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.

Heare this word, ye kine of Bashan, which are in the moun∣taine of Samaria, which oppresse the poore, and destroy the needy: and they say to their masters, bring, and let vs drinke.

AFter the Prophet Amos in the chapter before going hath indif∣ferently dealt with all the Israelites, * 1.1 now he doth seuerally and particularly set vpon the Princes and Rulers of the kingdome of Is∣rael, because of certaine special and particular and notorious sinnes of theirs. Wherfore there are two parts of this verse. * 1.2 The first shew∣eth vnto whome the Prophet speaketh: The second, wherefore he speaketh vnto them. He speaketh vnto them not in his own person, but in the person of God, whose messenger he is, * 1.3 that the more au∣thority and assured credit may be gotten hereby vnto that which he vttereth. And he speaketh vnto the Kine of Bashan, the which doe dwell in the mountaine of Simron, that is, in the chiefe Citie of Sa∣maria (the which was both called Samaria, or Simron, and also was seated vpon a mountain) For thus it doth appeare, 1. King cap. 16. ver. 24. where we finde that Omri King of Israel bought the moun∣tayne

Samaria of one Shemer for two talents of siluer,* 1.4 and built in the mountaine, and called the name of the citie which he built, after the name of Shemer, Lord of the moutaine, Samaria. By these name•• and descriptions, the which are taken partly from the place, are partly from the qualities of the persons, the Prophet doth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and point out the princes themselues of the Kingdome, both for their fiercenes and curstnes towards all men: and also because or their ouermuch and blockish securitie or carelesnes, by reason o•• their too much wealth and riches. For Bashan was a mountaine beyond Iordan, neere vnto Galaad, in the possession of the half•• tribe of Manasses. Ios. cap. 13. ver. 4, 5. fit for pasturing, where most notable kine and fat cattell were fed, as we may see Deut. 32 cap. ver. 14. where among other benefites of God great and excel∣lent, done for his people, Moses sheweth how hee planted them, where they were fed with Butter of kine, and milke of sheepe, with f•••• of the Lambs and Rammes, fed in Bashan, &c. Whereupon men that are fierce and cruel, and proude and haughty through ouer good succes in things falling out happily vnto them, are in the Scripture, compared vnto these kine, and bulles of Bashan. As where it is sayd in the Psal. 22. ver. 14. Many young bulles haue compassed m•••• mightie bulles of Bashan haue closed me about. Amos therefore cal∣leth these so by the commandement of God, not to speake euill of Princes or Magistrates, but to shake off from them sluggishnes of minde.

* 1.5Further he speaketh vnto them, that is, threatneth them for ma∣ny causes, of the which in this place there are expressed especially two, that is, Couetousnes and Crueltie. Couetousnes, because they doe rob and oppresse the poore: they do sucke the needy drie, ye•• euen breaking their bones, that they may eate out their marrow, and take it cleane a way. Cruelty also is ioyned herewithall: that which the words of (oppressing, and breaking) do declare. And i•• these Princes both these vices is insatiable, or such as can neuer be filled, and barbarous, because they aske daylie, and craue that some thing may be brought them: and also doe moreouer wittingly and willingly feast themselues most dayntily with those spoyles of the poore, the which is altogether a cruell and vnmercifull parte, voyd of all naturall affection, that men should in such sorte deuour one another, and after the manner of wilde beastes bee fierce and cruel against liuing creatures of their owne kinde. Of the which kinde

of cruell and mercilesse men, Dauid Psal. 14. ver. 4 doth complaine, saying: Doe not all the workers of iniquity know that they eate vp my people, as they eate bread?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two chiefe parts of this verse.
• * 1.2

  1. To whome the prophet spea∣keth.
• * 1.3

  2 Wherefore he speaketh vnto them.
• * 1.4

  Samaria, wher¦of so called, & whereupon it was built.
• * 1.5

  The Princes of the Israelites threatned especially for their couetousnes & cruelty.