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. 14.

Therefore shalt thou giue presents vnto Moresheth Gath: the houses of Achzib shall be as a lye to the Kings of Israel.

* 1.1A Digression, wherein is contained by the way an amplification of the miserie or punishment, the which shall happen vnto the citie Lachish. For it shall send presents vnto cities most farre off, that they would giue her entertainment when she fleeth, and let her haue place to flee vnto them, to wit, vnto Morestha or More∣sheth (the which citie is neere vnto the Philistims, and vnto their towne Gath or Geth) shall Lachish humbly send gifts, that it may be lawfull for her to flee thither: so great shall be the feare of the citizens of Lachish, and so wide their flight. But by the sentence following, the which is contained in this selfe same verse, the Pro∣phet seemeth to signifie, that this helpe sought after by them of Lachish, shall stand them in no stead, and be vnprofitable vnto them. For the Prophet addeth, The house of Achzib (the which is neere both vnto Morestha and Maraschah) shall deceiue euen the Kings of Israel themselues, vnto whom notwithstanding this house shall promise ayde, and shall receiue gifts of them, as Morestha did of thee, O Lachish. Whereby appeareth that there shall at that time be a great abashment of all peoples neere vnto the Israelites, when as none shall then dare to ayde and helpe either the Israelites them∣selues, or els one another for feare of the enemies. Whereof may

worthilie be now vnderstood and concluded, that this ouerthrowe of the Israelites shall be very great, the which God would haue sig∣nified vnto them by these so many narrations and foretellings of things to come.

* 1.2Further, the Prophet doth very fitly make mention of the trea∣cherie and lying, wherewith the inhabitants of Achzib deceiued the Kings of Israel, to shew that this ayd of them of Lachish should be but vaine. Wherein also he pleasantly alludeth and hath resem∣blance vnto the name of Achzib: for Chasab, from whence it is deriued, signifieth a lye. Therefore these shall indeede receiue the wages, gifts and money giuen them by the Kings of Israel, yet shall they not keep their promise, nor send souldiers, nor promised aydes: but shall disappoynt them. Now if these of Achzib being both far∣ther off from the kingdome of Israel, then those of Moresheth from the citie Lachish: and being of more power to defend themselues against the Assyrians, then they of Moresheth: namely, when as they of Achzib are an whole house and familie possessing many townes, and a strong nation, and populous: and Moresheth (vnto which they of Lachish shall flee) is but one only towne of Iudah: finally, if they of Achzib being both requested, and receiuing gifts of the Kings of Israel, deceiued them notwithstanding, and were no ayde vnto them: what may they of Lachish hope for at the hands of those of Moresheth? Iust nothing. For they of Moresheth are not more constant or true of their word then those of Achzib: nor bol∣der then they, nor better, nor farther off from the danger of that de∣struction, nay, these cities are neere one to another, Morestha, Ma∣rescha, Achzib, Iosh. 15.44.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A digression with an am∣plification of the miserie of the citie La∣chish.
• * 1.2

  Why the Pro∣phet maketh mention of Achzib.