Amos 1
PAT1G1 the heaven and earth pass away, his word and promise made to his servants will not pass away. (Compare Isa. li.G. Matt. xxiv. 35.) In this, and the beginning of the second chapter, the pro-. phet denounces God’s judgments against the countries bordering upon Judea; and then prophesies against Judea itself.
Amos 1:1
J. HE words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoah. Sec vii. 14. Tckoah was in the tribe of Judah, six miles from Beth-lehem, as St. Jerome informs us, who lived near it: the vnldeniess of Tekoah, mentioned 2 Chron. xx. 20. made it a convenient place for keeping cattle. igitized by Microsoft ® [chap. I. Which he saw concerning Israel.’] This prophecy relates chiefly to the ten tribes, or kingdom of Israel; though the prophet briefly denounces God’s judgments, not only against Judah, but likewiso against the Syrians, Philistines, and other neighbouring countries. And in the datjs of Jeroboam king of Israel] See vii. 10. Tivo years before the earthquake.] Amos uttered his prophecy at that time, though it is probable he did not commit his book, or collection of prophecies, to writing, till after the earthquake mentioned here, and again Zech. xiv. 15. where it is said to have happened in the days of Uzziah. Josephus relates it as a tradition among the Jews, that this earthquake was sent as a punishment for Uzziah’s presumption in invading the priest’s office, for which he himself was struck with leprosy, as we read 2 Chron. xxvi. 18, 19. and the whole city was terribly shaken with an earthquake. (Sec Joseph. Antiq. lib. ix. cap. 10.) This judgment the Jews suppose to have befallen Uzziah in the twenty-fifth year of his reign; but Archbishop Usher, in his Annals, ad A. M. 3221. and other’ later chronologers, think it did not happen till the latter part of Uzziah’s life and reign, because his son Jotham took upon him the government, who was not born till after Jeroboam’s death: so the earthquake must have happened some time before Uzziah’s quitting the government to’his son.
Amos 1:2
The Lord zoill roar from Zion. See the note upon Joel iii. 16. And the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.] The want of pasture here threatened was occasioned by the drought which is foretold, iv. 7, 8. Carmel whs a mountainous tract of ground, which ran through the two tribes of Issachar and Zebulun: it is spoken of as one of the most fruitful places in all Judea: (see Isa. xxxiii. 9. xxxv. 2.) upon which account the word is sometimes taken appellatively, and translated a fruitful field, Isa. x. 18. xxix. 17.
Amos 1:3
jFbr three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof. The prophet begins with denouncing his judgments against foreign countries, and then comes to Judah and Israel. The first he threatens is Syria, the head or capital city of which was Damascus, (see Isa. vii. 8.) for the several transgressions they had committed, expressed by three transgressions, and four. It is a common way of speaking, to use a certain number for an uncertain. So we read, Job v. 19. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea, in seven no evil shall touch thee. (See the like phrase, Prov. vi. 16. Eccles. xi. 2. Micah v. 5.) So once and twice are used, Psal. lxii. 11. twice and thrice, Job xxxiii. 29. Because they have thrashed Gilead with thrashing instruments of iron.] The way of thrashing in the eastern countries was by drawing heavy planks with iron wheels over the corn, having sharp stones fastened on the boards. (See Dr. Hammond’s notes on Matt. iii. 12.) From hence the phrase is used to signify the weak’s being crushed by the mighty. (See Isa. xli. 15. Jer. li. 33.) Here it denotes the cruelties exercised by Hazael and Ben-hadad, kings of Syria: see 2 Kings x. 32, 33. xiii. 3. 7. where the sacred historian, speaking in the phrase of the text, saith, that he made them like the dust by thrashing.
Amos 1:4
But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, &c. God’s judgments are often compared to fire* (See Psal. Ix^viii. 63. and the noto upon Ezek. xxx. 8.) The word is taken in this general sense in the following verses.
Amos 1:5
1 will break also the bars of Damascus. Its gates and fortifications, wherein its Strength consists.- And cut off the inhabitant from the plain ofAven.] Or, Bikath-aven: the word signifies the plain of vanity; from whence some conjecture it was a place in Syria remarkable for idolatry: as Beth-el is called Beth-aven for that reason, Hos. v. 15. (See the following note.) And him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden.] Hie house of Eden is equivalent to the house of pleasure: so it may denote one of the pleasant palaces belonging to the king of Syria, described by him that holdeth the sceptre. But Eden was likewise a country bordering upon Syria, mentioned 2 Kings.xix. 12. Ezek. xxvii. 23. (See the note there.) Air. Maundrell,in his Travels, observes, that notfar from Damascus there is a plain still called the valley of Bocat, which he supposes the same with Bikath-aven here mentioned: and there is a place at this time called Eden near it. (Sec his Corrections upon p. 118.) Him that holdeth the sceptre — and the people of Syria,.shall go into captivity unto Kir.] This was fulfilled when Tiglath-pileser took Damascus, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin their king, 2 Kings xvi. 9. Kir was a city in Media, mentioned Isa. xxii. 6. The Vulgar Latin renders it Cyrene, both here and in the second of Kings: but that does not appear to have been under the king of Assyria’s dominion.
Amos 1:6
For three transgressions of Gaza, &c. This city.was situate upon the coast of Palestine, and is one of those threatened by Joel, iii. 6. Because they carried away captive the whole captivity.] Gaza Was a town belonging to the Philistines, who made frequent invasions upon the Jews, and carried away considerable spoils with them. (See 2 Chron. xxi." 16. xxviii. 18.) To deliver them up to Edom.] See ver. 11.
Amos 1:7
But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, &c. * Compare Jer. xlvii. 1.
Amos 1:8
And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod:. Another town belonging to the Philistines, and threatened by the prophets with the same judgments which befel Gaza. (See Jer. xxv. 20. Zeph. ii. 4. Zech. ix. 5.) And I will turn my hand against Ekron.] To turn the hand, is the same as to inflict punishment. (See Psal. lxxxi. 14. Isa. i. 25. Zech. xiii. 7.) And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish.] These are elsewhere called the remnant of the sea-coast, Ezek. xxv. 16. and the remnant of the country of Caphtor, Jer, xlvii. 4. (See the note there.)
Amos 1:9
For three transgressions of Tyrus, &c. This is probably to be understood of the destruction of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, foretold by Isaiah, chap, xxiii. by Jeremiah, xlvii. 4. where it is joined with the Philistines, as here; and by Ezekiel, chap. xxvi. xxvii. Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom.] See ver. 11. And remembered not the brotherly covenant.] That strict league and friendship begun between David and Hiram king of Tyre, 2 Sam. v. 11. and afterward continued by Solomon, 1 Kings v. 1. ix. II.
So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion. You shall find visible effects of my favour and protection. (See ii. 27.) TJien shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.] This character belongs to the New Jerusalem: (compare Isa. xxxv. 8. lii. 1. lx. 21. Rev. xxi. 27.) or it may be understood of the earthly Jerusalem, as the metropolis of the converted Jews. As the inhabitants themselves shall be holy, so the city shall be called the holy city, as in former times it was. (See Dan, ix. 1G. Zech. viii. 3. compare Isa. xxiv. 23. Micah iv. 17. Obad. ver. 17.) It shall no more be subject to be polluted or oppressed by unbelievers. (Compare Nahum i. 15.)
Tlie mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk. In the millennial state there shall be plenty of all things. Vines were usually planted upon hills; (see Isa. v. 1. Psal. Ixxx. 11.) these shall yield such plenty of wine, as if the mountains flowed down with it. The flocks and the herds that feed upon the hills shall afford the same plenty of milk. (Compare Amos ix. 14.) All the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters.] Rivers shall water the driest and most barren parts of the land, and make them fertile. (Compare Isa. xxx. 25.) And a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord.] The supplies of grace are often represented by rivers and plentiful streams, both upon account of their cleansing quality, as well as because they enrich the ground, and make it fruitful. (Compare Isa. xliv. 3. Ezek. xlvii. 1. 11. Zech. xiii. 7. xiv. 8.) This fountain is said to come forth of the house of the Lord; implying, that the church is the spring from whence all the means of grace are communicated to believers. And water the valley of Shittim.] So the holy waters, (Ezek. xlvii.) are described as running from the altar as far as the Dead Sea, or the lake Asphaltites; the east part of which bordered upon the country of Moab, within whose border was the valley of Shittim. (See ver. 8. 10. of that chapter.) This denotes the plentiful issues of the Divine grace; an emblem of which was the streams that issued out of the rock, and followed the Israelites through a great part of the wilderness, (1 Cor. x. 4.)
Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, &c. These two people were remarkable for the spite they bare to the Jews: the Egyptians were their oppressors when they first became a nation, and afterward exercised great cruelties upon them during the -reign of the Egyptian kings, who were Alexander’s successors. The ldumeans are often reproved, and threatened with judgments by the prophets, for the spite they took all occasions to vent against the Israelites, though nearly related to them. (See Jer. xlix. 7. Ezek. xxv. 12. Amos i. 11. Obad. ver. 10.) So those two nations are taken, in a general sense, for the enemies of God’s people. * (See the note upon Isa. xi. 14.)
But Judah shall dwell (or continue) for ever, &c. Free from the annoyance of enemies. (See ver. 17. and compare Amos ix. 15.)
For I will cleanse their blood that I have not xleansed. I wiil thoroughly cleanse them from their sins and pollutions; neither shall they rise up any more in judgment against them. The word blood may signify pollution in general. (See Isa. iv. 3. Ezek. xvi. G.) But the words chiefly import, that God will pardon the Jews the great crime of shedding the blood of Christ, upon their sincere repentance; the guilt of which they had imprecatedupon themselves and their posterity, Matt. xxvi. 25. and had felt the visible effects of God’s displeasure upon that account for several ages. For the Lord dwelleth in Zion.] See ver. 17. A M O S. PREFACE. AMOS was contemporary with Hosca, though he did not probably live so long, but died before the reign of Hezekiah, and the captivity of the ten tribes. St. Jerome gives him this character, that though he was rude in speech, yet not in knowledge. Several of his expressions are taken “from such observations as are suitable to the employment of a shepherd: as, when he compares God’s anger to the roaring of a lion, i. 2. iii. 8. and the gigantic stature of the Amorites to the height of oaks and cedars, ii. 9. (See also v. 8.) But still there arc many beautiful passages in this prophecy, where the expressions are very elegant, and the pathos or rhetoric very moving: such as are ii. 9 — 11. iv. G, &c. v. G. 9. vi. 1. 7. viii. 8. 10. ix. 2. G.