Amos 5

nations, &c.] Sion or Jerusalem, and Samaria, are the chief seats of the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel, whither is the greatest resort of the whole nation. The word rendered “nations” usually signifies the heathens, but sometimes denotes the Jews. W. Lowth. Others refer this passage to the nobles, wise, and great men, of every place: men that were heads among their own people. Poole.

Amos 5:17

17. And in all vineyards shall be wailing:.] Where there used to be shouting and rejoicing, when the summer fruits were gathered in. See Isa. xvi. 10; Jer. xxv. 33; xlviii. 30. W. Lowth.

Amos 5:18

18. Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! &c.] Woe to those among you, that mock at the tidings of this sad day of the Lord, and scornfully ask, why it doth not come, and when it will come! they shall find that it will come, little to their comfort; they shall find it is not a day for mirth or pleasure, but for heaviness and sorrow. Bp. Hall. Compare the passages in the margin.

Amos 5:19

19. As if a man did flee from a lion, &c.] It shall be with you as with a man, who, flying from a lion, meets in his way with a bear; and to escape both, flies into a house, and laying his hand upon the wall, to get over, is bitten by a serpent; so shall you, shunning one dauger, fall into another. Bp. Hall.

Amos 5:20

20. Shall not the day &c.] A strong affirmation is conveyed in this question. Darkness is naturally put for calamity, and light for gladness. Abp. Newcome. 21-24. These four verses convey the same sense as Isa. i. 11-16; Jer. vi. 20; vii. 21-23; Hos. vi. 6; viii. 13: all which places import how little valuable are the external rites of religion, unless they are accompanied with universal obedience. W. Lowth.

Amos 5:23

23. -thy songs; -thy viols.] The usual accompaniments of sacrifices among both Jews and heathens. Abp. Newcome. The psalms and hymns were sung in the temple with instrumental musick. W. Lowth.

Amos 5:24

24. But let judgment run down as waters, &c.] Instead of relying upon mere outward offerings in honour of me, take care that justice be impartially administered, so that every one may partake of it as of the waters of a river; and take care also, that all live holy and righteous lives, so that their good example may, like a mighty stream, bear down all wickedness before it. Dr. Wells.

Amos 5:25

25, 26. Have ye offered &c.] Have ye not forty entire years together, in the wilderness, bewrayed your averseness from me, and your inclination to idolatry? Was it to me, that in this while ye offered your sacrifices, O ye house of Israel? No: howsoever ye pretended to bear my tabernacle, yet indeed ye did your services and

Amos 5:26

26. -the star of your god.] The heathens had images that represented the heavenly bodies; see 2 Kings xxiii. 11; 2 Chron. xxxiv. 4; so the image of Chiun represented the star of Saturn, as that of Moloch did the sun. W. Lowth. Or, probably here is an illusion to the figure of a star, fixed on the head of an image of a false god. Abp. Newcome. The sorts of idolatry here recited are not to be restrained to the time, during which the Israelites lived in the wilderness, but are to be extended over the whole space which passed from their coming out of Egypt to the time of Amos. Dancus.

Amos 5:27

27. Therefore will I cause you to go &c.] That is, Because of the little sincerity and devotion, with which your forefathers formerly performed their sacrifices to me, and with which you perform them at present. The prophets often upbraid the Jews with the sins of their forefathers, and threaten them with remarkable judgments on that account, when their posterity continue in the same or worse impieties. See Hos. ix. 9, 10; x. 9. Compare Matt. xxiii. 35. W. Lowth. -beyond Damascus.] To which city it seems probable that Hazael carried many captives, 2 Kings x. 32, 33. But now the Israelites were to be led away captives into Assyria and Media, 2 Kings xv. 29; xvii. 6. Abp. Newcome.