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.

The Argument.

THe Prophet in one Sermon threatneth de∣struction vnto the Idumeans, as if they be∣ing sufficiently conuicted or proued guil∣tie, needed not any longer accusation. The causes are, their pride and cruelty a∣gaynst the Israelites their brethren. Like vnto this is the prophesie of Ezechiel cap. 35. and Amos cap. 1. Psal. 137.* 1.1 This Pro∣phet seemeth to haue liued not onely after that the Egyptians, king Nachao being their captaine, had taken & destroyed Ierusalem with the helpe of the Idumeans, that is, after the death of Iosias King of the Iewes: but also after the first capti∣uitie of Babylon, the which fell into the 4. yeare of Ioacim king of Iudah, and into the first yeare of Nabuchadnezzar. For then did the Idumeans insult or triumph ouer the Iewes being most sorely affli∣cted or troubled, and reioyced at their destruction. For which cau∣••••s the Lord also by other Prophets threatneth to be reuenged on ••••em, as Ierem. 49. vers. 14. where he vseth the very selfe same be∣ginning against them in a maner, as this our Prophet Abdias doth, saying: I haue heard a rumor from the Lord, and an ambassadour is sent vnto the heathen, saying, Gather you together, and come against ••er, and rise vp to the battel. And Ezech. 24. vers. 12, 1••.* 1.2 Thus sayth the Lord God, Because that Edom hath done euill by taking vengeance vpon the house of Iudah, and hath committed great offence, and re∣••enged himselfe vpon them: therefore thus sayth the Lord God, I will ••lso stretch out mine hand vpon Edom, and destroy man and beast out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, and I will make it desolate from Teman, and they of Dedan shall ••••••ll by the sword.

* 1.3

Vers. 1.

The vision of Obadiah. Thus sayth the Lord God against Edom: we haue heard a rumor from the Lord, and an ambassa∣dour is sent among the heathen: arise, and let vs rise vp agaynst her to battell.

FIrst of all he auoucheth and ascertaineth his calling, the which he teacheth to be from God.* 1.4 And he sheweth that his prophesie shall forthwith be fulfilled in deede and in trueth, for as much as the souldiers themselues mustered and gathered together by God, are now already set in battell aray, and ready to giue the onset vp∣on them.

Vers. 2.

Behold, I haue made thee small among the heathen: thou art vtterly despised.

* 1.5THe summe of the vengeance and punishment the which God threatneth vnto the Idumeans, namely, their vtter destru∣ction.

Vers. 3.

The pride of thine heart hath deceiued thee: thou that dwellest in the cliffes of the rockes, whose habitation is hie, that sayth in his heart, who shall bring me downe to the ground?

* 1.6THe first cause of this iudgement of God agaynst the Idumeans, is their pride, the which they conceiued of their vaine confi∣dence or bold trust, because of the scituation of their countrey, sea∣ted so strongly among the rockes and cliffes, that as they supposed it could neuer be surprised or taken.

Vers. 4.

Though thou exalt thy selfe as the Eagle, and make thy nest among the starres, thence will I bring thee downe sayth the Lord.

* 1.7THe answering of an obiection, which the Idumeans might make against these threatnings of the Prophet and say, wee are sure enough from danger, we dwell safely, and most strongly, and as it were among the starres and high in the ayre, farre from al feare of hurte, (for thus much or the like in effect is impl••ed in this ob∣iection) The Lord answereth,* 1.8 Nothing shal let or hinder that God

should not execute his iudgements vpon them, albeit they dwell neuer so much in the rockes.

Vers. 5.

Came theeues to thee, or robbers by night? how wast thou brought to silence? would they not haue stollen till they had e∣nough? if the grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leaue some grapes?

* 1.9THe figure Sarcasmos, or a most sharpe and bitter taunt, which might onely or at the last bee vnderstood by the issue or falling out of the matter, and ouerthrow of this people, the which ensued afterward, the which for the better vnderstanding of the simple reader, I will make bolde with the adding of a fewe lines after this maner to make it some what more plaine, thus, And is this that gal∣lant & dainty land (supposing that we now saw it miserably spoiled & wasted by the enemie, as it fel out afterward for to be) nested in the stars, and seated aloft out of reach in the ayre? So strong, so rich, so wealthy! what? hath she fallen into the hands of theeues & rob∣bers, that she hath bin thus stripped and wasted? or haue the grape-gatherers been with her, that she is so rifled, and left thus naked and bare, and gathered or plucked so neerely, that there is not one clu∣ster left hanging on her?

Thus much importeth this tart and biting frump or quip, where∣by the Prophet signifieth that they shall bee more pitifully and la∣mentably ransacked and spoyled, then if they had been rifled by theeues, or plucked by grape-gatherers, for that both the one and the other how hardly or narrowly soeuer they had gone to worke with them, yet would they haue left them some thing: but the gree∣dines and cruelty of those enemies, into whose power they shall be yeelded vp and come, shall be such that they will search al holes and corners, stripping them as it were vnto the very skinne, and tur∣ning them away naked, leauing them nothing, &c.

Vers. 6.

How are the things of Esau sought vp, and his treasures searched?

* 1.10AN amplification. For there shall be nothing so secret hidden, and well layd vp, and deare vnto them, the which shall not be taken away from the Idumeans by the enemies, which God shall send in vpon them.

Vers. 7.

All the men of thy confederacie, haue driuen thee to the borders: the men that were at peace with thee, haue deceiued thee, and preuayled agaynst thee: they that eate thy bread, haue layd a wound vnder thee: there is none vnderstanding in him.

* 1.11THe figure Hypotyposis. For he describeth or setteth out very liue∣ly the greatnes of the miserie to come. First, for that they shal then, or at that time be betrayed by their owne friends.

Vers. 8.

Shall not I in that day, sayth the Lord, euen destroy the wise men out of Edom, and vnderstanding from the mount of Esau?

Vers. 9.

And thy strong men, O Teman, shall be afrayd, because euery one of the mount of Esau shall bee cut off by slaughter.

* 1.12ANd they shall not finde any remedie among themselues a∣gaynst these so great miseries, albeit they doe vse eyther coun∣sell or strength.

Vers. 10.

For thy cruelty agaynst thy brother Iaacob, shame shall couer thee, and thou shalt bee cutte off for euer.

* 1.13AN other cause of this so great ruine or ouerthrow of the Idu∣means, namely, their cruelty against the Israelites their brethren now already declared and vttered indeede.

Vers. 11.

When thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away his substance, and strangers entred into his gates, and cast lots vpon Ierusalem, euen thou wast as one of them.

* 1.14A Description or setting out and amplifiyng of this cruelty of the Idumeans, taken from the circumstance of time.

Vers. 12.

But thou shouldst not haue beholden the day of thy brother, in the day that hee was made a stranger, neither shouldest thou haue reioyced ouer the children of Iudah, in the day of their de∣struction: thou shouldest not haue spoken proudly in the day of affli∣ction.

Ver. 13.

Thou shouldst not haue entred into the gate of my people, in the day of their destruction, neither shouldest thou haue once looked on their affliction in the day of their destruction, nor haue layd handes on their substance in the day of their destruction.

Ver. 14.

Neither shouldst thou haue stand in the crosse wayes, to out off them that should escape, neither shouldst thou haue shut vp the remnant thereof in the day of affliction.

* 1.15HE describeth and amplifieth their cruelty by way of matching together of contraries, or by the description and setting out of the duty of a brother, towards his brother afflicted or in misery, the which the Idumeans violated or brake in euery respect.

Ver. 15.

For the day of the Lord is neere vpon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done to thee: thy reward shall returne vp∣on thine head.

* 1.16THe conclusion, that it is meete and iust, that they which haue afflicted or troubled the Sonnes of God, should them-selues also be afflicted or punished, with the like punishment, and after the like manner. So writeth Paule vnto the Thessalonians epist. 2. cap. 1. ver. 6. saying: It is a righteous thing with God, to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you. And Deut. 32. ver. 41.42. God affirmeth that he will reward bloud with bloud vpon those which had murthered and slaine his people, in these words: If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on iudgement, I will execute vengeance on mine enemies, and will rewarde them that hate me. I will make mine arrowes drunke with bloud, (and my sword shall eate flesh) for the bloud of the slaine, and of the captiues, when I begin to take vengeance of the enemy. Ye nations praise his people: for he will auenge the bloud of his seruants, and will execute vengeance vpon his aduersaries, and will be mercifull vnto his land, and to his people.

Ver. 16.

For as ye haue drunke vpon mine holy mountaine, so shall all the heathen drinke continually: yea they shall drinke and swal∣low vp, and they shall be as though they had not bin.

HE amplifieth their wickednes by the figure Auxesis or increa∣sing,* 1.17 casting into the teeth of the Idumeans their profaning or vnhalowinge and defilinge of his sanctuary done by them vnto

shamefull and filthy vses: whereby he sheweth that his vengeance against the Idumeans is the more iust, notwithstanding that it be most sharp and greeuous.

Ver. 17.

But vpon mount Zion shall be deliuerance, and it shall be holy, and the house of Iaacob shall possesse their possessions,

Ver. 18.

And the house of Iaacob shall be a fire, and the house of Io∣seph a flame, and the house of Esau as stubble, and they shall kin∣dle in them, and deuoure them: and there shall be no remnant of the house of Esau: for the Lord hath spoken it.

Ver. 19.

And they shall possesse the south side of the mount of Esau: & the plaine of the Philistims, and they shall possesse the fieldes of E∣phraim, and the fieldes of Samaria, and Beniamin shall haue Gi∣lead.

* 1.18ON the contrary side he compareth with this destruction of the Idumeans the condition and estate that shal bee of the church, whom they had so hardly afflicted. And this he sheweth shall be both most happy in regard of it selfe, and also terrible or fearefull vnto the enemies themselues, whose borders and countries it shall in the ende through the preachinge of the Gospell inuade and pos∣sesse.

Ver. 20.

And the captiuity of this host of the children of Israel, which were among the Canaanites, shall possesse vnto Zarephath, and the captiuity of Ierusalem, which is in Shepharad, shall possesse the ca∣ties of the South.

* 1.19A Repetition of that which went before, whereby the Prophet confirmeth or strengthneth the doubtfull & wauering mindes of the godly, by reason of so great calamity or misery.

Ver. 21.

And they that shall saue, shall come vp to mount Zion, to iudge the mount of Esau, and the kingdome shall be the Lords.

* 1.20IN this verse is promised & described or set forth, the happy con∣dition and estate of the Idumeans themselues, by reason of this their subiection vnto God, & the kingdome or rule of the Church ouer them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The life and prophesie of Ab¦dias.
• * 1.2

  The cause of the destruction of Edom.
• * 1.3

  The briefnes of Danaeus vpon this Prophet, may be supplied out of the Com∣mentaries of Gualter, which are in English.
• * 1.4

  He sheweth his calling to be from God.
• * 1.5

  Vtter destru∣ction threatned vnto the Idu∣means.
• * 1.6

  Pride, the first cause of the o∣uerthrow of the Idumeans.
• * 1.7

  An obiection of the Idumeans.
• * 1.8

  The Lords an∣swere.
• * 1.9

  Sarcasmos, what this fi∣gure is, see Na∣hum cap. 3. ver. 14.
• * 1.10

  An amplifica∣tion of the gree∣dines of the e∣nemies.
• * 1.11

  Hypotyposis, see what this fi∣gure is, Amos cap. 8. ver. 12.
• * 1.12

  No remedie a∣gainst their mi¦series.
• * 1.13

  Cruelty, ano∣ther cause of their destructiō
• * 1.14

  A descriptiō of the crueltie of the Idumeans against the Is∣raelites.
• * 1.15

  Their cruelty amplified by setting downe the duty of a brother toward his brother af∣flicted.
• * 1.16

  The conclusion.
• * 1.17

  Auxesis. What this figure is see Oseas cap 7. ver 4.
• * 1.18

  A comparing of the estate of the church with the destruction of the Idumeans their enemies.
• * 1.19

  A confirmation of the godly.
• * 1.20

  The happy e∣state of the I∣dumeans