Bible Commentaries
Amos 1

Verse 1

TITLE. The words of Amos. But the words of Jehovah by Amos. See Amos 1:3 .

Amos = Burden.

herdmen = shepherds. Hebrew. nokdim ; so called from a peculiar breed of stunted sheep (with fine wool). Mesha was called a noked , rendered "sheepmaster"(2 Kings 3:4 ). See App-54 . Occurs only in these two places. But Amos was also a herdman, as is clear from Amos 7:14 ; where boker is from bakar, an ox, and hence is connected with ploughing (1 Kings 19:19 , 1 Kings 19:21 , &c.) See note on Amos 7:14 .

Tekoa. Now Khan Telkua , five miles south of Bethlehem, and ten from Jerusalem. Compare 2 Samuel 14:2 . 2 Chronicles 20:20 .

which = which [words].

saw = saw [in a vision]. Compare Numbers 24:4 , Numbers 24:16 . Isaiah 30:10 . Ezekiel 12:27 .

Israel. This gives us the subject of the book. in the days. Compare Hosea 1:1 .

Jeroboam. See Amos 7:10 .

two years before the earthquake: i.e. before the one well known and remembered. Compare Zechariah 14:5 .

the earthquake. Figure of speech Hyster . App-6 .

Verse 2

he said. Thus writing the words down.

The LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 . This title is not the usual one in this book.

roar = roar as a. lion, or thunder. It is always, when predicated of the Lord, connected with the end of Gentile dominion. Compare Jeremiah 25:30 , Joel 3:16 .

utter = give out.

habitations = pastures.

shepherds. Not the same word as in Amos 1:1 , but the usual word ( raah = tenders).

top of Carmel. Mount Carmel in the north, thus embracing the whole land; now Jebel Kurmul ; not Carmel in Judah (south of Hebron); now el Kurmul. Compare 1 Samuel 25:2 .Isaiah 33:9 .

wither = be dried up.

Verse 3

Thus saith the LORD. Jehovah's words: not the words of Amos. . The prophetic formula. See App-82 . See the twelve with Jehovah, in verses: Amos 3:6 , Amos 3:9 , Amos 3:11 , Amos 3:13 ; Amos 2:1 , Amos 2:4 , Amos 2:6 ; Amos 8:12 ; Amos 5:4 ; Amos 5:16 ; Amos 7:17 ; and the two with Adonai Jehovah in Amos 3:11 ; Amos 5:3 .

three . . . four. Hebrew idiom to express several, or many (Job 33:29 , margin) Compare Proverbs 30:15 , Proverbs 30:18 , Proverbs 30:21 , Proverbs 30:29 .

transgressions. Hebrew pasha. App-44 .

turn away = turn it back, or avert it. the punishment thereof. There is no Ellipsis to be supplied, and no separate Hebrew word for "thereof". The Hebrew is lo' ashibennu , I will not cause it to turn back: i.e. I will not avert it.

The pronoun "it" is masculine, agreeing with and referring to earthquake (Amos 1:1 ), and means that Jehovah would not avert it. So in all the eight occurrences (verses: Amos 3:6 , Amos 3:9 , Amos 3:11 , Amos 3:13 ; Amos 2:1 , Amos 2:4 , Amos 2:6 ).

thrashed Gilead. Compare Joe 8:14 . The very term used in 2 Kings 13:7 .

With = [as it were] with. Figure of speech Hypocatastasis. App-6 .

Verse 4

I will send a fire. Compare Amos 1:7 , Amos 1:10 , Amos 1:12 ; Amos 2:2 , Amos 2:5 . Refer to Jeremiah 17:27 ; Jeremiah 49:27 ; Jeremiah 50:32 .Hosea 8:14 .

Hazael. Compare 2 Kings 8:12 ; 2 Kings 10:32 , as; Amo 18:3 .

palaces: or fortresses. Hebrew. 'armon . Occurs (in plural) twelve times in Amos (see App-10 ): Amos 1:4 , Amos 1:7 , Amos 1:10 , Amos 1:12 , Amos 1:14 ; Amos 2:2 , Amos 2:5 ; Amos 3:9 , Amos 3:10 , Amos 3:11 ; Amos 6:8 ; seven times with the verb "devour" (Hebrew. akal) .

Ben-hadad. An official title of the Syrian kings = son of Hadad i.e. the sun-god. The Ben-hadad of 2 Kings 13:3 ; not of 2 Kings 8:7-15 .

Verse 5

the bar. Note the Figure of speech Metalepsis ( App-6 ), by which "bar" is put by Figure of speech Metalepsis , App-6 , for the gates, and then the gates put for defence of the city. Compare Deuteronomy 3:5 . 1 Kings 4:13 .Jeremiah 51:30 . Lamentations 2:9 .

the inhabitant: or, him that is seated: i.e. the ruler, corresponding with the next line.

Avon. Same a Beth-aven, east of Beth-el, belonging to Benjamin. Compare Hosea 4:15 ; Hosea 5:8 ; Hosea 10:5 , Hosea 10:8 .

the house of Eden = Beth-eden.

Kir. So in Amos 9:7 , 2 Kings 16:9 . Isaiah 22:6 .

Verse 6

Gaza. Now Ghuzzeh, in- Philistia.

the whole captivity = a wholesale captivity.

captivity = captives. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for a whole body of captives. See Jeremiah 13:19 . Compare Jeremiah 47:1 . 2Ch 21:16 , 2 Chronicles 21:17 ; 2 Chronicles 28:17 .

Verse 7

wall. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for the whole city.

Verse 8

Ashdod. Afterward called by the Greeks, "Azotus". Now Esclud, in the plain of Philistia, thirty-five miles north of Gaza.

Ashkelon. Now 'Askalan, on the coast of Philistia.

Ekron. Afterward, Greek, "Accaron" (1 Macc. 10.89), Now 'Akir, six miles west of Gezer. For "Gezer "see note on 1 Kings 9:15-17 .

saith = hath said.

the Lord GOD . Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 . This Divine title occurs twenty-one times (7 x 3. See App-10 ) in this book (Amos 1:8 , Amos 1:3 , Amos 1:7 , Amos 1:8 , Amos 1:11 , Amos 1:13 ; Amos 4:2 , Amos 4:5 ; Amos 5:3 ; Amos 6:8 ; Amos 7:1-6 ; Amos 8:1 , Amos 8:3 , Amos 8:9 , Amos 8:11 ; Amos 9:5 , Amos 9:8 ). For "thus hath said Adonai Jehovah" See Amos 3:11 .

Verse 9

Tyrus. Now es Sur . See notes on Isaiah 23:0 .Jeremiah 25:22 ; Jeremiah 47:4 . Also Eze 26-28. Joel 3:4 , Joel 3:5 .

the brotherly covenant = a covenant of brethren. Compare 2 Samuel 5:11 . 1 Kings 5:1 ; 1 Kings 9:11-14 .

Verse 11

Edom. Compare Isaiah 21:11 ; Amo 34:5 .Jeremiah 49:8 , &c. Ezekiel 25:12-14 ; Ezekiel 35:2 .Joel 3:19 ; Obadiah 1:1 .Malachi 1:4 .

because, &c . Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 27:41 . Compare Deuteronomy 23:7 ). App-92 . Compare Malachi 1:2 .

his brother . Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 25:24-26 ).

tear perpetually : or, tear [his prey] perpetually. Ginsburg thinks = kept his grudge. Compare 2 Chronicles 28:17 .

he . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version omits "he".

Verse 12

Teman . Compare Jeremiah 49:7 . Obadiah 1:9 . I-lab. Amos 3:3 . Elipbaz was a Ternanite (Job 2:11 , &c.)

Bozrah. Now el Buseirah , south-east of the Dead Sea.

Verse 13

children = sons.

Ammon. Compare 1 Samuel 11:1 .

ripped up , &c. Foretold in Hosea 13:16 . 2Ki 8:12 ; 2 Kings 8:15 , 2 Kings 8:16 .

that they might, &c. Compare Jeremiah 49:1 :14 Rabbah. Now 'Amman (on the highlands of Gilead), "the city of waters", twenty-five miles north of the Dead Sea. Compare 2 Samuel 11:1 , and 2 Samuel 12:26 , 2 Samuel 12:27 . Jeremiah 49:2 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 3:10 , Deuteronomy 3:11 ). App-92 .

shouting = a great war-cry.

the day of battle: i.e. the day of their foe's tumultuous assault.

Verse 15

he. Ginsburg thinks it = his priests, with Septuagint.