CHAPTER II _The prophet goes on to declare the judgments of God against_ _Moab_, 1-3; _against Judah_, 4, 5; _and then against Israel, the particular object of his mission._ _He enumerates some of their sins_, 6-8, _aggravated by God's distinguishing regard to Israel_, 9-12; _and they are in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:2. _THE PALACES OF KIRIOTH_] This was one of the principal cities of the Moabites. _MOAB SHALL DIE WITH TUMULT_] All these expressions seem to refer to this city's being taken by _storm_, which was followed by a total slaughter of its inhabitants.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:3. _I WILL CUT OFF THE JUDGE_] It shall be so destroyed, that it shall never more have any _form of government_. The _judge_ here, שופטים _shophet_, may signify the chief magistrate. The chief magistrates of the Carthaginians were called _suffetes_; probably taken from the Hebrew JUDGES... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:4. _FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF JUDAH_] We may take the _three_ and _four_ here to any latitude; for this people lived in continual hostility to their God, from the days of _David_ to the time of _Uzziah_, under whom Amos prophesied. Their iniquities are _summed_ up under _three_ genera... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:5. _I WILL SEND A FIRE UPON JUDAH_] This _fire_ was the war made upon the Jews by _Nebuchadnezzar_, which terminated with the sackage and burning of Jerusalem and its _palace_ the _temple_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:6. _FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF ISRAEL, C._] To be satisfied of the exceeding delinquency of this people, we have only to open the historical and prophetic books in any part for the whole history of the Israelites is one tissue of transgression against God. Their crimes are enumerated u... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:7. Amos 2:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:8. Amos 2:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:9. _YET DESTROYED I THE AMORITE_] Here follow general heads of God's mercies to them, and the great things he had done for them. 1. Bringing them out of Egypt. 2. Miraculously sustaining them in the wilderness _forty_ years. 3. Driving out the Canaanites before them, and giving them... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:12. _BUT YE GAVE THE NAZARITES WINE_] This was expressly forbidden in the laws of their institution. See Numbers 6:1. _PROPHESY NOT._] They would not worship God, and they would not hear the voice of his prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:13. _BEHOLD, I AM PRESSED UNDER YOU_] The _marginal_ reading is better: "Behold, I will press your place, as a cart full of sheaves presseth." I will bring over you the _wheel of destruction_; and it shall grind your _place _- your _city_ and _temple_, as the wheel of a cart laden with... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:14. _THE FLIGHT SHALL PERISH FROM THE SWIFT_] The swiftest shall not be able to save himself from a swifter destruction. None, by might, by counsel, or by fleetness, shall be able to escape from the impending ruin. In a word, God has so fully determined to avenge the quarrel of his brok... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:15. _NEITHER SHALL HE THAT RIDETH THE HORSE DELIVER_ _HIMSELF._] I believe all these sayings, Amos 2:13, are proverbs, to show the inutility of all attempts, even in the best circumstances, to escape the doom now decreed, because the cup of their iniquity was full.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 2:16. _SHALL FLEE AWAY NAKED_] In some cases the alarm shall be in the _night_; and even the most heroic shall start from his bed, and through terror not wait to put on his clothes.... [ Continue Reading ]