Amos 4

Chap. V. ver. 1. — against you.] Rather, “over you.” The allusion is to the lamentations made at funerals: see ver. 16; Jer. ix. 17; Ezek. xix. 1; xxvii. 2. So the Prophet bemoans the state of the kingdom of Israel, as dead and irrecoverably lost. W. Lowth.

Amos 4:3

3. — The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, &c.] So few shall be left alive, after the hard and long sieges of the Assyrians, that in those cities of Israel, out of which a thousand able men were wont to go forth to war, there now shall be left but a hundred, &c. Bp. Hall.

Amos 4:4

4. 5. — Seek ye me, — But seek not Beth-el, &c.] The Israelites are here commanded to seek the Lord, and to abstain from idols, such as were then in Beth-el, Gilgal, and Beer-sheba; and the admonition is enforced by two powerful considerations, that if they “seek the Lord, they shall live;” that is, shall enjoy life, and salvation, and deliverance from their troubles; but that if they seek their idols, they shall be cut off together with those objects of their idolatrous worship. Dancus.

Amos 4:6

6. And I also have given you &c.] After declaring the presumptuous idolatry of the Israelites, the Prophet describes their obstinate continuance in it, which was such, that they could not be withdrawn from it by any afflictions or punishments, and be turned to worship and serve the true God. In this and the following verses are enumerated the several afflictions, with which they were visited: such as famine, ver. 6; drought, ver. 7, 8; destruction of the fruits of the earth, ver. 9; pestilence, war, and defeat, ver. 10; and the overthrow of some of their cities, ver. 11. At the end of each of these punishments, it is to be observed, that the Prophet adds in the name of the Lord, “yet have ye not returned unto me.” This addition shews, that the mind of the Israelites was not only careless and unmoved amid these great miseries and calamities, but that it was also desperate and gone past recovery in their idolatry, which they could not by any means be wrought on to cast off, and so return by true repentance to the knowledge and worship of God. Duncus. It is the desire of God to reclaim men by afflictions, which for this purpose He sent among the Israelites. Bp. Hall. 12. Therefore thus will I do unto thee. Since thou hast slighted all these judgments, I am resolved to execute upon thee the severest of all my vengeance; and since thou hearest I have taken up this determination to proceed against thee, therefore prepare thyself, O Israel, to meet thy God with unfeigned humiliation and repentance. Bp. Hall. Or the phrase, “Prepare thyself to meet thy God,” may be understood as signifying, Prepare to meet my wrath; that is, expect the most terrible punishment. See Abp. Tillotson’s note at the end of the chapter.

Amos 4:7

7. Ye who turn judgment to wormwood.] Ye, who corrupt judgment, and make it grievous and hateful to my people. Bp. Hall.

Amos 4:8

8. — that maketh the seven stars &c.] Who maketh the great frame of the heavens, and all the glorious

Amos 4:10

10. — that rebuketh in the gate.] That judgeth up rightly, and freely, and impartially rebuketh the wicked man on the bench of justice. Bp. Hall. See the notes on Gen. xxiii. 10; Job v. 4.

Amos 4:13

13. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, &c.] For well thou knowest, there is no hoping to resist the power of the Almighty: it is He that formeth the mountains, and infuseth the spirit into man, and knoweth and de- VOL. II.

14. — the prudent shall keep silence in that time; &c.] Seeing that his admonitions will do no good to men wholly devoted to their own ways of unlawful gain, and will be injurious to such as rebuke them. Dr. Stokes.

Amos 4:14

14. — as ye have spoken.] Ye are wont to boast of your interest in the Lord, and of the promises made by Him to your fathers. Obedience is the condition required on your part to qualify you for his favour. W. Lowth.

Amos 4:16

16. — the husbandman &c.] Husbandmen shall have their part in the common sorrow, forasmuch as their corn shall be wasted and devoured; and those, whose trade and practice it is to make a common lamentation, shall now mourn in earnest, without a hire. Bp. Hall. See the note on Jer. ix. 17.

Before CHRIST 787. d Zeph. 1. 13. vineyards of desire. remnant. c Ps. 34. 14. & 97. 10. Rom. 12. 9.