John Trapp on Ezra 5:1

CHAP. V. Verſe 1. Then the Prophets]

HE that is now called a Prophet, was before-time called a Seer, 1 Sam. 9.9. becauſe his eyes were illightened, Num. 24.3. and he ſaw viſions of God, Ezek. 1.1. Dan. 1.17, Prophets they were afterwards called, that is, Interpreters of Gods will by his command, Exod. 7.1. Aaron thy brother ſhall be thy Prophet, that is, thine Interpreter. By the mouth of theſe holy Prophets God ſpake to his people in all ages, Luke 1.70. Yet not without ſome intermiſſions of Propheſie, as the Church complaineth, Pſal. 74.9. till that Cathimath Chazon (as the Jewes call it) the ſealing up of Propheſie, which they place betweene the Prophet Malachi, and John Baptiſt, who was more then a Prophet. The Original word Nabi, ſignifieth one that, from the inward counſel of God uttereth Oracles.

Haggai the Prophet] Who was not an Angel incarnate, as Origen and Hierom held; but a young Saint (as Epiphanius deſcribeth him) and might therefore well be an old Angel, if he lived to be old.Juvenis admodum ex Babylone profectus eſt Hicroſolymam, &c. Epiph. lib. de Proph. vit. See more of him Hag. 1.1. with the note there.

And Zechariah the ſonne of Iddo] That is, of Barachiah the ſonne of Iddo, Zech. 1.1. See the Note there. Theſe two God ſent within two moneths one of another, in the eighteenth year of the peoples returne out of Babylon; which fell out to be in the ſecond year of the reigne of Darius Hyſtaſpes, and in the three thouſand four hundred fourty and fourth year of the world, according to Funccius his Chronology. Chriſt uſually ſent his Prophets and Apoſtles by couples, for mutual comfort, and greater confirmation.

Propheſied unto the Jewes] Who had brought a judgement of ſore famine upon themſelves by their ſlackneſſe and backwardneſſe to rebuild the Houſe of God, Hag. 1.4, 6. See the Notes there; [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Herodot. Mat. 22.21. and learne of the Heathen Hiſtorian, to preferre Gods intereſt before thine owne, or elſe to look for his curſe. For he is a great King, and ſtands upon his ſeniority, Mal. 1.14. he will have us firſt to ſeeke his Kingdome, Matth. 6.33. and to give unto God the things that are Gods; or we ſhall hear of him, to our ſmall comfort.

In the name of the God of Iſrael] Who both authorized and enabled them: God ſendeth none whom He gifteth not. The Apoſtles alſo were Embaſſadours in the ſame name, 2 Cor. 5.20. and ſo, Collegues to the Prophets, Luke 10.16. (See 1 Pet. 1.12.) Angels admiring the matter o[illegible: 1 letter] their Ambaſſie, and their happy harmony.

Even unto them] Who yet were very little amended by their ſeventy years captivity. Afflictions (Gods hammers) had but beaten upon cold iron, (as it were) as appears by this Hiſtory, and by the Propheſies of Haggai and Zechariah; whom for his labour and love to their ſouls,Hoc ictu ceu didactro accepto Linus mortuus eſt. Buchol. they afterwards ſlew betwixt the Temple and the Altar, Matth. 23.35. ſerving him as Hercules did his Tutour Linus, whom, for a few ſharp words given him, he knockt on the head. Or, as their Anceſtours did the Prophet Eſay, whom they ſawed aſunder (ſaith Hierome out of the Rabbines) becauſe he had called them Princes of Sodom, and people of Gomorrah, Eſay. 1.10. This is the worlds wages to faithful Miniſters.