reaſon of the multitude of me k, : There are three different Interpretations of this Verſe, of which *tis | hard to fay, which i3 moſt agreeable to the Inteat of this Scripture z I vill propoſe ail three, and leave each Reader to chooſe tor himlelt. Firſt, Some will that theſ2 Words be a Continuation of the falle Pro- phet's preaching Profperity and good Days. So the Words are a Pro- miſe made to them, contradi&ory to the Menaces of the Lord by Mz- eh, he foretold all would end in Deftruftion ; the falle Prophet fore- tels the affembling of all the See& of Facob into their Land and Cities, and bringing back the Remnant of the captive J/raelites carried away by 7iglath Pileſer, and their Safety in their own Fold as the Flock of Brab,and that they ſhould make great Noiſe of Joy and rejoicing in their Maltitndes. All which ſpoken by the falſe Propher, Micah re- furein the 12th Verſe. Secondly, Others make it an Evangelical Pro- miſe of the Reſtitution of 1/r2:! by the Meſſiab, and many jews agree wth Chriſtian Expoſitors herein : though the Jews refer it ro a tem- oral Reſtitution, not yet fulfilled, the Chriftians refer it to a ſpiri- tual, partly fulfilled, yet more fully to be accompliſhed hereatrer z and (utably to this Hypotheſis they interpret ali the Patliages of this Text, al the 13th Verſe, both which will very fairly bear the'Senſe by theſe Put upon them, and may be the myftical Senſe of the Words: but we v0 inquire into the literal Meaning, think it adviſeable not to ſwell the Volume by long Digrefſions. A third Opinion ought to be con(1- are! ere we can crooſe which we ſhall adhere to : Now the third O- PM in expounding the Text, makes it a Commination or dreadful areat againſt this People, and thus ſutes it. & 7. e. God ottended viththem, 6 By his Providence will cauſe to come together. .c He Qlls to the Houſe of Jſrag! to coniider ir. 4 Who were flying upon Fe of (what their falſe Prophets promiſe) a Return to their own an and Cities. e The ſame thing in lictle different Words repeated aſſure us the Truth of the thing, f All that remain of the tea Tribes, ſtor ome were before carried away by Tig/ath Prieſer) (hall moſt affu- uly be gathered together,rhat they may all be in one Covey covered With the Aſſrian Net. g In Mulcitudes, like thoſe Fiocks. þ Whenc2 "7 ofthe Sheep can get and make their Eſcape, ſo inuuld this Peo- Pe de encloſed and taken. i Of Cries and Lamentation for their Ni- Wes and loft Condition, & Such great Multitudes coop'd up, fall
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hideoufly ſament their own Condition, like Multitudes that ſuffer Shin: wrack together ; all chis God will bring, pon them by the diiltitygde of the Afſyrian Souldiets which come up againſt them. = ud ,. 13; The breaket 1 13..come up 2 before them s:: they havg. broken up .and have :palied; through the pate p. and. are. g2ne out i byi itq, and" their' King # ſhalt ' pg before 4 them #t ,” and "the LORD# 'on the fead of them x. / RR. 98 7 11 the Opinion of thoſe, who account the '1 225 Verſe to be part
- # ide 0 oy \ ov, AL arti o the flattering Diſcourſe of 'falſe Prophets, this Ver is the, | nero ra: 5 Reply to thoſe talle,T eachers : to, tax.5 it. from Truth that God will reſtore the Remnant, and eſtabliſh them, that.he afſures them. the
contrary will ſurely and' ſuddenly befal them ; and- theſe 49 jh ſore
manner expound the Words as they of the third Opinion tone ver. 12, thus, I The 'Aſj114n with his mighty Hoſt, Les poo bramny ens his Arty. m The Preſent (put after the Stile of, the Prophets) for the Future, becauſe the thing was near, and yery certain. -' » The Peo- ple of J/rae! might ſee them, would the open. their Byes 3: the: Pres parations for this Expedition are viſible to all, that will obſerve: whac 5 doing abroad': The mighty Army of the; Aſhrigs King ſhalle're.loag approach, the Contines, enter the Land, inveſt the, Cities, yea-the_Me-. tropolis of 7ſrae. o NofFrontiers $hall he ftrong enough 'to keep the out of the Land. p No Cities ſo ftrong with Walls and Gates,whic the Aſſyrian shall not take and poſſeſs, and enter iry through the Gates, as of his own Cities. q And ſecurely go out, too, » Shalmineſer.c s in triumphant manner. t His own Army,and the Captive Facob. u Offer ded with the Fews. x Leading,and ( ucceeding the 4ſſriens in this.War,
God's, judgments upon the princes for their tyranny, 1=——=4. 'upon/ the prophets for their faljbaod, 5 ——7. and upon both' for their vitkeda neſs, and corrupting the people, $—=12, - oowaxh © gg
I ND I ſaid 4, Hear, I pray youc, O heads of J acob, { \ and ye Princes of the houſe of Iſrael d ; Js it not
for you e to know f judgement? . ' + 1 I 4 In farther Diſcharge of his Prophetick Office, and his DireQiotz from the Lord, the Prophet proceeds to preach. 6b Attend: diligent- ly, and give good ear.” ir Being to addreſs to Governors, he intreats their Attention, as'we have'the Zebrew Particle here rendted; which might have been rendred now; and fo the Gallic Verſion dotlr render it, and the Particle fignifieth both. 4 You that are by birth'Heads of the Families,and-by 'Office Princes and Rulers in'J/rae! and Facyb + i.e. in the King4om-both of: the ten Tribes, and 'more particnlarly the two .Tribes, 25 appears from the laſt Verſe of this. Chapter. © e Are you not bounil >y Qffice? Do not Men expe ? Doth not God re- quire ? Doth nor ihe Publick Weal engage you to be well $killed in the Laws of God ? fitnderftand, approve, conform to, and rule by E- quity, and the juft Laws of your Got. -. You Princes, Magiſtrates
aad ruling Officers ought to know and do Judgment and Jukict, you Of al] Men ſhould know.,and do right. | __ W_
2 Who hatethe good g, and. Jave the evil þ, who pluck off their skin from off them z, and their fleſh from off their
bones k : |