The cruelty of the princes.

Before CHRIST

730.

o Isaiah 9, 21.

p lieb. 4, 5.

CHAPTER III....IV....V.

8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy:{

The restoration of the church. CHAPTER IV.

Before

ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that 1 The establishment of Christ's kingdom....3 The peace, resto-
pass by securely as men averse from war.
ration, kingdom, and victory of the church.

their pleasant houses; from their children have ye
taken away my glory for ever.

CHRIST 710.

2, 5.

9 The women of my people have ye cast out from Bountain of the house of the LORD shall be a Traiah 2,
BU UT the last days it shall come to pass, that the
established in the top of the mountains, and it shall B. 2, 35.
be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow
unto it.

10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your Prest: q Jer. 3, 2 because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.

r Ezek. 13,

8.

8

11 If a man, walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine, chap. 3, 5. and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

s verse 6.

t

12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I Hos. 1, 11. Will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put u Isa. 63, 1. them together as the sheep of " Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.

13 The breaker is come up before them: they
have broken up, and have passed through the gate,
and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass
before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
CHAPTER III.

1 The cruelty of the princes....5 The falsehood of the prophets.
8 The security of them both.

AND I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob,

and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not a2 Chr. 19, for you to know judgment?

3 And he shall judge among many people, and Acts 1, 8. rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat e Isa. 9, 6. their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig-tree; and none shall make them afraid : for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is 'driven k Isa. 35, 3. out, and her that I have afflicted;

1 Jer. 3, 18. 21, 22.

7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and Ezek. 37, her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the "LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from 16. henceforth, even for ever.

m Isai. 85,

n Isa. 9, 6.

6.

8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even o1 Sam. 30, the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the Ps. 119, 94. daughter of Jerusalem.

p Lam. 4,

20.

4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them; he will even hide his face from them 9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no Hosea 3, 4. at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill inking in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs their doings. have taken thee as a woman in travail.

5 Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace: and he that putteth not into their g Isaiah 56, mouths, they even prepare war against him: 6. Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye h Isa 23, 7. shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto 22. & 13, you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.

Ezek. 12,

10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt Hos. 10, 3. 'dwell in the field, and thou shalt "go even to Baby- t Hos. 3, 3. lon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

u Rev. 18,

7.

x Deut. $2,

11 Now also many nations are gathered against 36 thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye y Ezek. 32, look upon Zion.

2.

Dan. 12, 1.

12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, Zech. 14, 1 neither understand they his counsel: for he shall z Isa. 55, 8. gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

Rom. 11,33.

13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I a Joe! 2, 12 will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass; and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the LORD of the whole earth. CHAPTER V.

1 The birth of Christ; 4 his kingdom; 8 his conquest.

44.

c Zech. 14,

20.

11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the NOW gather thyself in troops, O daughter of a P.2, 1, 2

0

priests thereof "teach for hire,and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can o Jer. 7, 6, come upon us.

verse 11.

9, 10.

12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed Psal. 107, as a field; and Jerusalem shall become heaps; and Jer. 20, 18, the mountain of the house as the high places of the MAL 24, & forest.

Christ's kingdom and conquest.

Before CHRIST

710.

g John 10,

16.

28.

MICAH.

God's controversy for injustice. that she which travaileth hath brough. forth: then first-born for my transgression, the 'fruit of my body Before the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the for the sin of my soul? children of Israel.

4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the John 19, LORD, in the "majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be 'great unto the ends of the earth.

iPs. 72, 8.

* Eph. 2,14.

1 Rev. 13,7.

k

5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into cur land; and, when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against m Rev. 16, him seven shepherds, and "eight principal men. 6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of P Nimrod in the entrances, thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within cur borders.

5, 7.

Psal. 149, o 2 Thess.

2, 3.

P Rev. 19,

20.

7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the Ps. 72, 6. showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, 2 Cor. 2 is, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

1 3, 6.

9 Ps. 45, 16.

S

8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people, as a lion among 2 Cor. 10, the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among John 54 the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, both Rev. 5, 5. treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can

4.

15 Thou shalt "sow, but thou shalt not reap; Isai. 62, 9. thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint u Deut. 28, thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink Zeph. 1.13 wine.

16, 16, 25.

16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the x1 Kings works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their Hos. 5, 11. counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and y Luke 7, the inhabitants thereof a hissing: therefore ye shall 30. bear the reproach of my people.

CHAPTER VII.

1 The church complaining, 5 putteth her confidence in God.
8 She triumpheth over her enemies.

WO is me! for I am as when they have gathered
the summer-fruits, as the grape-gleanings of
the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired a Isa. 28, 4
the first-ripe fruit.

a

Hos. 9, 10.

Isai. 57, 1,

2 The good man is perished out of the earth; b Ps. 12, 1. and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother c Ezek. 19 with a net.

d

3.

18.

3 That they may do evil with both hands.ear- & Jer. 3, 5. 1 God's controversy for unkindness, 6 for ignorance, 10 for in-nestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for eHosen 4, justice, 16 and for idolatry. a reward; and the great man he uttereth his misEAR ye now what the LORD saith; Arise,chievous desire: so they wrap it up. contend thou before the mountains, and let 4'The best of them is as a brier; the most upright fEzek. 26. the hills hear thy voice. is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watch- 5. men and thy visitation cometh ; now shall be their g Hos. 10,3. perplexity.

C

2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

e

30 my people, "what have I done unto thee? and e Ps. 51, 4. wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. 4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, Deut. 4, and redeemed thee out of the 'house of servants; and I sent before thee & Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 50 my people, remember now what " Balak king 23, 24, 252 of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

g Ps. 103, 7.

chapters.

2 Tim. 5, 2

Mat. 10, 16

5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence h Jer. 9, 4. in a guide; keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

35.

6 For the son 'dishonoureth the father, the daugh- 1 Mat. 10, ter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in- 2 Tim. 5, 3, law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

m

4.

27, 28.

Psal. 73, lab. 2, 3.

8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I 'fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD 1 Pr. 24, 16. shall be a light unto me.

m Psal. 57, 24.

9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because Rev. 18, 21 I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, n Ps. 59, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth Lam. 1, 15 to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

13 Notwithstanding, the land shall be desolate, Dan. 9,26. because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of chap. 3, 12 their doings.

and severity against his enemies.

CHRIST

710.

land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous Before
things.
16 The nations shall see, and be confounded at
all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their 1, 2,
mouth, their ears shall be deaf.

x Rev. 16,

y Isa. 26,11.

17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they 2 Isa. 11,14 shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: 24. 2 they shail be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall a Ps. 72, 9. fear because of thee.

b Ex. 5, 4,6.

Neb. 9, 31.

18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the rem- & 15, 11. nant of his heritage ? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

c

e P's. 33, 5, & 196, 8.

d Ps. 103,

19 He will turn again, he will have compassion Ezek. 18,32 upon us; he will subdue our iniquities: and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto 15 According to the days of thy coming out of the our fathers from the days of old.

14 Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thy Zec. 11,7. "heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

John 10, 3.

THE burden of Nineveh. The book of the
vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the Ex. 20,5 LORD revengeth, and is furious: the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Rev. 15, 7.

e Job 9, 4. 2 Pet. 3, 9.

d Ex. 14, 22. Mat. 8, 26.

c

3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD huth his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and

drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and
Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

e Zec. 14, 4. 5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills
melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea,
the world, and all that dwell therein.

Jer. 50, 20
e Luke 1,
70.
Rom. 9, 6,

concerning thee, that no more of thy "name besown: 10, 7
out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven
image, and the molten image; I will make thy
grave; for thou art vile.

15.

y Jer. 50,

15 Behold upon the * mountains the feet of him Rom. 10, that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: 28. for the wicked shall no more pass through thee: he is utterly cut off

verse 11

HE that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy arm. 10, 8,

11. & 14,

face: keep the munition, watch the way, 16, 17. make thy loins strong, fortify the power mightily.

b Jer. 51,11.

2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency Jeet 3,9,11. of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emp- eJer.25, 28. tiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine & Ps. 80, 13 branches.

Rev. 18, 22

23.

e

3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the Is. 13, & valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with & 63, 1. flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir-trees shall be terribly shaken.

& 51, 6.

day 4 The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall Jer. 50,1
injustle one against another in the broad ways: they
shall seem like torches, they shall run like the light- g Isa. 13,3
nings.

8' But with an over-running flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

9 What do ye "imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.

10 For while they be " folden together as thorns, Psal. 68, 1. and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

02 Kings

18, 35.

Rev. 15, 16

p Rev. 18, 7. q Dan. 7, 26.

11 There is one come out of thee that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.

12 Thus saith the LORD, Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afls. 60, 21. flicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. 13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

Rev. 10, 6.

⚫ Ezek. 1, 4.

kev. 18, 6

S

t

5 He shall recount his worthies: they shall stum-
bie in their walk; they shall make haste to the
wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and
the palace shall be dissolved.

k

7 And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her queen, as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their 12, 14. breasts.

1 John 4, 19.

8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water; yet they shall flee away. in Stand, stand, shall they m Rev. cry; but none shall look back.

35.

6,

9 Take ye the " spoil of silver, take the spoil of n Rev. 19, gold; for there is none end of the store and glory out 17. of all the pleasant furniture.

10 She is empty, and void, and waste; and the 14 And the LORD hath given a commandment; heart melteth, and the knees smite wge her, and

The miserable ruin of Nineveh .

Before CHRIST

Before

much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all { situate among the rivers, that had the waters round cir. 713. gather blackness. about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall CHRIST was from the sea?

11 P. Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the Isa. 14,16. feeding-place of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?

5 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of Isa. 47, S. hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, Ezek. 16, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.

Jude

verse 7.

k

q Ps. 33, 17

r Isa. 8, 9.

9 Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers. 10 Yet was she carried away, she went into cap- Jer. 46,25, tivity: her young children also were * dashed in 26. pieces at the top of all the streets; and they cast lots tIsa. 15, 16. for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.

X

u Ps. 149, 8.

11 Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be x Jer. 25, hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.

12 All thy strong holds shall be like 'fig-trees with the first-ripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.

15, 27. y Hos. 10,8. Luke 25,30 z Rev. 6, 15.

a Rev. 19, 17, 18,

13 Behold, thy people in the midst of thee bare women; the gates of thy land shall be set wide Jer. 51, 30. open unto thine enemies the fire shall devour thy bars.

14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds go into clay, and tread the mortar, make strong the brick-kiln.

c Ps. 147,

13.

d Ps. 127, 2 e Eccl. 5, 6.

8.

15 There shall the fire devour thee; the sword f2 Thes. 2 shall cut thee off; it shall eat thee up like the canker- & worm: make thyself many as the canker-worm, make thyself many as the locusts.

12, 15.

16 Thou hast inultiplied thymerchants above the g Rev. 18, stars of heaven: the canker-worm spoileth, and flieth away.

h

17 Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy hRev. 9, 7 captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in i Jer 51,27. the hedges in the cold day; but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.

1

k

11 Kings 22, 17.

6 And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and 18 Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: k Isa. 49,19 Mal. 2, 9. make thee vile, and will set thee as 'a gazing-thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is stock. scattered upon the mountains, and no man gather7 And it shall come to pass that all they that looketh them. in Rev. 18, upon thee shall" flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: ° who will bemoan her? whence shall 'n Rev. 18,2. I seek comforters for thee?

3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause
me to behold grievance for spoiling and violence
are before me and there are that raise up strife and
contention.

e Isa. 59, 4. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth
f Ps. 12, 8. never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about
g Ps. 94, 20. the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
5 ¶ Behold ye among the heathen, and regard,
à Dan. 9,12. and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work
12 Chr. 36, in your days, which ye will not believe, though it?
Acts 18, 41. be told you.

15.

Jer. 50,23.

i

20. & 19, 1,

n Rev. 13, 7. & 17, 2. & 18, S.

Jer. 25, 38.

and hasty nation, which shall march through the a. 5, 26.
breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling-places
that are not theirs.

7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment
and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the " evening wolves: and m Jer. 5,6 their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their Zeph. 3, 3. horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

Chaldeans, that bitter god."

WILL stand upon my watch, and set me upon 1 Habakkuk's prayer: 3 He trembleth at God's majesty : the tower, and will watch to see what he will Or, in me, say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am Hosea 1, 2 reproved.

heO