Amos 4

Amos 4:1

KIne of Bashan] Thus he calleth the princes and governours, which being overwhelmed with great aboundance of Gods benefits, forget God, and therefore he calleth them by the name of beasts, and not of men. See Psalms 22:12. Ezekiel 39:18.

which say to their masters] They encourage such as have authoritie over the people, to poll them, so that they may have profit by it. Others, which do perswade your kings and princes to all manner of excsse and dissolutenesse: and are teachers and advisers of the disorders of the court; as Hosea 7:5.

Amos 4:2

with fish-books] Like fishes, as Jeremiah 16:16. Hab. 1. 14, 15. and you shall be no more like fat kine that abide in their pastures.

Amos 4:3

go out at the breaches] Being led into captivitie after your cities are forced and defaced. See Ezekiel 12:5. 12. As beasts at a gap.

before her] Any way, there being neither gates nor walles whole.

ye shall cast them into the palace] Or, ye shall cast away the things of the palace.

Amos 4:4

Come] Ironicall termes, that is, I do abandon you to continue in your idolatries, that you may heap up the measure of your sinnes. See Matthew 23:32.

Beth-el] Bethel and Gilgal were the chief seats of the publique idolatry of the ten tribes. 1 Kings 12:29. Hosea 4:15. and Hosea 12:11. Amos 5:5.

three yeares] Heb. three yeares of dayes. Heb. three dayes. In imitation of the three solemn feasts, appointed to be every yeare by the law; Exodus 23:14. at which certaine kinds of tithes were spent in the sacred feasts. Deuteronomy 14:22. 28.

Amos 4:5

offer a sacrifice] Heb. offer by burning. Lev. 7. 13.

proclaim and publish] Making it known by publique authoritie, that whosoever will offer any offerings, besides those which God had commanded, shall come and offer them in such places, and at such times.

this liketh you] Heb. so ye love. You only delight in these outward ceremonies and have none other respect.

Amos 4:6

cleannesse of teeth] That is, famine and dearth.

Amos 4:7

three moneths] I stayed the rain till the fruits of the earth were destroyed with drought, and yet you would not consider it to return to me by repentance.

Amos 4:8

not satisfied] They could not finde water enough where they had heard say it had rained.

Amos 4:9

I have smitten you] Deuteronomy 28:22.

when your gardens and your vineyards, &c.] Or, the multitude of your gardens, &c. did the palmer-worm, &c.

Amos 4:10

after the manner of Egypt] Or, in the way. As I plagued the Egyptians, Exodus 9:10. when you went into Egypt, to seek aide from thence, Hos. 7. 11, 12.

and have taken away your horses] Heb. with the captivitie of your horses.

Amos 4:11

Sodom and Gomorrah] Gen. 19. 24, 25. Isaiah 13:19. Jeremiah 49:18.

and ye were as a firebrand] Zechariah 3:2. You were almost all consumed, and a few of you wonderfully preserved, 2 Kings 14:26.

Amos 4:12

thus will I do unto thee] Namely, as thy sinnes deserve, or as I have foretold thee, vers. 2. 3.

because I will do this unto thee] Since I denounce warre against thee, as against my rebels and enemies, prepare thy self to do the best thou canst to beat me off, and keep me back: or to prevent and pacifie me by true repentance. See Ezekiel 13:5. & Ezekiel 22:30. Luke 14:31-32.

Amos 4:13

wind] Or, spirit.

declareth unto man] That knows, and judgeth the most secret thoughts of man: overtakes the wise in their cunning, accuseth the consciences, and summoneth them to appear before him. O according to others, that revealeth his secret judgements to men, to call them to repentance.

maketh the morning darknesse] Amos 5:8.

treadeth upon the high places] That is, exalted above all humane power. See Micah 1:3.