AMOS

1 Understand the kingdom and the condition of the ten tribes. Compare 2 Kings 19:21; Isa. 23:12; 47:1; Jer. 14:17, etc., with the annotations.

2 That is, shall certainly and speedily fall. See Hosea 4:5; 5:5; 14:2.

3 Hebr. no activity towards rising up; as when one who is thrust down to the ground and not able to rise by himself, and forsaken of all others, must needs remain as he fell; so Israel would never recover its flourishing condition; though some remnant would remain, as follows in the next verse.

4 That is, who now sends forth so many for war, where so many are marching out, or, who was able to deliver so many.

5 There shall scarcely be one left behind out of ten. See further verse 15; Amos 6:9.

6 That is, ye shall experience that ye shall surely be saved alive. See of such promises Psalm 37:3; Prov. 3:3; Ezek. 16:6, with the annotations. Also verse 6.

7 To have communion with the idolatry there committed. Compare this with Hosea 4:15; 12:12. Likewise Amos 4:4.

a Amos 4:4.

8 See Hosea 4 on verse 15.

9 Where one had also established already some idolatry, by occasion of the visions shown there unto the patriarchs. See Gen. 26:24, 25, and compare Amos 8:14.

10 The idolatrous inhabitants, and those who have part and lot to the idolatry of Gilgal.

11 Hebr. shall be going into captivity, shall go into captivity.

12 Hebr. aven, from which God called Bethel Beth-aven, that is, house of nought or vanity, etc. See Hosea 4 on verse 15.

13 As Amos 1:4, etc.

14 That is, Israel or the ten tribes; whereof Ephraim, the son of Joseph, was the most considerable one. Compare verse 15.

15 This may be (with some) construed with the preceding verb devour, the sense being all one.

16 This may be applied to those of Bethel, or, those of the house of Joseph in general, mentioned in the previous verse. Some take it as an upbraiding speech: Ye that, or, ye are those that, etc.

17 That is, into mere bitterness, doing all the wrong and mischief to the innocent, who ought to have taken their refuge safely unto judgment (being sweet and acceptable in itself), and thereby have protection. Compare Amos 6:12.

18 As a worthless and despised thing, which is to be trodden under foot.

19 These words are inserted from verse 6. Other, Who that maketh, etc. Others do connect it with the next verse, beginning thus: The same is he that, etc., both in a good sense. Compare Amos 4:13.

20 See hereof and of Orion Job 9 on verse 9.

b Job 9:9; 38:31.

21 See Job 3:5; Psalm 23:4, with the annotations.

22 Or, through the night.

23 That is, appoints that they (as by an express command) rise up from the seas, and to turn into rain, which God pours forth afterwards upon the earth. Compare Jer. 25:29, with the annotation.

c Amos 9:6.

24 Or, upon the earth.

25 As taking pleasure in the works of His righteousness. Thus the Hebrew word is used for comforting, Job 9:27; 10:20; Psalm 39:13. Compare further Deut. 28:63. Other, That strengtheneth the destroyer, or, the destroyed (being reduced to mere desolation, wholly desolate), or gives him heart and courage, over, or, against thee, or, a strong one, that he may subdue him, and take his fortresses from him.

26 Beyond any human likelihood or apprehension. Israel ought indeed to stand in awe of and seek unto Him, for to eschew His judgments, but on the contrary, etc., as follows.

27 That is, in judgment, that used to be kept in the gates. See Gen. 22:17; Job 5:4; Psalm 127:5, with the annotations. Likewise verse 12, and compare Isa. 29:21.

28 Or, that which is upright.

29 Hebr. trample down the poor, as if he were dirt and dust. Compare Amos 2:7, with the annotation.

30 That is, (as some capably understand it) as much as a man, or the poor, is able to carry on his shoulders what he has earned or gotten by his hard labor, thinking to live from it with his family, this, ravening wolves, you take away from him. Other, by or with burdens do ye take the wheat from him, by violence, or, exacting such unreasonable satisfaction of him, merely to satisfy your pleasure and greedy appetites, without regarding of any equity.

31 Understand by much wrong and violence, spoken of before and after. Compare with this verse Micah 6:15; Zeph. 1:13. Likewise Isa. 65:21.

d Zeph. 1:13.

32 Hebr. vineyards of desire or wish.

33 Or, thou afflictest, etc.

34 Or, payment, ransom, to set the guilty and the wrong doer at liberty, contrary to God’s law, Num. 35:31. Or, they take it from the guiltless, who must give it them, if he wishes to escape their violence.

35 Namely, from his right, or, put him by, turn him aside, from his right, altering and perverting the same.

36 As verse 10.

37 He who fears God, and is consequently truly wise. Or, the instructor, teacher.

38 Not murmuring against God’s judgments and punishments, though they shall be very heavy, but rather justify Him in all His proceedings, because of the multitude and heinousness of the sins of Israel, as mentioned before. Compare Psalm 37 on verse 7. Some do understand that God would punish them with the silence treatment of the prophets and teachers and other godly men, who remained with God, because they refused to be instructed and reproved, but bitterly hated and persecuted the reprovers, as verse 10. Compare Mat. 7:6.

39 When God shall punish this wicked people.

40 Or, a time of the evil, that is, of the punishment, of great misery and desolation, as Psalm 37:19; Jer. 15:11; Micah 2:3. Some apply it to the above mentioned great wickedness of the people in that time.

41 See Gen. 21 on verse 22.

42 That is, as ye are wont to boast, but wrongfully, as long as ye do not repent; or, as ye pretend to desire that God might be with you.

e Psalm 34:14; 97:10; Rom. 12:9.

43 Compare Joel 2:14, with the annotation.

44 As verse 6.

45 Because ye despise all warnings and exhortations, and show no hopes of any amendment.

46 It shall be a general or common calamity, and therefore all places shall be full of complaining, howling and weeping.

47 Or, and to lamenting, those that are skilled in wailing.

48 See Jer. 9 on verse 17.

49 Where in vintage time they used to sing most cheerfully, etc. See Psalm 4:7; Jer. 25:30, with the annotations.

50 Or, when I shall pass, etc., with My plagues, that is, when I shall cause the destroying enemy to pass through all your land; as God is said to have passed through Egypt, when He sent the angel to smite all the firstborn in Egypt, Exod. 12:12.

f Isa. 5:19;

51 Through hypocrisy, as if they were guiltless and had no reason to fear God’s punishments, or through mockery, as if they said: We would truly love to see that day, where is it? See Isa. 5:19; Jer. 17:15, with the annotations. Likewise Amos 6:3.

52 The appointed time of God’s judgment and punishment. See Joel 1:15.

53 See Joel 2 on verse 2.

g Jer. 30:7; Joel 2:2; Zeph. 1:15.

54 The Lord’s Day shall be such that ye shall not be able to escape the punishment, but shall fall out of one fearful danger into the other, until ye perish altogether. See Isa. 24:18; Jer. 48:44; Hosea 13:7, 8.

55 Yes, certainly, the prophet implies; you may deny it, or imagine the contrary as much as you please, nevertheless it shall be so.

56 See Isa. 1:11, 12, 13, 14, with the annotations.

h Isa. 1:11; Jer. 6:20.

57 In our language we also speak in this way of people and matters to which we have a great aversion. Other, I may or shall not smell on or in your solemn assemblies, namely, your incense, which ye shall offer Me then, which, otherwise rightly used, was an acceptable smell unto the Lord. See Lev. 26 on verse 31.

58 See Lev. 23 on verse 36.

59 Or, your fat thank-offerings.

60 The Hebrew word signifies all kinds of roaring, and likewise multitude, abundance. Voice and instrumental music was, at that time, a part of God’s instituted, outward worship, but by them corrupted together, with the rest, through their hypocrisy and wickedness, and especially through their heinous idolatry, for which they used their music. See Amos 8:3.

61 Or, play, singing.

62 Or, harps.

63 That is, be ever ready and zealous to deal justly and righteously, this is what I require. Other, But the judgment shall, etc. that is, My punishments shall mightily and abundantly overwhelm you and pass through all parts, because of your hypocrisy, idolatry and wickedness.

i Acts 7:42.

64 Not at all, God wants to say; for, your heart was not by or with Me all the while, it was not upright in all that, but, etc., as follows. This question denies a strong agreement. Compare Acts 7:41, 42, 43.

65 This may be understood so, that they (as wanton and exorbitant idolaters) may have done the same sometimes according to the letter; or thus, that their heart went not along with God’s tent or tabernacle (as they bare it with the body) and His worship, but hankered after their idols, whom they bare in their hearts, so that their outward hypocritical worship was no other in God’s esteem than mere idolatry.

66 Or, hut, canopy, cover. The Hebrew word occurs only at this place. It appears that the prophet taunts them here with these pagan idolatrous names, to shame Israel.

67 That is, king; understand the idol Moloch or Milcom, and see Jer. 49 on verse 1. Likewise Amos 7 on verse 13.

68 Some do hold this for the name of an idol, likewise the planet Saturn. Yet it may also suitably be translated with others thus: and the furniture (or frame, poles, the seat) of your images.

69 That is, the image of the star of your idol. Compare Acts 7:41, 42, 43. Likewise Jer. 7:18, with the annotation. Some conceive that Moloch was Saturn, and the other Baals, the other planets or stars. Other, the constellation of your gods, etc.

70 To the remotest parts of Assyria, yea, beyond Babylon. See Acts 7:43. Likewise 2 Kings 17:6. Of Damascus see Gen. 14 on verse 15; 2 Sam. 8 on verse 5. Some apply this also to the hardship or harshness of their captivity, which would much exceed that of Syria, under Hazael, 2 Kings 13:3, 7.