CHAPTER IV _Israel reproved for their oppression_, 1-3; _idolatry_, 4, 5; _and for their impenitence under the chastising hand of God_, 6-11. _The omniscience and uncontrollable power of God_, 12, 13. NOTES ON CHAP. IV Verse Amos 4:1. _HEAR THIS WORD, YE KINE OF BASHAN_] Such an address was q... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:2. _HE WILL TAKE YOU AWAY WITH HOOKS_] Two modes of fishing are here alluded to: 1. Angling with rod, line, and baited hook. 2. That with the gaff, eel-spear, harpoon, or such like; the _first_ used in catching _small fish_, by which the _common people_ may be here represented; the _s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:3. _AND YE SHALL GO OUT AT THE BREACHES_] Probably the metaphor is here kept up. They shall be caught by the _hooks_, or by the _nets_; and though they may make _breaches_ in the latter by their flouncing when caught, they shall be taken out at these very breaches; and cast, not in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:4. _COME TO BETH-EL AND TRANSGRESS_] Spoken _ironically_. Go on to worship your calves at Beth-el; and _multiply_ your _transgressions at Gilgal_; the very place where I _rolled away_ the reproach of your fathers, by admitting them there into my covenant by circumcision. A place that sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:5. _OVER A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING_] To the senseless _metal_, and the unfeeling _stock_ and _stone_ images, from which ye never did, and never could receive any help. Proceed yet farther, and bring _free-will offerings_; testify superabundant gratitude to your wooden and metallic god... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:6. _CLEANNESS OF TEETH_] Scarcity of bread, as immediately explained. Ye shall have no trouble in cleaning your teeth, for ye shall have nothing to eat. _YET HAVE YE NOT RETURNED UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD._] This reprehension is repeated _five_ times in this chapter; and in it are strong... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:7. _WHEN_ THERE WERE _YET THREE MONTHS TO THE HARVEST_] St. Jerome says, from the end of April, when the _latter rain_ falls, until harvest, there are _three_ months, _May, June_, and _July_, in which no rain falls in Judea. The rain, therefore, that God had withheld from them, was that... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:9. _I HAVE SMITTEN YOU WITH BLASTING AND MILDEW_] He sent _blasting_ and _mildew_ on the _crops_, and the _locust_ on the _gardens, vineyards_, and _fields_; and this in such a way as to show it was a _Divine judgment_. They saw this; "yet they did not return to the Lord!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:10. _I HAVE SENT - THE PESTILENCE_] After the _blasting_ and the _mildew_, the _pestilence_ came; and it acted among them as one of the _plagues_ of Egypt. Besides this, he had suffered their enemies to attack and prevail against them; alluding to the time in which the Syrians besieged... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:11. _I HAVE OVERTHROWN SOME OF YOU_] In the destruction of your cities I have shown my judgments as signally as I did in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; and those of you that did escape were as "brands plucked out of the fire;" if not _consumed_, yet _much scorched_. And as the j... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:12. _THEREFORE THUS WILL I DO UNTO THEE_] I will continue my judgments, I will fight against you; and, because I am thus determined,- _PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD, O ISRAEL._] This is a military phrase, and is to be understood as a challenge to come out to battle. As if the Lord had said,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 4:13. _HE THAT FORMETH THE MOUNTAINS_] Here is a powerful description of the majesty of God. He formed the earth; he created the wind; he knows the inmost thoughts of the heart; he is the Creator of darkness and light; he steps from mountain to mountain, and has all things under his feet!... [ Continue Reading ]