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. 13.

Beholde, thy people within thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be opened vnto thine enemies, and the fire shall deuour thy barres.

A Staying in the same matter. For the Prophet taketh awaye from the Niniuites other groundes and foundations of their vaine trust also, that they may throughly resolue with them∣selues, that these iudgements of GOD shall fall out vnto them because of their haynous sinnes rehearsed before. This verse therefore also is an Hypophora, or the answering of an obiection.* 1.1 And first of all he sheweth that the hope which the Niniuites had to defend themselues by reason of the disposition and number of their people, is foolish and false. For albeit the Niniuites before time did seeme to be of a warlike courage, whilest they bring so many nations of the world vnder their subiection: yet at that time when they must grapple hande to hande with the Chaldees, they shall be quailed, faint hearted, and fearefull like women, yea euen in the middest of the citie Niniueh, that is, when as they shall bee shutte within the walles, and in their fortes and fortresses: yet at that time those that otherwise are by nature somewhat fearefull, doe in some sorte by reason of their munitions plucke vp a good heart, and take a good courage vnto them. When as therefore they are to fight for their countrey, yea when as these Nini∣uites shall bee in the midst of their owne most strong and defen∣ced citie, albeit they be neuer so many in number, yet shall they waxe faint hearted, and tremble like women, so that for feare they shall not be able in armes to defend themselues.

* 1.2Afterward the Prophet taketh away from them another helpe, the which they hoped they had in those munitions, towers, and holdes, the which the Niniuites had builded vp in the borders of their countrey, to wit, in the territories of Niniueh. For it is likely that they were prouident to foresee the danger that did growe by fortaine inuasions, as being warriours, and well exercised and ac∣quainted with such matters, when as they knewe by what meanes they themselues had taken & wonne other lands vnwarded, and of∣ten times had inuaded or broken in vpon their neighbours think∣ing on no such matter, vnder a colour of selling wares vnto them, as Xenophon teacheth in his bookes of the education or bringing vp of Cyrus. Therefore they had placed most strong holdes at

the entrances of their countrey against all falling out of danger that might ensue, the which fortes and aydes the Prophet calleth Gates and barres of the territorie of the Niniuites. So the most straite and strong entrances of the Caspian sea are called the Caspi∣an gates, by the which they might come into Assyria out of Media, and from the North partes, the which gates God sayth shall bee o∣pened and vnlocked, to the ende that Niniueh should not trust in those her fortes a farre off in her borders without the citie. For of the fortes and holdes about the citie hee hath spoken in the verse before.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The couragi∣ousnes & nū∣ber of the Ni∣niuites shal no∣thing preuaile them.
• * 1.2

  Their holds & forts shall not helpe them.