Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · minor prophets · Hosea
THE BOOKE OF THE SMALL PROPHETS.
FOR the time when each of them wrote, I have said enough in my Preface upon Isaiah, and generally for the scope of all the Prophets writings. So that nothing remaineth to be spoken here by way of Preface, But 1. Of the title given to these all together, the smaller Prophets, Prophetae minores, by the Vulg. Lat. and Septuagint, not because their writings are lesse divine then the greater, but because so little hath been written by them severally in comparison of Esay, Jeremy, and Ezekiel, that, as some have noted, they have not all together so many verses as Isaiah alone. For touching Daniel, although he were a Prophet also, and a famous one, yet he is not by the Hebrews placed among the Prophets, but the Hagiographa. And whereas each of the other Prophets hath a Booke by himself, these have been put alwayes into one, being otherwise in danger to perish if they went severally.
2. Touching the places where these Prophets were imployed to teach; Calvin noteth, that Hosea and Amos prophesied to the Kingdom of Israel, that Calvin.fell away to Idolatry in Jeroboams dayes, who made the golden Calves, from which foul sin notwithstanding they never departed, till that Kingdom was ruined by the Assyrians. Micah, as also Isaiah, prophesied to the Kingdom of Iudah, which also fell to Idolatry in Rehoboams time, soon after the division of Israel into two, and specially in Ahaz his time, and in the time of Manasseh, Zedekiah, and the other sons of Iosiah, till that Kingdome was also ruined by the Babylonians. But Micah and Isaiah did not alone prophesie to Iudah, but Ioel also, as may be gathered ch. 2. and Habaccuk, see ch. 1. 8. and Zephaniah, as for Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, they prophesied to them after their return from Babylon. Obadiah to Edom, to Nineveh first Ionah, then divers years after, Nahum.
3. Their names are all significative, Hosea salvation, Ioel beginning, Amos Hieron.pluckt away, Obadiah a servant of the Lord, Ionah a Dove, Micah humility, Nahum consolation, Habaccuk wrestling, Zephaniah the hidden one of the Lord, Haggai solemne, Zechariah the remembrance of the Lord, Malachi my Angel: so Hierom.
4. It may be demanded why some of them tell the time of their prophesying, but others not? Answ. They that tell the time, doe it for the certainty of the things set forth by them, and because to know the time when, and the place to which they were sent, conduceth much to the understanding of their prophesies. But others prophesying of things more generall, or concerning other Nations do not, because their prophesies pertaine to men at all times alike.