Amos 5

Under lamentation God foretelleth Israel’s fall and the decrease of their multitude because being warned and exhorted to seek the mighty and dreadful God and to forsake their idolatry they nevertheless go on still in doing wrong and violence and committing all manner of heinous sins hating all reproofs and admonition so that there can be no exception at Gods judgment upon them verse1 c. he reneweth his exhortation to repentance once again verse 14 but reason for this obstinacy he foretelleth them the terrible and unavoidable day of his judgment which now they scoff at 16.he detested all the hypocritical shews of their worship because under the repentance thereof they practised nothing but idolatry even their forefathers 21.

1. Hear this word which I do lift up over ye a lamentation O Israel.

2. The virgin of Israel [that is the kingdom state of the ten tribes compare 2 Kings 19:21 Isaih 23.12 and 47.1 Jeremiah 14:17 with the annotate is fallen [that is shall certainly and speedily fall see Hosea 4:5 and 5.5 and 12.4]she shall not rise up again [Heb not added to rise up] she is forsaken upon her land there is none to raise her up [as one felled down on ground and not able to rise of himself and forsake of others must needs remains as he fell so Israel should never recover its flourishing condition though some remnant should remain as followeth in the next verse .]

3. For thus saith the Lord LORD the city which goeth forth with a thousand [that is she that sends forth so many now for war or where so many are marching forth or she that was able to furnish or set out so many] shall keep an hundred over and she that goeth forth with an hundred shall keep ten over in the house of Israel [that is there shall scarce one in ten be left behind see further below verse 15 and 6.9]

4. For thus saith the Lord to the house of Israel seek me and live [that is ye shall find it experimentally that ye shall be saved alive see of the promises Proverbs 3:3 Psalms 37:3 Ezekiel 16:6 with the annotate and so below verse 6.]

5. But seek not Bethel [viz to have any communion with the idolatry there committed compare this with Hosea 4:15 and 12.12 as also above chapter 4.4]nor come ye Gilgal [see Hosea 4:15] nor pass over to Bersheba [where like wise some idolatry was set up by occasion of the visions shewed there unto the Patriaches see Genesis 26:24,25 and compare below chapter 8 on verse 14] for Gilgal [that is idolatrous inhabitants and all the rest that did partake of Gilgal idolatry]shall be surely carried away captive [Heb being carried c. shall be carried c.] and Babel shall be reduced to nothing [HEB Aven from which God called Bethel Beth-Aven that is house house of nought nothing or vanity &c see Hosea 4:15.]

6. Seek the Lord and live he break through in the house of Joseph [that is Israel or the ten tribes whereof Ephraim the son of Joseph was the most considerable compareblow verse 15] as a fire that consumeth [as above chapter 1.4 &c.] so that they shall be none to quench it in Bethel [this may be as well construed with the former verb consumeth the sense being all one]

7. Those that [this may be applied to those of Bethel or those of house of Joseph in general before mentioned some take it an upbraiding speech ye that or ye are these that c.]turn judgment into wormwood [that is into meer bitterness doing all the wrong and mischief to the poor and innocent by or in the judgment unto which sweet and acceptable in itself unperverted they ought in reason to have their confident recourse and find their refugee and protection compare below chapter 6.12]and cause justice to lie on the ground [as a thing of n more worth and value then to be trodden under foot]

8. He that some do construe with the former words verse 6 seek the Lord him that viz some connex it with the next verse beginning that he is it that &c. both in a good sense compare above 4.13]maketh he seven stars and the Orion [see of both Job 9 verse 9] and changeth the shadow of death into the morning [see Job 3:5 and Psalms 23:4 with the annotate]and obscureth the day as the night [or through the nigt] hat calleth for the waters of the sea and poureth upon the earth [Heb face of the earth that is appointeth and odereth those waters as an express those waters as by an express command to rise up from the seas and turn into rain which God poureth afterwards upon the earth compare Jeremiah 25:29 with the annotate] Lord is his name .

9. that refresheth himself by the laying waist of a strong one [as taking pleasure in the works and effects of his justice so the Hebrew word is used for refreshing Job 9:27 and chapter 10.20 Psalms 39.14 compare Deuteronomy 28:63 others that strengtheneth the destroyer or the destroyed being reduced to meer desolation and wholly wasted and desolated or giveth him heart or courage over or against thee or a strong one that he may subdue him and take his strong holds from him]so that the desolation comes upon a strong hold [beyond any human likelihood or apprehension him indeed Israel ought to stand in awe of and seek unto for the eschew his judgment but unto the contrary they &c. as followeth]

10. They hate in the gate [that is or before the judgment which used to be kept in the gates see Genesis 22:17 Job 5:10 Psalms 125 with the annotate as verse 12 and compare Isaih 29 verse 21]him that reproveth and abhor him that speaketh uprightly [or that which is upright]

11. Therefore because ye tread upon the poor [as the dirt and dust of the street compare above chapter 2.7 with the annotate] and take a burthen of corn from him [that is as some not unfittly understand it as much as a man or the poor is able to carry on his shoulder or all that he hath earned or gotten by his hard labour and sweat whereof he and his should live the same ye ravening wolves take from him other by or with burden do ye ye take the corn from him that is by volence or exacting such unreasonable satisfaction of him merely to satisfy your pleasure or greedy appetites without regarding of any equity]ye build houses indeed[understand by which wrong and violence spoken of both before and after compare with this verse Mich 6.15 Zephaniah 1:13 also Isaih 65.21]of hewen stone but ye shall not dwell therein ye planted desirable vineyards [Heb vineyards of desire or wish]but ye shall not drink the wine thereof .

12. For I know that your transgressions are manisold and your sins very many they distress [or ye distress] the righteous take appeasing-mony [or bribe or ransom for which to let the guilty or the wrong doer escape or set him at the liberty contrary to Gods law Numbers 35:31 or take it from the guiltless that must pay it them if he mean to escape their violence]and reject the needy in he gate [as above verse 10 to wit from his right or put him by turn him aside from his right ,bowing and perverting the same .]

13. Therefore shall the understanding man [that is that feareth God and consequently is truly wife or the instructor teacher]be silent at the time [viz when God shall go about to punish this wicked people that is he shall not repine and murmur against Gods judgments and punishment through they may prove very heavy but rather justify him in all his proceedings because of the multitude and heinous sins of Israel before mentioned compare Psalms 37 on verse 7 some do understand that God will punish them with the silence of the true prophets and teachers and other Godly man because indeed they refused to be instructed and reproved and bitterly hated and persecuted them that did it as above verse 10 compare Matthew 7.6for it shall be an evil time [or a time of the evil viz of punishment of great misery and desolation as Psalms 37:19 Jeremiah 15:11 Micha 2.3 some do apply it to the above mentioned wickedness of the people in that time]

14. Seek the good not the evil that ye may live and so the Lord the God of hosts shall be with ye [see Genesis 21:12] according as ye say [that is as ye are wont to be boast by wrongfully as long as ye do not repent or as ye pretend to desire God will be with ye]

15. Hate the evil love the good and settle the judgments in the gates [Psalms 34:15 and 97.10 Roman 12.9]peradventure[compare Joel 1:14 with the annotate]shall the LORD the God of hosts have mercy on the remnants of Joseph [as above verse 6]

16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of all host the Lord [viz because ye despise all these warning and exhortation and shew no hopes of any amendment in all the streets there shall be lamentation in all public places shall they say ah! Ah![that is it shall be a general calamity and therefore all places shall be full of complaining howling and weeping]and they shall call the husband man to mourn and lamentation shall be with them that have skill in wailing see Jeremiah 9 on verse 7 others and to lamenting those that are skilled in wailing ]

17. Yea in all vineyards shall there be lamentation [where otherwise in vintage time they used to sing most cheerfully see Psalms 4:8 Jeremiah 25:30 & the annotate]for I will pass through the midst of ye [or when I shall pass &cwith my plague thatis when I shall cause the destroying enemy to have passed through Egypt when he sent the angels to smite all the first born of Egypt Exodus 12:12] saith the Lord.

18. Wo unto them that desire the LORD’S day [that is the appointed time of Gods judgments and visitations see Joel 1:15 desiring it in hypocrisy as if they were guiltless and had no reason to fear Gods punishing or in mockery as if they should have said we would fain see that day once which is so much spoken of where doth he tarty that he comes not? See ISA. 5.19 Jeremiah 17:15 and the annotate as also below chapter 8.3]what for I pray shall the day be unto ye ]it shall be darkness and no light [see Joel 2 on verse 2]

19. As if one fled before the face of a Lion, and a Bear met him: or that he came into a house, and leaned with his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him. [Meaning the LORD’S day shall be such, that ye shall not be able to escape the punishment, but out of one fearful danger, still fall into the other, until ye perish altogether. See Isaiah 24:18. Jere. 48. 44. Hosea 13:7,8.]

20. Shall not then the LORD’S day be darkness, and no light? And obscurity, so that there be no brightness on (it?) [No verily implies the Prophet; ye may think and imagine the contrary as much as ye please; ye shall find it at length, as was foretold]

21. I hate, I disclaim your feasts, [See Isa. Chap.i. vers. 11, 12, 13, 14. and the annotate.] and I will not smell to your prohibition days. [See Lev. 23. on vers. 36. i.e. I do loath and abhor the same. Oth. On or, in your prohibition days I will, or shall not smell: to wit, your incense, which ye shall offer me then, which otherwise rightly used, was an acceptable smell unto the LORD. See Lev. 26. on vers. 31.]

22. For though ye offer burnt-offerings unto me, together with your meat-offerings, yet have I no pleasure therein: and the thank of your fat (beasts) [or, your fat thank-offerings] I will not look upon.

23. Put away the clamour of thy songs from me: [The Heb.word, rendred clamour here doth signify all kind of noise, likewise multitude, abundance. Vocal and instrumental music was, at that time, a part of Gods instituted outward worship, but by them corrupted together with the rest, through their hamous idolatry, whereunto they abused their music. See below chapter 8. 3.] nor will I hear your lute[or harp] play: [or, melody, singing.]

24. But let the judgment rowl on as the waters, and justice as a strong brook: [i.e. be ever ready and zealous to deal justly and righteously; that is it, which I require. Oth, But the judgment shall & c. i.e. my punishments shall mightily and abundantly over-whelm you and pass through all parts, because of your hypocrisy, idolatry and wickedness.]

25. Have ye brought me slay-offerings and meat-offerings forty years in the wilderness O house of Israel [not at all imply God here for your heart was not by or with me all that while it was not upright in all that but &c as followeth thus asking countervails a strong denial]

26. Yea ye bare the tent [or tabernacle or cover canopy the Hebrew word occurs nowhere else thus]thus of your Melech and Kijun your images [it should seem that the prophet doth twit them here with these heathenish idol names to shame Israel Melech signifies king whereby is understood the idol Molech and Milcom see Jeremiah 49 on erse 1 and below chapter 7 on verse 13 Kijun some do hold to be like wise the name of an idol others take it to be the planet Saturn yet it may also unfitly with others be read thus and furniture or frame seat posture of your images the bearing here mentioned of these idols may be understood so that they as wanton and exorbitant idolaters may have done the same sometimes according to the letter thus that their heart went not along with Gods tent or tabernacle as they bare bodily and worship but hankered after their idols whom they bare in the hearts so that their outward hypocritical worship was no other in Gods esteem then meer idolatry]the star of your God which ye have made to your God which ye had made to your [that is the image of the star that was your idol compare Acts 7:41,42 also Jeremiah 7:18 with the annotate some conceive that Molech was Saturn and their Baals the rest of the planets or stars other conflellation of your Gods &c.]

27. Therefore will I carry you captive far beyond Damascus [that is to the furthermost or remorest parts of Assyria yea beyond Babylon see Acts 7:43 and 2 Kings 17:6 of Damascus see Genesis 14 on verse 15 and 2 Samuel 8 on verse 5 some do also apply it to the hardship or harshness of their captivity which should much exceed that of Syria under Hazael 2Kings 13.3,7]saith the Lord whose name is God of hosts .