AMOS

1 Namely, in a vision, in which God showed the prophet that He would not spare His own temple, temple worship, priests and heads of the people, but would continue with His judgments from the top to the bottom, from the noble and prominent ones to the lowest and most in the rear.

2 Or, stand. Hebr. put, set, or standing.

3 Namely, the altar of burnt offering (according to common opinion) which stood in front of the holy place, whereby God inferred that He wanted to move. Compare Ezek. 10:4. Some suppose though that this vision is to be understood of the idolatrous temples and altars of Israel, as at Bethel, etc. If the prophet had indeed to flee into the land of Judah (as Amos 7:12), it may well be that this vision was revealed him there, towards the temple of Solomon. Others suppose that the prophet has never fled, from Amos 7:15.

4 The Lord, unto an angel, that was to execute His judgment, or, unto the prophet himself. Compare Ezek. 9:1, etc.; 43:3.

5 Or, apple, pomegranate, which may have stood above on the top of the temple or the upper door post of the gate, as is otherwise usual in such magnificent structures.

6 Or, thresholds, to show that God would ruin and raze all down to the ground from the top to the bottom.

7 Other, wound them who are the head of all, that is, the princes and the most principal ones.

8 Hereby some understand the rest of the common people. Others the residue, the remnant. See Psalm 37 on verse 37.

9 Of the Babylonians and Assyrians.

10 That is, they who think to save themselves by flight, or, such as otherwise used to run away and make their escape, they shall not be able to do it now, and so in the sequel. See Amos 2:14, 15, 16; 5:19.

11 Or, with or among them.

a Psalm 139:8, etc.

12 See Job 26:6; Psalm 139:8, with the annotations. By this and the two following verses the Lord intimates that they shall not be able to escape His punishing hand in any place whatsoever, in regard that with His Being, almighty power and government, He is always everywhere present.

13 See 2 Kings 19 on verse 23. Hebr. head of Carmel.

14 Hebr. fetch. See Jer. 37 on verse 17.

15 Imagining that I should not be able to see and find them there.

16 That is, I shall so order by My government that they (as by express command) shall do it. See Lev. 25:21, and compare 2 Kings 18:25, with the annotation. Also in the sequel of the sword, verse 4, of the calling of the waters, verse 6.

17 Supposing then to be free and to have escaped the sword.

b Jer. 44:11.

18 See Jer. 24 on verse 6, and compare Lev. 17:10; Jer. 44:11, with the annotations.

19 The prophet further confirms this prophecy by describing the power and majesty of God the Author thereof, lest they would imagine it an impossible thing for Him to make it good by the aforesaid execution. Compare Amos 4:13; 5:8, 9.

20 Or, that shall touch the land, etc., namely, Canaan, or Judah en Israel.

21 Other, a land, that is, if He does but touch any land with His punishing hand or finger, etc. Compare Psalm 39:12, with the annotation.

22 Namely, the land. See Amos 8 on verse 8.

23 Compare Psalm 104:3, 13, with the annotations. Hebr. stairs, or ascents, degrees, whereby and on which one goes up into the upper-rooms or upper-chambers.

c Psalm 104:3, 13.

24 Or, host, army, close-joined company, as 2 Sam. 2:25. Or, bundle, whereby one may suitably understand all the creatures of God, whom He keeps, as it were, in a bundle or a small troop close together to be always ready and at hand everywhere, and especially on earth, to perform His will. Compare Gen. 2:1; 1 Kings 18:15, with the annotations.

25 Other, above, understanding by the word troop the elements whereof the earth is as the foundation.

26 See Amos 5 on verse 8.

d Amos 5:8.

27 Or, earth’s surface. Hebr. face of, etc.

28 Hebr. Cuschiim, God wants to say: that He of His grace had indeed exalted Israel above other nations (Amos 3:2), but that of themselves, and in regard of their wickedness and unthankfulness, they were now no better or more to be valued in His sight than the contemptible and accursed posterity of Cush, the son of Ham. See Gen. 10:6.

29 As if the Lord would say: It is true indeed, I did deliver you out of bondage of Egypt, and gave you Canaan, but ye are as little thankful to Me for it, as the Philistines and Syrians, whom I have delivered out of Kir and Caphtor. Or the Lord implies, that by reason of Israel’s unthankfulness, He looked no otherwise now upon their deliverance, than if He had delivered a troop of Gentiles, as Moors, Syrians.

30 See Gen. 10:14, where the Philistines and Caphtorim are put among the posterity of Mizraim, the son of Ham, Gen. 10:6, and compare further, Deut. 2:23; Jer. 47:4, with the annotations.

31 Hebr. Aram, that is, Syria, and consequently, the Syrians. See Gen. 10 on verse 22.

32 See 2 Kings 16 on verse 9; Amos 1:5, where it is stated that the Syrians would be carried away captive unto Kir. Here it would seem the speech is of their deliverance out of Kir, whereof there is no other mention made elsewhere, as indeed divers histories are to be found in the prophets, which, though nowhere else related in Scripture, were well enough known in their times.

33 That is, Mine eyes. See verse 4.

34 That is entirely given up to sin. See Psalm 1 on verse 1. This seems to have regard to Israel or the ten tribes and Judah together, both their kingdoms being destroyed. Some take it thus: against a sinful kingdom, etc., but with Jacob I will deal more favorably then I will do with others. See Jer. 30:11.

35 Or, earth’s surface. Hebr. face of, etc.

36 Hebr. destroying shall destroy; but saving a remnant of grace, and blessing the same singularly, as follows in verse 11, etc.

37 See Amos 6:11.

38 Or, fan.

39 Or, but, and.

40 That is, nothing that is of any weight or substance, but only the light chaff. The similitude is taken from the small stones which now and then are found among the wheat. Other, small grain; as if the Lord said: I will one and all shake them; none shall escape there, only I shall so govern it by My Providence that none of Mine elect (compared to the wheat) shall come to be lost.

41 See verse 8; Psalm 1:1.

42 Of the punishment.

43 Or, surprise, ill-treat. Compare Amos 5:18; 6:3, with the annotations.

44 Or, about us.

e Acts 15:16.

45 After the foresaid destruction, etc., shall I restore the kingdom of David, changing the same into a spiritual and everlasting Kingdom, under the Messiah. See Acts 15:16, 17, from which plainly appears that this and similar prophecies must be understood spiritually.

46 Of the tabernacle of David.

47 Hebr. its breakings down, destructions, that is, rubbish, broken stones, mortar fragments, grit, etc.

48 The spiritual Israel, My church, of which Christ is the Head.

49 That is, all the chosen ones from among the Gentiles, even from the most hostile brutes, typified by Edom, who shall be brought under the obedience of Christ and to the communion of His church, by the preaching of the Gospel and by the operation of the Holy Spirit. See Isa. 19:25.

50 Hebr. upon whom is or shall be called or named. See of this phrase Isa. 4:1; Jer. 7:10, with the annotations. The sense is: Which heathen people I will take in to be My people and children, and call them to have communion with Me, whereof they shall make a cheerful profession. Compare Isa. 44:5; Hosea 1:10; 2:22; Acts 2:39; Rom. 9:25, etc.

51 Hebr. the drawer, or, him that draws or holds forth the seed, that is, while drawing it throws into the ground, or draws forth out of the sack to sow. See Psalm 126:6. The sense is: There shall be plenty of all things. See Lev. 26:5. Whereby the riches and abundance of spiritual gifts and blessings in Christ’s Kingdom are typified. Compare Hosea 2:14, 20, 21, with the annotations.

52 See Joel 3 on verse 18.

f Joel 3:18.

53 That is, seem to melt through the abundant distribution of wine, milk, oil, etc., as if they flowed from them.

54 Redeem from the spiritual captivity and power of Satan by the Savior Christ.

55 Compare Isa. 65:21, 22, etc.

g Jer. 32:41.

56 In My church, the militant and triumphant, the celestial Canaan.