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time of the Affyrian captivity, are fometimes called Samaria, and Ephraim, and fometimes Jofeph, because the chief feat of the kings of Ifrael was the city of Samaria, in the tribe of Ephraim, who was the fon of Jofeph ". They were also called Ifrael, and Jacob, because they were the greater part of Ifrael's or Jacob's pofterity. The other two tribes, confifting of that of Judah and Benjamin, are called the kingdom of Judah, the houfe of David, Jerufalem, or Sion,

because they were of the tribe of Judah, (with that of Benjamin adjoining to it) and adhered to the house or family of David, their kings being of his pofterity, and their chief feat was Jerufalem, with Sion therein: But after their return from the Babylonian captivity, Ifrael and Judah are taken promifcuously for the fame people, viz. for the Jews,↳ who returned from Babylon into Judæa, and who, for the most part, were the tribe of Judah; and those of other tribes, who returned with them, joined themselves to the tribe of Judah, and tranfferred their name to them. Whence they all, without any diftinction, were fometimes called Ifrael, and fometimes Judah.

Remark XII. As for the imprecations in the prophets, the curfes and judgments mentioned by them, as called for from heaven, we are to diftinguish between private and public enemies, between private revenge and zeal for God's honour, and between the imprecations proceeding from the finful paffions and affections of men, and the

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a Ifa. vii. 2, 5, 8, 9. Pfal. Ixxxi. 5. Hof. vii. 11. Amos v. 15. and vi. 6. Ifa. vii. 13. and xl. 2. Pfal. cxxvi. 1. Ifa. lii. 8. Jerem. xviii. 21. Lament. i. 22, &c. which fee what is faid on the Pfalms.

s For

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the impulse of the Spirit of God. Thus much for the general remarks on the prophets.

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Of these prophets Ifaiah, Hofea, Amos, and Micah, were fent by God, while both the kingdoms of Judah and Ifrael remained, as appears at the beginning of their prophecies. Joel alfo " is fuppofed to prophefy about the fame time with Hofea. He intimates that the temple-worship was remaining in his time, Let the priests weep between the porch and the altar; and by the feat tering of Ifrael" he feems not to mean the ten tribes, but (as Ifrael is often understood in the prophets) he mentions it as a general term for the whole body of the Jewish people. Jeremiah and Zephaniah were fent after the Affyrians had destroyed the kingdom of Ifrael, but fomewhat before the captivity of Judah by the Babylonians, viz. in the reign of Jofiah, king of Judah, as the beginningsof their prophecies fhew. About that time it is likely Habakkuk prophefied, because he threatened the captivity *. Daniel and Ezekiel were fent in the time of the captivity. Obadiah foon after it. Haggai and Zechariah after the return, in the fecond year of Darius Hyftafpes 2, Malachi after their fettlement, which appears not only becaufe his prophecy is placed laft, but because he reproves the people for fome crimes which they were especially noted to be guilty of, after the temple was rebuilt, and their commonwealth fettled; as their marrying with ftrange wives. So alfo for grudging their tythes". Jonah and

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Nahum prophefied concerning fome other people. than the Jews and Ifraelites, viz. the Affyrians, and their city Nineveh. So that those prophets, which in the books of the Old Teftament are placed next to Ifaiah, were not next to him in order of time, only their prophecies were larger than the reft; and therefore are placed before the leffer.

CHA P. XVIII.

The particular Prophets according to the Time in which they were fent.

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OR the better understanding thefe prophets, we may briefly note what they chiefly defign in the order they have been mentioned in, and alfo the most remarkable prophecies in each of them concerning our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ifaiah foretold God's judgments, both against the kingdom of Ifrael by the Affyrians, and against the kingdom of Judah by the Chaldeans; but his prophecies relate chiefly to Judah. He foretold alfo the return of the people of Judah from the Babylonian captivity, and the deftruction of the Babylonians themselves 2. Among other impieties of the Jews, (as their idolatry, injuftice, oppreffion, pride, covetoufnefs, intemperance, &c.) the prophet charges them frequently with a contempt of God, and his threats, chiefly occafioned by VOL. I. a vain

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See chap. xliii, xliv, xlv, xlvi, xlvii. Compare what hath been faid concerning Cyrus's victory over the Babylonians, and his demolishing their city; and alfo the appendix, Numb. xi.

a vain reliance on the affiftance of the king of Egypt, to deliver them from the Affyrian or Babylonian invafions which they were threatened with by God. Ifaiah alfo prophefied of the Meffiah, or our Lord Jefus Chrift; as, that he fhould be born of a virgin, and be called (i. e. according to the Hebrew language) Emmanuel, or a divine. perfon . Further, This prophet foretold that the Meffiah fhould enlighten those who live in fpiritual darkness, and be, in fome sense, a wonderful glorious Prince, and of the family of king David *; that he fhould work miracles in the cure of the deaf, and the blind, and the lame, and yet that he should be a man of forrows, be defpifed, wounded, and at length make his foul an offering for fin, and be cut off out of the land of the liv ing, be buried in his grave, and yet prolong his days, or glorioufly rife again and live for ever ; that John Baptift fhould prepare the way for him, and that he fhould be revealed to the Gentiles, i. e. to other nations and people befides the Jews 1. The prophet fpeaks of Chrift in fome of the forementioned texts, as if he were relating things already paft, to fhew the certainty of the accomplishment: Wherefore he is called the evangelical prophet.

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It appears from the feveral reigns, that he prophefied above forty years. His ftyle is obferved

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Chapters xxx, xxxi, &c.

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c Ifa. i. 26. and lvi.

". Chap. vii. 14. This prophecy is the more remarkable, as being made to fupport, not Ahaz alone, but the whole house of David, verse 13, in their diftrefc, because that family should be fo far from being extinct, that the eternal King (Meffiah) fhould proceed from it. e Ifa. ix. 2, 6, 7. XXXV. 4, 5, 6. Chap. liii. throughout. Chap. xlix. 6. and Ix. 3, &c. and lxv. i.

xl. 3.
Chap. i. 1.

£ Chap.

b Chap.

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ferved to be very elegant and lofty. It is the common tradition of the Jews, that the idolatrous king Manaffeh ordered him to be put to a cruel death, that is, fawn in two;, of whom several Christian writers understand that faying, " They were fawn afunder, a punishment elsewhere men

tioned ".

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An Arabian hiftorian notes, that Manaffeh ordered him to be fastened in or between two wooden planks, and fo fawn afunder.

Hofea prophefied against both the kingdoms of Judah and Ifrael; chiefly againft Ifrael, threatening their deftruction by the Affyrians, for their idolatry and other fins, and exhorting them to repentance, that they might find mercy. He foretold Chrift's flying into Egypt P, and his refurrection the third day ". The prophet indeed fays he will raife us, but that is, because Chrift being the head of the Chriftian church, the benefit redounds to us all. Hofea alfo prophefies, that a great number of the Ifraelites fhould be converted and received into the church under the Meffiah; and alfo that the Gentiles, who believed in Chrift, are true Ifraelites, and fhould become the people of God. He prophefied above forty years. See before of Ifaiah.

Joel's prophecy was chiefly concerning the kingdom of Judah. He foretold calamities, as dearth and famine, &c. and exhorted them to repentance, that they might be delivered from them, whether

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Chap. i. 10. and ii. 23. compared with Rom. ix. 25, and

Pet. ii. 10.

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