AMOS

1 Compare Psalm 22:12, with the annotation; likewise Isa. 28:1; Hosea 4:16, and understand hereby the wicked and insolent judges and governors, who fattened themselves with the bribes of the rich, who impeached the poor before the judgment seat and oppressed them. They are called the kine of Bashan, because of the plenty of fat cows and pastures in the country of Bashan.

2 The rich creditors of the poor, who had the needy people in their power as slaves.

3 Bring us but money or presents, with which we may make merry, swill and revel, and do ye with the poor whatever ye please yourselves. Compare Hosea 4:18.

4 See Gen. 22 on verse 16.

5 That is, certain appointed times of visitations. See Psalm 37:13; Jer. 50:27, 31; Joel 1:15, with the annotations.

6 Hebr. that he, that is, they, or the enemy, etc.

7 Or, pull up, drawn away; in the following with hooks. Understand: as one pulls up great fishes with hooks out of the sea, I shall tear you away by the enemy out of your land, how reluctantly or unwillingly ye would want to go out of it. Compare Jer. 16:16; Hab. 1:14, 15, and further Job 41:2; Isa. 37:29; Ezek. 19:4, 9; 29:4.

8 Or, your last, hindmost, that is, those who may have been left behind, or keep themselves backward. See of the Hebrew word Jer. 31 on verse 17.

9 Which are sharp and pricking as thorns, or are made up in fashion of them, which the Hebrew word seems to import. See Job 41:2.

10 Kines of Bashan, as verse 1.

11 Of the city wall, which the enemy shall have made therein to see whether ye might make some escape thereby; or, ye shall be carried forth by the enemy into captivity. Compare Ezek. 12:5, 12, etc.

12 Kine of Bashan, that is, every one of you, who are now so voluptuous wanton and insolent.

13 Without regarding about others, looking only for yourselves how to make an escape. Compare Amos 2:15, 16. Or, ye shall pass by, one by one, who is a prisoner with your prisoner’s utensils.

14 Which ye gathered in your palaces through violence and robbery. See Amos 3:10. Other, ye shall throw away the palaces, that is, forsake them.

15 A command, by way of derision; for, thus God mocks at the heated passion and frenzy of the Israelites in committing idolatry, giving that unto the idols which was only to be given to God at Jerusalem, nay, did yet more to the honor of their idols then God had commanded to be done for Himself. Compare Jer. 7:21; Ezek. 20:39, with the annotation.

16 See Hosea 4:15; 12:5; Amos 5:5.

17 Understand upon this: come, go freely to Gilgal, etc.

a Hosea 12:12.

18 Hebr. make many or multiply transgressing or with transgressing.

19 That is, for every three years of days, that is, three full years, according to God’s precept, Deut. 14:28. Thus days are taken for many days or a year of days (that is, a full year), Lev. 25:29; Num. 9:22; 1 Sam. 27:7. See there the annotations. Some do understand it of their festivals, or joyful feasts, which they celebrated with their tenths, on the three solemn feasts, the Passover, the Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles, Deut. 14:22. Some think they truly did these offerings every three days to their idols, but did only every other three years to God.

20 See Lev. 2:1, 15.

b Lev. 2:1, 15; 7:13.

21 See Lev. 2 on verse 11; Lev. 7 on verse 13. Yet it seems that the Israelites had devised a new incense-offering of leaven, committing thereby several sins at once: I. giving unto idols which belonged to God; II. offering at another place besides Jerusalem; III. introducing new, redundant services against the law of God, under the pretence of zeal.

22 Hebr. do ye love, or, are ye enamored, as elsewhere; as if God had said: Ye will needs have it so, then do it, but remember what it has done to you, and what it shall do you further, as follows.

23 That is, want of sustenance, or famine; for, where there is nothing to eat, nothing adheres to the teeth. Compare 1 Kings 17; 18; Joel 1:1, etc., and see further the annotation on Prov. 14:4; Isa. 3 on verse 26.

24 Hebr. even unto me. See of this manner of speaking Joel 2 on verse 12, and so in the sequel.

25 Which the Lord used to give towards harvest time to fill and ripen the corn. See Joel 2 on verse 23.

26 That is, they could not obtain enough unto their necessities of life.

27 Of both these plagues see Deut. 28 on verse 22.

c Deut. 28:22.

28 Hebr. the multiplying of your gardens.

29 See Joel 1:4.

d Joel 1:4; 2:25; destructive locust

30 Hebr. in, or upon, after the way of Egypt, that is, after the manner (as Gen. 31:35), in like sort, as I sent of old the mortality into Egypt. See Exod. 9:3, 6; Psalm 78:50. Other, upon the way of Egypt, that is, when ye were on the way to seek help in Egypt. See Hosea 7:11, 12.

31 Hebr. with captivity of your horses, which the rich and haughty young men had used in abundance.

32 (Partly) as died of God’s plagues, and (partly) as were slain by the enemy.

33 Your state almost to the brink of total destruction. See 2 Kings 13:3; 14:26.

34 Together with the other cities. See Gen. 19:24; Isa. 13:19; Jer. 49:18; Hosea 11:8.

e Gen. 19:24.

35 As a piece of wood which was half or almost burned, when I rescued you graciously out of that destruction and restored by Jeroboam, the son of Joash. See 2 Kings 14:25, and compare Zech. 3:2.

36 Because of your sins and obstinacy (specified previously) I shall as such deal with you, as to what I have threatened in verses 2 and 3.

37 Hebr. for the meeting of thy God, that is, that ye meet Him with true conversion, to appease His wrath; or, prepare yourselves (if ye be able) to conclude with Him and to avert, as of your enemy, His coming upon you. Compare Ezek. 13:5; 22:30. Both senses agree with the sequel, wherein this God is described, with Whom they had to do and Who threatened them all this.

f Nah. 1:3.

38 Who searches the heart of man, and knows his most secret thoughts, making it actually known, when He oftentimes wonderfully discovers and prevents the most secret and hidden aims and intentions of man. Or, it may be taken as an evidence of God’s almighty power, revealing Himself and making known future things to men and decreed in His counsel, and nevertheless executing the same without any hindrance. Compare Isa. 41:22, 26.

39 That is, to change light into darkness, at His pleasure. See Amos 5:8. Other, day break and darkness, that is, makes day and night.

40 That is, Who is exalted above all glory and sovereignty, as having under His feet all worldly excellence. Compare Micah 1:3.

41 See 1 Kings 18 on verse 15.