John Trapp on Hosea 5:8

Verſe 8. Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramab,] Clangite, clamate, not with the inverſe trumpets of Furius Fulvius, which ſounded a retreat when they ſhould have ſounded an alarme. But blow ye the cornet; give notice to all the countrey, that Hannibal eſt ad portas, the enemy is at the very gates, ſending a ſummons, and ſounding for a ſurrender. The deſolation of warre had been denounced in the former verſe; here it is proclaimed, as it were by ſound of Trumpet: the Prophet acting the part of an herauld; and, by a rhetoricall hypotypoſis, repreſenting the enemies approach, as if it were already under view: and not foretold, but acted before their eyes. Rhetorick, we ſee here, is an art ſanctified by Gods Spirit; and may lawfully be uſed in handling of Gods word. The Scripture is full of it in every part: and happy is that Miniſter, that thereby can make himſelf maſter of his hearers affections: as potent in his Divine Rhetorick as Pericles, or Cicero, were in their humane. Let him (by our Prophets example) ſtrive to make the things whereof he preacheth to the people, as reall before their eyes, as poſſibly he can. The power of a miniſtery conſiſteth much in this; to ſet forth ſin, Chriſt, heaven, hell, in ſuch lively colours, that the hearer (though unlearned) may be convinced of all, judged of all, and having the ſecrets of his heart made manifeſt, 1 Cor. 14.84, 25. he may fall down on his face, worſhip God and report, that God is in the Miniſter of a truth: Chryſoſtom. Eze k. 4.1. Lo this is Preaching indeed. For as every ſound is not Muſick, ſo neither is every Pulpit-diſcourſe Preaching. Nihil frigidius eſt doctore verbis ſolummodo philoſophante, &c. Ezekiel muſt lay ſiege to Jeruſalem, pourtraying it upon a tile, &c. So did Jeremy and other Prophets uſe ſignes, and ſimilitudes, Saint Pauls ſpeech and Preaching was not indeed with enticing words of mans wiſdom, (he did not ſo paint the window as to keep out the light) but yet in demonſtration of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2.4. and of power, cloſe to the conſcience.

Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah] that is in the bounds of the Kingdom of Judah, Gibeah of Benjamin, Gibeah of Saul.

And the trumpet in Ramah] Samuels country, afterward called Arimathaea, Joſephs country: this is ſaid to be in the borders of Iſrael. Strong garriſons they were both; and places of great reſort: they are now alarmed, and bidden to prepare for the approach of the Aſſyrian. [non-Latin text not transcribed]

Cry aloud at Bethaven] Or Bethel, as Chap. 4.11. a city (as it is ſaid of Athens, Acts 17.16.) wholly given to idolatry: and therefore more ſtupid and ſtubborn then the reſt. Here therefore the Prophet cries louder then ordinary, claſſicum canit, ſic clamat ut ſtentora vincere poſſit, he ſets up his note that he may the ſooner awaken them, and cauſe them to apprehend their danger, as preſent and reall. Bethaven was the great place of ſuperſtition, and now Rome is the neſt of Antichriſt, the habitations of devils, and the hold of every foul ſpirit, a cage of every unclean and hatefull bird: therefore the Angel crieth mightily with a ſtrong voice, ſaying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, certò, citò, penitus, ſurely, ſuddenly, utterly. Rev. 18.2.

After thee ô Benjamin] who art at the back of Bethaven, and fareſt the worſe for her neighbourhood: like as Hamath did for Damaſcus Zech. 9.2. See the Note there. Some underſtand Hoſtis adeſt, the enemy is at they heeles; make away, or ſtand upon thy guard: for thou art like to be put to't. And this conciſe kind of warning here given implies a minde moved and diſturb'd, either with fear or anger.