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. 9.

Proclaime in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble your selues vpon the moun∣taines of Samaria so behold the great tumults in the midst there∣of, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.

* 1.1THe explanation or laying more plainly open of the iudgements of God against the Israelites, and the same very wonderfull, and such as they ought to bee amazed at, the which the Prophet now sheweth, or threatneth vnto them, to wit, after that he hath answe∣red vnto sundrie their obiections, and hath cleared himselfe and his ministerie from all suspition, and false charge of bearing euill will vnto them. But to the end the sentence of God against them, albeit neuer so hard, may yet seeme to be the more iust, he produ∣ceth or bringeth foorth beholders and witnesses of the desperate wickednesse, and all other kind of sinnes of the Israelites, * 1.2 not one, or two men onely, but whole nations themselues, namely the Phi∣listines,

and the Egyptians, that is, such people as were neere, and such also as were farre off, because that he would haue the lewdnes of the Israelites very well knowne vnto euery nation. Finally, be bringeth for witnesse the Infidels themselues, that the Israelites may be the more ashamed both of their disobedience vnto God, and also of their owne blockishnes, and soothing or flattering of themselues. In this verse therefore is conteined a calling of the Philistines and Egyptians openly to beare witnesse against the Is∣raelites. Vnder the name of Ashdod the Philistines are comprehen∣ded by the figure Synecdoche,* 1.3 but the Egyptians are cited by name. And first of all God will haue the wickednesse of the Israelites, to wit, the same which he accuseth in them, to be published or open∣ly told and proclaimed, euen in the palaces of those that should be witnesses. Then secondly he wil haue those same witnesses to come to behold, being gathered together in companies, and not seueral∣lie one by one after another: and to see and view this wickednesse of the Israelites throughout the whole countrie of the Saman∣tanes, from the mountaines, that is, from the neere and plaine, and open places, that they may giue the more certaine and true testi∣monie or witnesse of it, as of a matter the which they themselues had seene, and whereof they had knowledge and experience.

* 1.4Moreouer, he doth summarily or chiefly accuse the Israelites of two sinnes, vnder the which the rest are comprehended, that is, of crueltie, whereby they doe vexe and trouble one another of them, so that they are neuer at quiet and peace within themselues, but continually at garboyle and deadly fewd. Secondly, of auarice or couetousnesse, whereby they oppresse one another, and robbe and spoyle each other, euen in the midst of their townes and cities, and in the bowels of their nation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A more plaine laying open of the iudgements of God against the Israelites.
• * 1.2

  Beholders and witnesses of the wickednesse of the Israelites.
• * 1.3

  Synecdoche is a figure, whereby the whole is put for the part, or the part for the whole: as in this place Ash∣dod one citie of the Philistines is put for the whole nation of them.
• * 1.4

  The Israelites chiefly accused of crueltie and couetousnesse.