Bible Commentaries
Amos 2

Verse 1

Thus saith the LORD. See note on Amos 1:3 .

the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

three. four. See note on Amos 1:3 .

transgressions. See note on Amos 1:3

Moab. Compare Isaiah 1:0 5 and Isaiah 16:0 . Jeremiah 48:0 . Ezekiel 25:8-11 , Zephaniah 2:8 .

I will not, &c. See note on Amos 1:3 .

the punishment thereof. See note on Amos 1:3 .

because he , &c. Compare 2 Kings 3:27 .

Verse 2

palaces. See note on Amos 1:4 .

Kirioth: or, his cities. Now el Kureiyat, or Kiraiathaim, between Dibon and Medeba. Mentioned by Mesha on the Moabite Stone. See App-54 .

shouting = war-cry. Cy. Amos 1:14

trumpet. Heb, shophar.

Verse 3

judge = sceptre-holder (Numbers 24:17 ).

the midst thereof = her midst. Feminine. to agree with 'erez (understood) = the midst of her [land].

Verse 4

because. despised, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:14-15 ; Leviticus 26:43 ). App-92 .

commandments = statutes.

their lies = their idols. Compare 2 Kings 17:15 .Psalms 40:4 .Isaiah 28:15 .Jeremiah 16:17-20

Verse 6

they sold. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 25:39 . Deuteronomy 15:12 ). App-92 , A Hebrew might sell himself, but not his brother or an insolvent debtor 2 Kings 4:1 ; Nehemiah 5:5 ),

the righteous = the righteous one.

the poor = a needy one. Hebrew ebyon. See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11 .

a pair of shoes. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the title-deeds of which it was the token. Compare Ruth 4:7 .

Verse 7

pant = crush. Hebrew. shaaph , A Homonymyn, meaning (1) to gasp or long for (Job 7:2 ; Job 36:20 , Psalms 119:131 .Ecclesiastes 1:5 .Jeremiah 2:24; Jeremiah 2:24 ); (2) to crush (like shuph i n. Genesis 3:15 Rendered "swallow up" in Amos 8:4 .Job 5:5 .Psalms 56:1 , Psalms 56:2 ; Psalms 57:3 .Ezekiel 36:3 . So here it = crush. See Oxford Gesenius p. 983, vol. 2. Render: "crush the head of the poor ones in the dust of the earth".

the poor = impoverished ones. Hebrew. dal (plural) See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11 . Not the same word as in Amos 2:6 .

turn aside the way = pervert their whole way.

the meek = humble ones, Heb, plural of `ani, See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11

a man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

and his father. This was done in the Canaanite idolatry, with the women of' the temples, called Kadeshoth (feminine.) and Kadeshhim (masculine)

maid = a young person (male or female). So called because of youthful vigour.

to profane, &c. This marks the result, not the in tention, and shows the enormity of the sin in Jehovah's sight. Reference to Pentateuch, (Leviticus 18:21 ; Leviticus 20:3 ). App-92 . Compare Isaiah 48:11 .Ezekiel 20:9 , Ezekiel 20:14 ; Ezekiel 36:20-23 , Romans 2:24 . 1 Corinthians 5:1 .

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 8

lay themselves down , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:26 . Deuteronomy 24:12 ), App-92 . every altar. The sin lay in the fact that the law of the one altar had been known as an ancient commandment as well as the law concerning the restoration of pledged garments.

wine, Hebrew. Yayin. App-27 .

of the condemned: or, exacted wine.

Verse 9

Yet. Former blessings now cited to heighten the crime of their fivefold rebellion.

the Amorite. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 21:24 .Deuteronomy 2:32-34; Deuteronomy 2:32-34 ). App-92 . Compare Joshua 24:8 . These being the descendants of the Nephilim were all to have been destroyed, with the other Canaanite nations, by the sword of Israel. See App-23 and App-25 .

them. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "you".

height. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 21:24 .Deuteronomy 2:32-34; Deuteronomy 2:32-34 ). App-92 .

Verse 10

I brought, &c . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 12:51 .Deuteronomy 4:47 (Sihon)). App-92 and led you &c. Ref to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 2:7 ; Deuteronomy 8:2 ). App-92 .

Verse 11

I raised up ,

&c . Not till the priests had failed in their duty to teach the law. See Leviticus 10:8 , Leviticus 10:11 .Deuteronomy 33:8 , Deuteronomy 33:10 . Prophets were not provided originally. for Nazarites. Ref to Pentateuch (Numbers 6:2 ). App-92 .

It is not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Children = sons.

saith the Lord = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

Verse 12

ye gave, &c . Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 6:2 , Numbers 6:3 ). App-92 .

Verse 13

as a cart = according as[a full] cart.

Verse 14

himself = his soul. Hebrew nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 16

courageous = stout in heart. App-92 .

naked : or, armourless.