A fruitfull commentarie vpon the twelue small prophets briefe, plaine, and easie, going ouer the same verse by verse, and shewing every where the method, points of doctrine, and figures of rhetoricke, to the no small profit of all godly and well disposed readers, with very necessarie fore-notes for the vnderstanding of both of these, and also all other the prophets. The text of these prophets together with that of the quotations omitted by the author, faithfully supplied by the translatour, and purged of faults in the Latine coppie almost innumerable, with a table of all the chiefe matters herein handled, and marginall notes very plentifull and profitable; so that it may in manner be counted a new booke in regard of these additions. VVritten in Latin by Lambertus Danæus, and newly turned into English by Iohn Stockwood minister and preacher at Tunbridge.

Vers. 1.

Behold the day of the Lord commeth, and thy spoyle shall be diuided in the middest of thee.

* 1.1THe drift of this chapter in a word is to shew, what shall fall out vnto the Iewes, and also vnto the citie Ierusalem it selfe after the times described in the former chapter. And it is a dou∣ble prophesie: one of the destruction of the citie, and not of the whole nation of the Iewes. The which euent or issue as in order of time it was first fulfilled, so also is it in this place first described, or reported. The second prophesie is of the enlarging and sprea∣ding abroad of the Church of God, notwithstanding by that doc∣trine, the which proceeded or came foorth of Sion, or Ierusalem throughout the whole world, toward the East and West. And fi∣nallie vnto this last prophesie there are threatnings adioyned a∣gainst those of what nation or countrie soeuer they be, the which shall despise this same doctrine of God, and the assemblie of the church, the which by the same is to bee gathered. But it might seeme a thing out of season, that God should threaten the destru∣ction of that citie, which was not yet builded. But the Lord would betimes admonish those that are his, both of this selfe same thing, and of those things, which should come to passe vnto this people, that the wicked might looke vnto themselues, and repent: and the good should not afterward be dismayed with the beholding of so great euils or miseries, or should bee quailed or out of hope by meanes of the same.

* 1.2Now this verse containeth three things. First, a rehearsall of the time, and the same certaine, the which is signified by the word (day) and also by this word (behold) for these words doe shew some certaine thing,* 1.3 albeit the very moment and instant of time be not in this place added and expressed. And vnto the same purpose pertaineth this worde (commeth.) Secondly,* 1.4 the prophet descri∣beth him, by whose decree and commandement this day or time shal come. And he is Iehouah, that is, the true God, the which is added, that the godly should not thinke so great afflictions or troubles to fal out vnto themselues, and vnto the church of God, without the knowledge, decree, and wil of God. Nay that daye is

from the Lord, it is the Lords day, and commeth vnto him, because that it is the day of the iust vengeance of God against the con∣temners or despisers of his name. So euery where in other places is it called the day of the Lord.* 1.5 Thirdly, he briefelie laieth downe the thing it selfe, the which shal fal out vnto the Iewes and vnto the citie her selfe, namely, that it shal bee taken by the enemies, and in such sort, be brought vnder their power, and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••∣mies should freelie and boldlie roue and range in it being vanqui∣shed and ouercomne, that they should diuide the spoyle thereof in the middest of it, as they doe, which doe not feare the power of them, ouer whom they haue gotten the vpper hand. And this most briefe prediction, or foretelling dooth very manifestly conteine the winning of Ierusalem (the which the verses follow∣ing also doe confirme or approue,) and the same not after a com∣mon maner, but such as should bee most lamentable: nay the de∣struction it selfe of it. For before this time, the estate of the Iewes was very short and bare, so that now, if they would neuer so fame, they should not be able to helpe that their head citie. Now this destruction was exploited or atchieued by the Romanes, Titus the sonne of Vespasian being their Captaine, as appeareth by Io∣sephus, and by the Roman Historie. For it was in deed taken be∣fore by Pompeius, but yet sustained no crueltie: but it was vt∣terly ouerthrowne by Titus, and the spoyles thereof were most frankelie then diuided in the middest of it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The drift of this chapter.
• * 1.2

  Three partes of this verse.
• * 1.3

  1. The time of this prophesie.
• * 1.4

  2. By whose de∣cree this time shall come.
• * 1.5

  3. What shall fall out vnto the Iewes, and vnto the citie Ierusalem.