Amos 6 - Introduction
VI. The prophet now turns his rebuke, not only to the Northern kingdom, but to the House of Judah, though the burden of the subsequent charges are specially applicable to the former.... [ Continue Reading ]
VI. The prophet now turns his rebuke, not only to the Northern kingdom, but to the House of Judah, though the burden of the subsequent charges are specially applicable to the former.... [ Continue Reading ]
TRUST. — The word for “trust” is a participle, and we should translate as the parallelism indicates: _the confident_ (or _complacent_)_ dwellers in the mountain of Samaria; i.e.,_ the upper luxurious classes, “the chief of the first of nations,” meaning the rulers, to whom Israel, the supreme and hi... [ Continue Reading ]
The meaning is obscure. Kalneh, the Kalno of Isaiah 10:9, the Assyrian _Kulunu_ (comp. Genesis 10:10), is here probably mentioned first because it is most easterly. It is identified by Kiepert with _Holwân,_ but its position is uncertain, though generally regarded as lying in the neighbourhood of th... [ Continue Reading ]
FAR AWAY. — They choose to think that the day of reckoning is far off, and cling yet closer to their habits of defrauding the poor at the seat of judgment. (Comp. Ezekiel 12:21.)... [ Continue Reading ]
OF IVORY — _i.e._, inlaid with that material.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHANT. — The original Hebrew only occurs in this passage, and is best rendered _prattle,_ or _jabber._ The comparison with David is ironical He made these instruments to please the Lord, these princes to please themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
BOWLS. — The extent of their potations is indicated by the fact that they drink, not from wine-cups, but from large bowls (in which the wine was probably mixed). The same word is used in Exodus 38:3 to describe the sacrificial basons. AND ANOINT THEMSELVES... — Render, _anoint themselves with the c... [ Continue Reading ]
(7)_ Therefore_ (as a punishment for this self-indulgence) _they shall go into captivity at the head of the captives, and the shout of the loungers_ (rioting in their banquets) _shall cease._ All their loud merriment will come to a sorry end.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY HIMSELF. — Literally, _by His soul._ Jehovah swears by His life or soul because He could swear by no greater — the eternal “I Am.” (Comp. the formula of Divine asseveration: “As I live, saith the Lord,” which derives illustration from the custom of swearing by the life of a monarch; Genesis 42:15... [ Continue Reading ]
TEN... UNCLE. — In some large house it might be that ten are left remaining, but even these are devoured by the pestilence which hovers in the track of war. Nine have fallen victims. Fathers and brothers are all gone, and the uncle comes in as the funereal burner, to carry out the corpse to the pyre... [ Continue Reading ]
BREACHES. — For this read _ruins._ (See end of Note on Amos 6:8.) The overthrow of all classes of the population is here referred to.... [ Continue Reading ]
The questions require a negative answer, and show that the conduct of Israel is as inconsistent and senseless as the supposition involved in the interrogation: that horses should climb steep cliffs, or oxen plough in the rocky gorge. The conception of oppression, luxury, and pride being the forerunn... [ Continue Reading ]
A THING OF NOUGHT refers to the calf-worship, the idol that Israel is glorying and trusting in, the idolatrous travesty of the Eternal that they call “the excellency of Jacob.” (Comp. Amos 6:8, and Amos 8:7.) TAKEN TO US HORNS — _i.e._, instruments of resistance and aggression, the horn being symbol... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM... UNTO. — The entire limits of the kingdom of Israel after the victories of Jeroboam II. were, according to 2 Kings 14:25, identical with the region which is here threatened with invasion, _i.e.,_ extending from the mouth of the Orontes valley (comp. Numbers 34:8; Joshua 13:5) to the _Wady el... [ Continue Reading ]