Amos 2

After two shoTt denunciations against Moab and Judah, the prophet proceeds to the main subject of his prophecy, viz. to denounce God’s judgments against Israel. the moro ancient of the two..(£>ce Q C n. xliii. 33. 1 Sam. ix. 22. xvi. 11. xx. 25.) And they drink the wine of the condemned.] The drinkofferings, made with wine, were a necessary part of the sacrifices: some of which was likewise reserved for the entertainment that followed. (See Exod.xxxii. G.) And this was provided out of the fines or mulcts of such as had been unjustly condemned: (ver. G.) In the house of their god.] In the houses dedicated to the calves of Dan and Beth-el, or some other idolatrous temple.

Amos 2:1

JO OR three transgressions of Moab, &c. Moab and Ammon, as they were nearly related, and bordered upon each other, so they arc usually joined together in the threatcnings of the prophets. (See Jer. xlviii. xlix. Ezek. xxv. 1. 8. Zeph. ii. 8.)

Amos 2:2

Because he burnt the bones of the king ofEdom to lime. To plaster the ivalls of his house with it, as the Chaldee paraphrase explains the text; which was a cruel insulting over the dead. A piece of barbarity resembling this is told by Sir Paul Rycaut, of the wall of the city of Philadelphia, made of the bones of the besieged, by the prince that took it by storm, in The present State of the Greek Church, chap. 2. Some refer the cruelty reproved in the text to the story of the king of Moab, related 2 Kings iii. 27. But the story there recited, seems rather to be understood of the king of Moab’s own son, than of the king of Edom’s. And Moab shall die with tumult, &c] His men shall die in the tumult of war. (Compare Jer. xlviii. 15.).

Amos 2:3

And I wilt cut off the judge from the midst thereof. The word judge denotes the supreme magistrate or governor; (see Deut. xvii. 9.) and is here equivalent to the king. (Compare Micah v. 1.) f

Amos 2:4

For their lies have caused them to err, after which their fathers walked. Many of the tribe of Judah have continued in the same idolatry and worship of false gods, which their wicked kings, such as Jehoram and Ahaziah, and their forefathers, have set up, notwithstanding all the warnings I have given them by my prophets. (See 2 Chfon. xxiv. 17 — 19.) Idols are often called lies in the Scripture* (See the note upon Hos. vii. 3.)

Amos 2:6

Because they sold the righteous for silver, &c. They perverted the cause of the righteous, and gave an unjust sentence against him. for a bribe of the smallest value. (Compare v. 11, 12. viii. 6.)

Amos 2:7

That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor. The Vulgar Latin hath given the best sense of this sentence, " Qui conterunt super pulverem terrae capita pauperum;" Who tread down the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth: i. e. they throw them into the dust, and then trample upon them. The Chaldee paraphrase understands the verb shaaph in the sense of despising, which comes near the sense of trampling upon: the LXX. render it by Karairari^ to tread upon, both here and Psal. lvi. 1, 2. lvii. 3. The verb shoph, which is near akin to shaaph, plainly signifies to tread upon, or bruise, Gen. iii. 15. And a man and his father will go into the same maid (or young woman), to profane my holy name*~] One man hath cohabited with his father’s wife, to the great reproach of my name and religion; being such an instance of fornication, or uncleanness, as is scarce heard of among the more civilized heathens, as St. Paul observes, 1 Cor. v. 1. And another hath lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law, as Ezekiel complains, xxii. 11. in contradiction to the express words of the law, Lev. xviii. 8. 15.

Amos 2:8

And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge, by every altar. This is to be understood of the feasts which were made of part of their idolatrous sacrifices, and were eaten in some of the apartments of their temples, according to the custom both of the Jews and gentiles. (See 1 Sam. ix. 12, 13. 22. Isa. lvii. 7. Ezek. xxiii. 41.) The prophet reproves them not only for partaking of things offered to idols, but likewise for making use of other men’s furniture, left in their hands for a pledge, to set off their idolatrous entertainments. Here was another instance of their unmercifulness, to detain pledges received from the poof, contrary to the law, Exod. xxii. 26. (See the note upon Ezek. xviii. 7.) The Jews, as well as the Romans, used to lie along at their meals in couches, as appears by this verse, compared with vi. 4. This custom continued in aftertimes, as appears by several places in the gospels, where it is in the original, Jmij down to meat; though our translation renders it, Sat down. The custom of sitting at meals seems to have been

Amos 2:9

Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them. The Amorites include the rest of the Canaanites. (See Gen. xv. 1G.). Wliose height was as the height of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks.] Many of them were of a gigantic stature, as appears from Numb. xiii. 32, 33. Virgil makes the same comparison, speaking of the Titans, iEneid.lib.- iii. ver. 677. " Concilium horrendum, quales cum vertice celso Aeriae quercus, aut coniferac cyparissi Constiterunt, sylva alta Jovis, lucusve Diana;." A dreadful council, with their heads on high, Not yielding to the tow’ring tree of Jove, Or tallest cypress of Diana* s grove. Mr. Dryden.

Amos 2:10

And led you forty years throttgh the wilderness^ Where you wanted for nothing. (See Deut. ii. 7. viii. 2-4.)

Amos 2:11

For three transgressions ofEdom, and for four, &c. The Idumeans arc often threatened for their enmity against the Israelites; who took all occasions to oppress them, and to insult over them in their’ distress. (See 2 Chron. xxviii. 17. Jer. xlix. 7. Ezek. xxv. 12. xxxv. 2. Joel iii. 19. Obad. ver. 1—11.) Because he did pursue his brother with the sword.] They retained the same hatred and animosity against their brethren the Israelites, which their father Esau had expressed against his bro ^er Jacob. t Andlraisedup of your sons to beprophets.] I provided for you a succession of prophets, bred up in schools erected for that purpose, (see 2 Kings vi. 1, 2.) to be your constant instructors, and to whom you might have recourse in any difficulty. And of your young men for Nazarites.] A" Nazarite signifies one separate, or set apart for the service of God. (See Numb. vi. 2. 5.) Such were Samson, Judg. xiii. 5. and John Baptist, Luke i. 15. Their vow did often include in it, beside.their abstaining from wine and not shaving their heads, a constant attendance upon God’s service, during the time of their separation.. (See 1 Mace. iii. 49. and the note upon Hos. ix. 10.) We read of women tliat departed not from the temple, Exod. xxxviii. 8. such as Anna, Luke ii. 37. and there might probably be men that constantly attended upon the service there: and of such I would upon second thoughts understand the Nazarites, mentioned Lam. iv. 7. They are described in that place as remarkable for their youth and beauty: and they are styled young men here. A Nazarite is always mentioned as a title of honour, and Joseph is called, by way of eminence, a Nazarite among his brethren, as the original imports, Gen. xlix. 2G.

Amos 2:12

But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. Teman and Bozrah were two principal cities of Idumca. (See Isa. lxiii. 1. Jer. xlix. 7. Ezek. xxv. 15.) This expression imports the entire conquest and destruction of that country, according to the predictions of the prophets beforecited; to which may be added, Mai. i. 3, 4. The ancient seat of the Edomites was the same which was afterward called Arabia Petraea; from whence they were expelled by the Nabatheans, and never could recover their country, but were forced to settle themselves in the southern parts of Judca. (See Dr. Prideaux, par. ii. ad A. C. 165.) And commauded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.] See viu 13. Isa. xxx. 10. Jer. xi. 21. Micah ii. 6. They would not endure their idolatry and other darling sins should be reproved.

Amos 2:13

Because they ripped tip theivomen with child of Gilead, to enlarge their border. Hazael, king of Syria, grievously afflicted the Israelites that lay eastward of Jordan, particularly the Gileadites. (See 2 Kings x. 33.) The low condition these countries were reduced to, might probably encourage the Ammonites to possess themselves of Gilead, which lay near their own borders, and to destroy the inhabitants in that cruel manner. (Compare Jer. xlix. 1. Zeph. ii. 8. Hos. xiii. 16.) Behold, I am pressed under you, &c] Your sins have quite tired out my patience, and I am weary with bearing them. (Compare Isa. xliii. 24. Mai. ii. 17.)

Amos 2:14

But I will kindle afire on the wall of Kabbah, &c. Compare Jer. xlix. 2. Rabbah was the chief city of the Ammonites. (See 2 Sam. xii. 26.) With a tempest in the day of the whirlwind.] The destructions of war are often compared to the devastations caused by whirlwinds and tempests. (See Isa. v. 26. Jer. xxv. 32. Dan. xi. 40. Zech. ix. 14.) Tlrerefore shall the flight perish from the swift, &c] The most likely means you can provide for [chap. III. (Compare ix. your security, shall prove ineffectual. 1, &c.) Ver. 1G. And he that is courageous shall flee away naked.] Having put off his armour for greater expedition. Tho word naked is used of tho$e who lay aside their upper garments, or the habit proper to their quality or profession. (See the note upon Isa. xx. 2.)

Amos 2:15

And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together. See Jer. xlix. 3.