John Trapp on Zechariah 11:1

CHAP. XI.

Verſe 1. OPen thy doors O Lebanon This chapter is no leſſe comminatory, then the two former had been Conſolatory. The tartneſſe of the threatening maketh men beſt taſt the ſweetneſſe of the Promiſe. So wre and ſweet make the beſt ſawce: Promiſes and threatnings mingled, ſerve to keep the heart in the beſt temper. Hypocrites catch at the Promiſes, as children do at ſweet-meats: and ſtuff themſelves therewith a pillow as it were, that they may ſin more ſecurely. Here therefore they are given to underſtand, that God will ſo be mercifull to the penitent, as that he will by no meanes cleare the guilty. That's the laſt letter in Gods name Exod. 34.7. and muſt never be forgotten. It is fit the wicked ſhould be forewarned of their danger; and the god[illegible: 1 letter]y forearmed. This chapter h[illegible: 1 letter]ngs over Jeruſlaem as that blazing-ſtarr in the form of a bloody ſword is ſaid to [illegible: 1 word] none for a whole y[illegible: 1 letter]eres-ſpace, a little before that laſt deſtruction of it, that is here [illegible: 2 letters] retold five hundred yeers before it fell out.

open thy doors O Lebanon] i. e. lay open thou thy ſelf to utter ruine: for it is [illegible: 1 span] cannot be avoided. Lebanon was the confine of the countrey on that [illegible: 1 word], whereby the Romans made their firſt irruption, as by an inlet Doors [illegible: 1 word] a[illegible: 3 letters]ttributed to this forreſt; becauſe againſt Lebanus is ſet A[illegible: 2 letters]thbanus, [illegible: 1 word] mountain; which is joyned unto it as it were with a certain wail: ſo that theſe were and are narrow paſſages and gates kep ſometimes of the kings of Perſia by a ſpeciall officer, [illegible: 1 span] the defended [illegible: 1 span] 2. Neb. 2.8. and fortified by nature: yet not ſo ſtrongly, but that the Romanes brake in this way, and much waſted the for[illegible: 1 letter]eſt, to employ, the tree[illegible: 1 letter] for the beſieging of Jerualem; as Eſay 14 8. The Ch[illegible: 3 letters]ee Paraphraſt by Lebanon here underſtandeth the Temple, which was built of the Cedars of Lebanon: and Ezech, 17.3. Lebanon is put for Jeruſalem: which alſo had in it that houſe of the fo[illegible: 1 letter]reſt of Lebanon, built by Salomon 1 King. 7.2. wherein he had both his throne of judgement ver. 7. and his armonry chap. 10.17. So that by Lebanon may be very well meant the whole countrey of Judea: but eſpecially the city and Temple,Lib. [illegible: 1 letter]. de [illegible: 1 letter]ell. Jud. cap. 12. the iron gates whereof opened themſelves of their own accord, that had not been open in ſeven yeers before: and could ſcarce be ſhut by twenty men, ſaith loſephus. This fell out not long before the city was taken by Titus, R. David. I[illegible: 2 letters]ra Gala[illegible: 1 letter]in. l. 4. c. 8. whereupon R[illegible: 1 letter]ble Jonathan the ſon of Zach[illegible: 1 letter]i cryed out, En vaticinium Zach[illegible: 1 letter]riae, Behold the Propheſie of Zachary ſulfilled: for he foretold this, that this temple ſhould be burnt, and that the gates thereof ſhould firſt be opened.

that the fire may devour thy Cedars] Warr is as a fire, that feedeth upon the people Iſa. 9.19. or like as an hungry man ſnatcheth &c. ver. 20. there is in warr no meaſure or ſatiety of blood. the Greek word to warr ſignifieth much blood. [non-Latin text not transcribed] The Hebrew word, devouring and eating of men, as they cat bread. The Latine Bellum, à belluis. it deſtroyes the Lord as well as the loſell, the cedar as well as the ſhrub. Tamberlanes coach horſes were conquered kings. Adonibezecks dogs, ſeventy kings gathering crumbs under his table. Let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the Cedars of Lebanon Iudg. 9.15. that is, Let fire come out ſ[illegible: 1 letter]om Abimeleck, and devour the men of Si[illegible: 4 letters]en. ver 20.