Amos 4

Chap. IV. Ver. 1—13.—We are not aware that there is any thing more abhorrent to the God of Israel than “crushing the needy, or oppressing the poor,” and that to the end that their masters may indulge in luxury and drunkenness. Let those rich manufacturers consider this, who enjoy the luxuries mentioned in the last chapter; who have elegant houses, richly furnished, while the poor, from whose labours all their [wealth is derived], are fed with needy families. “Shall not I visit for these things? saith the Lord.” Yes; the fat “kine of Bashan,” the ladies of their seraglios, (as Le Bruyn explains it) shall be dragged, as with fish-hooks, from their palaces, and shall be visited with famine and pestilence, with the sword and with the tempest.

(See notes.) _ This chapter traces a close connexion between luxurious indulgence in the rich, and criminal oppression of the poor; between luxury also and idolatry. When Jeshurun waxed fat, he kicked against the divine ordinances, and spurned against restraint, even from the Almighty. But it is hard for us to kick against the pricks. As idleness, and luxury, and vice, brought down the fiery tempest that destroyed Sodom; so will the same crimes (sooner or later) insure the ruin of any nation or individual: very solemn, therefore, is the warning here given, “Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” Chap. V. Ver. 1—27. The Prophet laments over Israel, and utters lamentation over the sins and miseries of the house of Israel; in which the prophet complains bitterly of their idolatry, and of their cruel oppression of the poor.

He then exhorts them to repentance and reform; and to excite them thereto, the Lord himself is introduced as expressing, in very strong terms, his abhorrence of their gross hypocrisy, in offering sacrifices with sweet incense and melodious music, while, at the same time, their hearts were attached to their idols. In the latter verses of the chapter occurs a passage which has been very differently interpreted. It seems to us a fact incontrovertible, that the Jews were tinctured with idolatry, even from their coming up out of Egypt, and to which probably they were often excited by the mixed multitude which came up from Egypt with them. ((Exodus 12:38).) The first open indication of this appears in the fact of the golden calf; ((Exodus 32)) and though doubtless Moses was careful to repress every appearance of idolatry, it is very evident that they had their secret idols, (concealed) Lord alone, as Dr. Doddridge judiciously expresses it, that they offered sacrifice; but they mixed the worship of Moloch, or Baal, or Remphan, with the worship of Jehovah; and this was their prevailing sin even from the Exodus to the captivity in Babylon. Nor can this appear incredible to those who know the human heart; since we find that, even in the present day, of those who call themselves Christians, a great majority are no less prone to unite the service of God and Mammon. ((Matthew 6:24).)

Notes on the verses

Chap. IV. Ver. 1. Ye kine of Bashan.—Le Bruyn describes the ladies of the Levant as very extravagant in their dress and ornaments; and Sir John Chardin gives the same account of the Persian ladies; so that the poor were much oppressed to maintain the harems of the rich.—[{By the “kine of Bashan,” some understand the proud, luxurious matrons of Israel; but it is probable the prophet speaks catachrestically, and means the wealthy, effeminate, and profligate rulers and nobles of Samaria.}]—Bagster.—Theat sar to their rien (i.e. husbands, (Genesis 18:12).) Bring us drink—Satisfy our craving. Ver. 2. And fish-hooks.—Newcome, “Nets;” i.e. different kinds of fishing tackle. The meaning is, that they should be taken away by force.

Ver. 3. Every cow.—Boothroyd, “Every fish;” Newcome, “Every one at that which is before it.” Perhaps these ladies, before called cows, (as their husbands are elsewhere called “bulls of Bashan,” (Psalms 22:12).) may here be compared to fishes, caught in the net of the harem; but who, on the city being taken, should make their escape severally, as they could, like fishes through a broken net; but the greater part should be carried captive, perhaps into Armenia. Ye shall cast them into the palace.—See margin. [Some] come reads, “I will cast it forth and utterly destroy it.” What? Gesenius, who follows Kimchi, thinks the Hebrew word means a seraglio, (or harem,) which is the female department of the palace; but Boothroyd and others take it for a proper name, “Armenia;”

the sense is very doubtful, and we must so leave it. Ver. 4. Come to Beth-el. {A bitter irony and sarcasm, addressed to the idolatrous Israelites.}—B. (Ecclesiastes 11:9)——Three years.—See margin. Boothroyd, “Every three days.” See (Deuteronomy 26:12). Ver. 5. Offer a sacrifice.—See margin. Newcome, “Burn a thank-offering.” —This liketh you.—So you love (to do). Ver. 6. Cleanness of teeth.—[From want of food, occasioned by severe famine.] —Bagster Ver. 9. When your gardens, &c.—Marg. “The multitude of your gardens,” &c.—The palmer-worm—Or locust. See note on (Exodus 10:4). and (Joel 1:4). Ver. 10. After the manner of Egypt.—The unwholesome effluvia, on the subsiding of the Nile, often occasions pestilence.

See (Deuteronomy 7:15). Ver. 13. That maketh the morning darkness, &c.—Perhaps the sense may be, “He walketh forth in the early dawn, stepping from mountain to mountain, arrayed in clouds and vapours.” See (Psalms 97:2).; civ. 3.