Amos 4

God swears that he will cause the great ones at Samaria and all the people to be carried away captive, and into banishment, because of their violence, drunkenness, idolatry and incorrigibleness, notwithstanding the many plagues sent unto them, vers. 1, & c. inviting them nevertheless once again unto repentance, by seeing before them his majesty and Power, 12.

1. Hear this word ye Cowes of Basan, which are upon the mountains of Samaria : [Compare psal. 22. 13. with the annotat. As also Isa. 28. v. 1. Hosea 4:16. and understand hereby the wicked and insolent Judges and governors, who crammed and fattened themselves with the bribes of the rich, helping them to draw the poor before the judgement seat and there to oppresse them. They are called Cowes and pastures in the countrey of Basan] who oppresse the poor, who bruise the needy: ye that say to their lords ; [i.e. to the rich creditours of the poor, who have and keep them under as their slaves and vassals] bring on, that we may drink. [i.e. bring in money or presents, that we may make merry, drink and feast with, and do ye with the poor then even what ye please yourselves. Compare Hosea 4:18.]

2. The Lord LORD hath sworn by his holiness, [See Gen. 22. on verse 16.] that, behold, dayes shall come upon you, [i.e. certain appointed times of plagues and visitations. See Psal. 37. 13. and Jeremiah 50:27, 31. Joel 1:15. with the annotat.] that one shall pull you up with hooks. [Heb. that he & c. viz the enemy, or that ye shall be pulled up or drawn away, carried away, with hooks; understand, that like as great fishes are pulled or drawn up out of the sea with hooks, so will I cause you to be pulled out of your land by your enemy, how loth and unwilling soever you are to quit it. Compare Jeremiah 16:16. hab. 1. 14, 15. and Job 40:21. Isaiah 37:29. Ezekiel 19:4, 9. and 29. 4.] and your posterity, [or, your last, or, hindmost i.e. those that may have been left behind, or, keep themselves backward. See of the Heb. word Jer. 31. on verse 17.] with fishing-angles. [which being sharp and pricking as thorns, are made up in fashion of them, which the Hebrew word seems to import. See Job 40:21.]

3. And ye shall go forth, [Ye Cowes of Basan, as verse. 1.] (through) the breaches [viz. of the city wall, which the enemy shall have made therein, to see whether ye might make some escape thereby: or, ye shall be carried forth by the enemy into captivity. Compare Ezek. chapter 12. 5, 12, etc.] every one [in the feminine, every one of those Cows of Basan, i.e. every one of you, that now are so voluptuous wanton and insolent] along before her:[without regarding her companions, looking for nothing in the world, but how to make a shift and escape for themselves. Compare above chapter 2. 15, 16. Or, ye shall be led along captive one by one] And ye shall throw away that which is being brought into the palace,[i.e. that which ye gathered in your palaces, through violence and robbery, see above chapter 3 . 10. Oth. Ye shall throw away the palaces i.e. forsake them] saith the LORD.

4. Come to Bethel [See Hosea 4:15. and 12. 13. and below 5. 5.] and transgress; [a seeming command, by way of derision for thus God mocketh at the heat and rage of the Israelites, in committing of idolatry, giving that unto the idols, which was onely to be given to God at Jerusalem, nay did yet more to them then God had commanded to be done for himself compare Jeremiah 7:21 Ezekiel 20:39 with the annotate]to Gilgal, [understand come on go your way to Gilgal c.] multiply transgressions,[Heb make many, or, multiply transgressing or with transgressing]and bring your offerings of the morning your tents for the three days [that is for every three years of days that is to say three full years according to Gods precept Deuteronomy 14:28 thus are days taken for many days or years of days that is for a full year Levit 25.29Numbers 9.22 1Samuel 27.7 see the annotate there some do understand it of their festival or joyful feasts which they celebrated with their tenths on the three solemn feasts of the Passover the Pentecost and the leaf-huts Deuteronomy 14:22 some think they made these offerings at the third day of their idols and but every third year to God .]

5. And make a praise offering [see Levit 2 verse 1 ,15]of that which is leavened [see Levit 2 on verse 11 and 7 on verse 13 but it seems that the Israelites had devised a new incense-offering of liven committing thereby several sins at once 1 giving that unto the idols which was Gods ,2.offering in other places besides Jerusalem 3.devicing extraordinary services against the law of God under a presence of zeal .] and proclaim freewill-offering cause it to be heard for thus ye love to have it [Heb do ye love or are ye enamoured as elsewhere as if God had said ye will need have it so do it then but remember how it became ye formerly and consider of the success as followeth]ye children of Israel saith the Lord LORD.

6. Therefore I gave ye also cleanness of teeth [that is want of sustenance or famin for where there is nothing to eat nothing adheres to the teeth compare1 Kings 17.18 Joel 1:1 c. and see further the annotate on Proverbs 14:4 and Isaih 3 on verse 26.] in all cities and want of bread in all places nevertheless did not convert yourselves to me [Heb even or up to me see of this manner of speaking Joel 2 on verse 12 and so in the sequel] saith the Lord .

7. Besides I with held the rain from you [that rain which God used to give towards harvest time to fill and ripen the corn see Joel 2 on verse 23]when there were three months yet to the harvest and have caused it to rain over the othr the one piece of land was rained upon but the other piece of the land which it rained not upon withered.

8. And two three cities went about to one city for to drink water but were not satisfied [that is they could not get enough to relieve their necessities]nevertheless ye did not convert your selves to me saith the Lord .

9. I smote ye with blasted corn and mildew [of both these plagues see Deut 28 on verse 22]the multitude [or quantity Heb the multiplying]of your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olives-tree the caterpillars devoured [See Joel 1:4] nevertheless ye did not convert yourselves to me saith the Lord

10. I sent the pestilence among ye in the manner of Egypt [Heb in or upon or after the way of Egypt that is after the manner as Genesis 31:35 in like fort as of old I sent the mortality into Egypt see Exodus 9:3,6 Psalms 78:50 other uon the way of Egypt that is when ye were in the way to Egypt to seek for help thence see Hosea 7 on verse 11,12] I slew your young men with the sword and let your horses to be carried away captive [Heb with captivity of your horses which the rich and haunty young men kept and used in abundance [and I did cause the strengths of your camps themselves to ascend into your nose [viz by partly such as died of the plague and partly the slain ones by the enemy]nevertheless ye did not convert yourselves to me saith the Lord .

11. I overthrew some among ye [that is brought your state to the brink of utter ruin and destruction see 2Kings 13 verse 3 and chapter 14.26]as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorra [together with the other cities see Genesis 19:24 Isaih 13.19 Jeremiah 59.18 Hosea 11:8]ye being as a firebrand that is rescued out of the burning [that is like a piece of wood half or neer wholly consumed namely when rescued and delivered ye favorable out of then present destruction and restored your state by Jeroboam the son of Joas see 2 Kings 14:25 and compare Zach 3.2]nevertheless ye did not convert yourselves to me saith the Lord .

12. Therefore will I do thus unto thee O Israel[that is because of your obstinacy hither to specified I must proceed with ye according to my former threatening above verse 2 and 3]therefore because I shall do this unto ye prepare thy selves O Israel for to meet thy God [Heb for the meeting of thy God that is that ye meet him with true conversion for to appease his wrath or prepare yourselves if ye be able to encounter with him and keep him back as your enemy from coming among or upon ye compare Ezekiel 13:5 and 22.30 both sences agree with the sequel wherein that God with whom they had to do and who threatened them all this is described.]

13. For behold he that formeth the mountain and createth the wind maketh known to men that his thought is [that is he that fearcheth the heart of man and knoweth his most secret thought making it actually known when as he oftentimes wonderfully discovereth and disappointeth the most secret and hidden aims and intentions of man or it may be taken for an argument Gods almighty power himself revealing and making known things to come and decreed in his counsel and nevertheless executing the same without any let or hindrance compare Isaih 41.22,26]that maketh the day break darkness [that is able to change darkness and light at his pleasure see below chapter 5.8other day break and darkness that is day and night]and treadeth upon the height of the earth [that is hath putteth under his feet all wordly glory soveraignty and excellency compare Mich 1.3] Lord God of hosts [see 1 Kings 18 on verse15.] is his name.