t) and walk about,

and observe, how I may destroy them in the way, which they are to passe.

8. I will meet them in that rage, which you see in a bear, when she is robbed of her whelps, and tear in pieces their very (u) heart-strings, I will set the Assyrian, like a Lion, or some such wild beast to devour some, and distract others into so many divisions, that they shall not be able, in one body again, to make any re∣sistance.

9. And for this thy (x) low, and miserable estate, thou mayst thank thy self, O Israel: that wouldst not thank me for thy succour, in all thy necessities, it depending wholly upon mee.

10. For (y) what is become of thy King? that should all this while, provide for thy safety in all thy Cities, where is he? And what is become of thy Iudges, and Rulers that should defend thee? Of whom thou saidst once, (z) Give us a King, to rule over us, and Princes to judge us, and go before us, and fight our battles. Didst thou not long for them a little too soon?

11. Wherfore there was a time, and may

be again, when I give thee a King in mine an∣ger (as in Saul, and Jeroboam) and I take thy King away in my wrath (as in the good Josiah, ann in Hosheah, of whom there was some good hope.)

12. This misery will fall, especially upon the ten tribes. For I will not forget the sins of Ephraim, I bound them up together in a bun∣dle, and laid them up in a safe corner: to be again brought out, and revenged, as I see cause.

13. When the sad time of revenge drawes near, and the pangs come suddenly upon him, as upon a woman in travaile; it will appear, that (a) he is like a silly babe, that knowes not how to make way for his Mother's, and his own de∣livery. Else would he seek to me, and not stay so long for succour, when he is as near the be∣ing rescued, as one that is come to the time of birth.

14. For (b) I can set them at liberty, in the greatest distresse: from the very power of death and the grave. And so I will do, when I see my time, and for all those that I will deliver (c) Where will then be thy sting, O Death! O Grave, where will then be thy victory? But now,

since they will not seek me, I will look upon no wayes how to (d) comfort me, and appease my wrath, but in their destruction.

15. And when Ephraim is become (like his name) (e) fruitfull, and populous among his bre∣thren, then a strong (f) and terrible East-wind, (the swift and pernicious army of the Assy∣rian) shall come upon him from the deserts of Syria, (whence the most boisterous winds arise) and dry up the springs, and fountains, that have hitherto refreshed him. And that wind (or fierce army) shall blow away, or make spoile of all the rich treasures, and severall kind of (g) things, which he hath heaped up in storè, and wherein he hath placed his delight.

16. Samaria (their Metropolis) must needs be (h) guilty of some great offence, that hath thus (i) bitterly provoked her God to anger. Therefore shall many of them fall by the sword. (k) Their Infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

Notes

• (q)

  Tempore Iudicum, & Regum aliquot ex eâ tribu.
• (r)

  Hebraei vitulos etiam, interdum vocant Baalim.
• (s)

  Osculum erat signum ho∣magii, (ut vocatur) & sic illud exponendum, Psal 2. ult. sulemus e∣nim, oscula manuum, Principes adorare, & subjectionis nostrae testi∣monium presta••e.
• (t)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 gradiens, vel observans, ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (u)

  praecordia, vel claustra cordis, potest ad animos alludere, occlusos ad omnes admonitiones.
• (x)

  depressio tua ex te, vel perdidisti te, vel perdidit te (iniquitas tua)
• (y)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pro 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ubi tandem est Rex tuus?
• (z)

  Sam. 8. 20.
• (a)

  4. Reg. 19, 3.
• (b)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Modus Indicationis pro potentiali (ut v. 4. I could or can—
• (c)

  1. Cor. 15, 55. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut v. 10.
• (d)

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

  c. 9. 11.
• (f)

  ventus Dei, i. vehemens, vel à Deo missus: quem quidam de Christo exponunt, qui venit ut ventus morti, & inferno noxius: mortis fonte (peccato) per Christum abolito.
• (g)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (ut Scot. geare) comprehendit omnia utensilia, &c.
• (h)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 reum peragi.
• (i)

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

  Psal•• 137, 8.