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.

The word of the Lord that came vnto Micah the Mo∣rashite, in the dayes of Iotham, Ahaz, and Hezechiah kings of Iudah, which hee saw concerning Sam••ria, and Ierusalem.

* 1.1THis verse hath foure things to bee noted. First, the summe of this whole Prophesie and ministerie of Micheas. And this is, that he should shew the words and will of God extraordinarily re∣uealed vnto him, and not his owne will,* 1.2 or the will of any man else. This will of God he declareth to haue beene reuealed vnto him, and that extraordinarily, when he saith (which he saw, or which came vnto him.) For this vision is not a seeing or beholding with the eyes of the body: but a lightening and informing of the mind of man made by God touching his owne will, and that by an ex∣traordinary manner, the which his will God will haue declared vn∣to others by him, vnto whom he doth reueale or open the same. And whereas this prophesie of Micheas is said to be both the word of God, and also extraordinarily reuealed vnto him, it is commen∣ded vnto vs in a double respect, and great authoritie is gotten vnto it, that no man should thinke that it can be contemned or despised without punishment. For it is the voyce of God himselfe, and not of man.

* 1.3The second thing here to be noted is, to whome this reuela∣tion was made, that is to say, of the things to be declared afterward, to wit, vnto Micheas, who (to make a difference betweene him and others) calleth himselfe a Morashite, to wit, to distinguish or marke out himself from that Micheas the sonne of Imlah, of whom mention is made 1 King. 22. ver. 8. and who was before this Pro∣phet certaine ages. This Micheas therefore was of the tribe of Beniamin out of the towne Morastha, whereof mention is made hereafter vers. 14. Finally Ieremie maketh mention also of this prophesie cap. 26 vers. 18. saying: Micha the Morashite prophe∣sied in the dayes of Hezechiah king of Iudah, and spake to all the peo∣ple of Iudah, saying: Thus sayth the Lord of hostes: Zion shall be plow∣ed like a fielde, and Ierusalem shall be an heape, and the mountaine of the house shall bee as the high places of the Forrest.

* 1.4The third poynt is, vnto whom this prophesie is directed, to wit, vnto both the kingdomes of Iudah, and Israel, the which were the tearings in pieces, the pullings in sunder, and the ren∣ting of the one familie of Iacob. And he first maketh mention of

the kingdome of Israel, because it was more guiltie before God: and not because it was of greater dignitie.

* 1.5The fourth thing to be noted is the time of this prophesie. For he was latter in age then Isaias: like as Isaias himselfe followed A∣mos, as I haue shewed before in Amos. And this our Prophet pro∣phesied vnder three Kings of Iudah, to wit, Iotham, Achaz, and He∣zekiah, vnto whose time Isaias came also, but not Amos. Now this noting of the time bringeth credit vnto this Prophet and historie. For vnder these Kings the state was most corrupt, and the manners of both the Iewes, and also of the Israelites most Iewde, as namelie when as at that time Zacharias, Sellum, &c. slew and spoyled by mutuall ciuill warres one against another in the kingdome of Isra∣el. Secondly, it witnesseth, the prouidence and care of God for those that are his, who together and at the same time vsed so many ad∣monitors or warners to call againe his people into the right way. For by this doe both the Iewes and also the Israelites appeare to be vnexcusable, being so often warned by God, and yet notwithstan∣ding going on so wickedly in their sinnes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Foure partes of this verse.
• * 1.2

  1. The summe of this prophesie.
• * 1.3

  2. To whom this reuelation was made.
• * 1.4

  3. T•• whom this prophesie is di∣rected.
• * 1.5

  4. The time of this prophesie.