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. 8.

Blowe ye the trumpet in Gibeah, and the shaume in R••∣mah: crie out at Beth-auen, after thee, ô Beniamin.

A Confirmation of the former threatnings of God against the Israelites and Iewes by the adioyntes. For it appeareth that they shall both perish, in as much as God doth will the same to be forthwith proclaymed, and that openly in the borders of both peo∣ple and kingdomes. And therefore God will haue cryers of this punishment and destruction to be sent, the which should affirme that thing to come to passe, the which God by Oseas hath foretold. And this place is a very notable Hypotyposis, or liuely setting fon•• of the matter, where by it seemeth in such sort to bee described as if it were represented or shewed to be seene with the eyes in a ma∣ner.

This description hath two things to be noted. First the place where these things are willed to be proclaimed. And this is not cōmāded to be done in one place alone, but in diuers, as namely in Gabaa, or Gibeah, Rama, & Beth-auē, al which were border towns betweene both kingdomes. For thus, when as warres are proclay∣med by Heraults, the warre is proclaymed, and published to bee notified in those Cities and townes especially, which are the boun∣ders of the kingdome. But it is added also, (in all Beniamin) the countrey of which tribe bordered vpon those townes, and that be∣hinde and not before them, and the Prophet himselfe also prophe∣siyng in Israel. Wherefore Beniamin is sayd to be after or behinde in respect of the scituation of the place, after such sorte as it stoode then before the eyes of Oseas turning himselfe vnto Israel, vnto whom he spake. And Oseas maketh mention of Beniamin about the other tribes, because that the first tempest of GOD his iudge∣ments

laide harder vpon that tribe then vpon the rest, and therefore it is expreslie set downe by name. For out of that quarter com∣monly the Iewes and the Israelites crushed each others with warres.

The second part of this verse containeth the kinde or maner of speaking here vsed by the Prophet, which is vnioynted as it were and loose, and not tied together with any bands of coniunctions coplatiues. Therefore he repeateth one thing after diuers maners, both that hee might thereby the more stirre vp both nations, and confirme and auouch that the thing which here is rehearsed, should come to passe indeed and in trueth. Hee therefore thus speaketh with great earnestnes, to awaken these dull and blockish fellowes.

Notes

• A confirmatiō of the former threatnings of God.
• The figure Hy∣potyposis, which what it is, see Amos cap. 8. ver. 12.
• 1. The place wher this proclama∣tion is to bee ••s ••••e.
• 2. The phrase or maner of spea∣king.