CHAPTER VIII _This chapter begins with a fourth vision denoting the certainty_ _and nearness of the destruction of Israel_, 1-3. _The prophet then proceeds to reprove their oppression and_ _injustice_, 4-7. _Strong and beautiful figures, by which is represented the_ _complete dissolution of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:2. _A BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT_] כלוב קיץ _kelub kayits; the_ _end is come _- בא הקץ ba hakkets: here is a paronomasia or play upon the words _kayits, summer fruit_, and _kets, the end_, both coming from similar roots. Ezekiel 7:2, where there is a similar play on the same word. _I WILL... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:3. _THE SONGS OF THE TEMPLE_] Instead of שירות _shiroth,_ _songs, Houbigant_ reads שורות _shoroth_, the _singing women_; and _Newcome_ follows him: "And the singing women of the palace shall howl in that day." Instead of joyous songs, they shall have nothing but lamentation. _THEY SHAL... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:4. _HEAR THIS, O YE THAT SWALLOW UP THE NEEDY_] Ye that _bruise_ the poor; exact from them, and _tread them under foot_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:5. _WHEN WILL THE NEW MOON BE GONE_] This was kept as a kind of _holy day_, not by Divine command, but by _custom_. The _Sabbath_ was strictly holy; and yet so covetous were they that they grudged to give to God and their own souls this seventh portion of time! But bad and execrable as... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:6. _THAT WE MAY BUY THE POOR FOR SILVER_] Buying their services for such a time, with just money enough to clear them from other creditors. _AND THE NEEDY FOR A PAIR OF SHOES_] See Amos 2:6. _AND SELL THE REFUSE OF THE WHEAT!_] Selling bad wheat and damaged flour to poor people as goo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:7. _BY THE EXCELLENCY OF JACOB_] By the _state of eminence_ to which he had raised the descendants of Jacob; or, by the _excellent_ _ONE of Jacob_, that is, HIMSELF. The meaning is: "As surely as I have raised you to such a state of eminence, so surely will I punish you in proportion to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:8. _SHALL NOT THE LAND TREMBLE FOR THIS_] It is supposed that an _earthquake_ is here intended, and that the _rising up_ and _subsiding as a flood_ refers to that _heaving motion_ that takes place in an earthquake, and which the prophet here compares to the _overflowing_ and _subsiding_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:9. _I WILL CAUSE THE SUN TO GO DOWN AT NOON_] This may either refer to that _darkness_ which often precedes and accompanies _earthquakes_, or to an _eclipse_. Abp. _Usher_ has shown that about eleven years after Amos prophesied there were two great _eclipses_ _of the sun_; one at the _f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:10. _I WILL TURN YOUR FEASTS INTO MOURNING_] See on Amos 8:3. _A BITTER DAY._] A time of grievous calamity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:11. _A FAMINE IN THE LAND_] The most grievous of all famines, a famine of _the words of Jehovah_; a time in which no prophet should appear, no spiritual counsellor, no faithful reprover, none any longer who would point out the way of salvation, or would assure them of the mercy of God o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:12. _THEY SHALL WANDER FRONT SEA TO SEA_] From the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea or from west to east, and from north to south, _to seek the word of the Lord_; to find a prophet, or any person authorized by God to show them the end of their calamities. In this state they shall continue,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Amos 8:14. _BY THE SIN OF SAMARIA_] _Baal_, who was worshipped here. _THY GOD, O DAN_] The golden calf, or ox, the representative of the Egyptian god Apis, or Osiris. _THE MANNER OF BEER-SHEBA_] The worship, or object of worship. Another of the golden calves which Jeroboam had set up there.... [ Continue Reading ]