1The Prophet shows what this change shall be, and what shall come to pass after the death of Rezin, who banded himself with Israel against Judah: to wit, that whereas the Syrians were friends to the Israelites before,2 they should presently after the death of their King, become their enemies, and make war upon them, which also came to pass. And this is his meaning when he saith that Syria shall be before. For their exposition who by Syria, understand them of the East; and by the Philistines them of the West, is not agreeable. The plainest sense is, that the enemies shall nuiron and assail them on all sides, becau e those whom they thought to enjoy as faithful friends, should rise up round about them to overthrow them. Where he saith before, and behind, it answers to the common manner of speech, so as we need not seek a new or strange exposition.3 Let us learn by this example what it is to put confidence in the power of men, and in confederacies with Princes, and especially when we wax secure, being snared with unlawful bands: for when the Lord will, those who before were on our side, in an instant shall band themselves together for our destruction: and the remedies which we shall take to be profitable, shall be hurtful unto us, and shall compass us round before, and behind. We must also observe, that God manifests not his plagues all at once, but when we rush against him obstinately, and provoke him more and more, then he augments and redoubles also his blows, and sends new chastisements, to the end he may tame and break our rebellion and stubbornness. With all the mouth, signifies the same which we have in our common phrase of speech, With full mouth, as if he should say, Israel shall be exposed as an open pray unto his enemies, so as he shall be devoured with open mouth, as of the Syrians; so of the Philistines.
1THe Prophet shewes what this change shall be, and what shall come to passe after the death of Rezin, who banded himselfe with Israel against Iudah: to wit, that whereas the Syrians were friends to the Israelites before,2 they should presently after the death of their King, become their enemies, and make warre vpon them, which also came to passe. And this is his meaning when he saith that Syria shall be before. For their exposition who by Syria, vnderstand them of the East; and by the Philistims them of the West, is not agreeablee. The plainest sense is, that the enemies shall nuiron and assaile them on all sides, becau e those whom they thought to enioy as faithfull friends, should rise vp round about them to ouerthrow them. Where he saith before, and behind, it answers to the common maner of speech, so as we need not seeke a new or strange exposition.3 Let vs learne by this example what it is to put confidence in the power of men, and in confederacies with Princes, and especiallie when we wax secure, being snared with vnlawfull bands: for whē the Lord will, those who before were on our side, in an instant shall band themselues together for our destruction: and the remedies which we shall take to be profitable, shal be hurtfull vnto vs, and shall compasse vs round before, and behind. We must also obserue, yt God manifests not his plagues all at once, but when we rush against him obstinately, and prouoke him more and more, then he augments and redoubles also his blowes, and sends new chastisements, to the end he may tame and breake our rebellion and stubbornes. With all the mouth, signifies the same which wee haue in our common phrase of speech, With full mouth, as if he should say, Israel shall be exposed as an open pray vnto his enemies, so as he shall be deuoured with open mouth, as of the Syrians; so of the Philistims.
- 12. King. 16.9
- 22. King. 17.3
- 3What it is to put confidence in confederacies.What it is to put confidēce in confederacies.
