AMOS CHAPTER 2 God's judgments upon Moab, AMOS 2:1 upon Judah, AMOS 2:4,5, and upon Israel, AMOS 2:6. God complaineth of Israel's ingratitude for past kindnesses, and threateneth them for it, AMOS 2:9. FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF MOAB, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF: in th... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SEND A FIRE: see AMOS 1:4. MOAB; some think, but I know not on what ground, that there was a city of this name, and meant here, but on better reason we conclude it to be the whole country, or by a metonymy the people, who were the posterity of Lot by his elder daughter. IT SHALL DEVOUR THE PA... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL CUT OFF, by the sword of the enemy, the judge; the governor, i. e. every one of them; the singular being put for the plural, to intimate the destruction of all of them. FROM THE MIDST THEREOF; either of Kirioth the metropolis, or of every city in which were judges appointed to govern and mini... [ Continue Reading ]
God hath in the former verses threatened the enemies of his people for their outrages against his people; now he does threaten his people for their obstinacy in reiterated sins: see AMOS 4:3. DESPISED; first slighted it, as if no excellency were in it, and next rejected it, as if it were not worthy... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SEND A FIRE: see AMOS 1:4. JUDAH; the kingdom of the two tribes; Benjamin is to be included with Judah, as elsewhere hath been already often observed. It shall devour the palaces: see AMOS 1:4. JERUSALEM; the chief city of Judah's kingdom, the city of God, where was the temple of God, and whe... [ Continue Reading ]
_ For three transgressions_: see AMOS 1:3. ISRAEL; the kingdom of the ten tribes, under the government of Jeroboam the Second at this time, against which the prophet was chiefly sent, though he began with Syria and others, by the threats against which nations he prepared both Judah and Israel to hea... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT PANT AFTER THE DUST OF THE EARTH ON THE HEAD OF THE POOR; or swallow up, as the word is most frequently turned by our interpreters; and so perhaps more plainly is their cruelty and violence set forth, in that they make a prey of the poor, who walk with dust on their heads by reason of distresse... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews of old did not, as we, sit upright at their feasts, and meals, but in a posture of greater ease did lean, or lie on one side; so here THEY LAY THEMSELVES DOWN, i.e. put themselves in a feasting posture, UPON CLOTHES LAID TO PLEDGE, of which the law had expressly said none should detain file... [ Continue Reading ]
YET DESTROYED I, whom they have ungratefully forgotten and forsaken, and set up idol's in competition with me; nay, cast off my law and worship, and embraced idolatry, worshipped idols that never could do them good, nor destroy their enemies; this they did after I had destroyed their enemies. THE AM... [ Continue Reading ]
You did not rescue yourselves out of the hands of your enemies, I did in mere mercy with a mighty arm save and rescue you, and brought you up from the land of Egypt, where you were oppressed servants, and exposed to ruin. LED YOU, as a shepherd leads his flock: nay, miraculously conducting by the pi... [ Continue Reading ]
I RAISED UP; gave prophetic endowments, stirred up their minds, commissioned them to prophesy, and carried them through by an undaunted courage given to them, that they, should not fear to set upon, or faint in attending to, their office. OF YOUR SONS FOR PROPHETS; did not employ strangers, whose af... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE, for whose benefit both Nazarites and prophets were raised, you who should have heard their word, and imitated their example, GAVE THE NAZARITES WINE; importuned, urged, or it may be (as is the custom of excessive drinkers) forced them to drink wine, to violate their vow, and contemn God's la... [ Continue Reading ]
Hitherto the Lord by the prophet had declared the sins of the kingdom of the ten tribes, now he is about to pronounce judgment against them; he calls for their attention, and diligent weighing what he is about to speak. I, the Lord, who have so multiplied mercies to this people, AM PRESSED UNDER YOU... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE; because they first loaded God with their sins, and now he loads them with punishments, no way of escape shall be left. THE FLIGHT SHALL PERISH FROM THE SWIFT; not by swiftness of foot fleeing from the judgments, for their enemies shall be swifter than they, ISAIAH 30:16. THE STRONG SHALL... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER SHALL HE STAND; though at distance from the enemies, yet shall not dare to keep his place. THAT HANDLETH THE BOW; much used in the wars of those times, and used by strong and valiant men, but now both strength and valour should fail Israel's bow-men. HE THAT IS SWIFT OF FOOT SHALL NOT DELIVE... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is not a bare repetition of what he had said before, to confirm it, but he doth foretell an inevitable ruin to those who were the most likely to escape, and a most shameful manner of flight. COURAGEOUS AMONG THE MIGHTY; a description of the most famous warriors amongst Israel, such as wer... [ Continue Reading ]