Bible Commentaries
Amos 4

Verse 1

Hear . . . ye. Masculine

kine = heifers: the women. Compare Psalms 22:22 (masculine), Ezekiel 39:18 (masculine)

mountain = hill country.

oppress. Hebrew. ashak , as in Amos 3:9 (feminine) Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:13 .Deuteronomy 24:14; Deuteronomy 24:14 ). Compare 2 Samuel 12:3 , 2 Samuel 12:4 .

the poor = exhausted ones. Hebrew. dal (masculine) See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11

the needy = needy ones. Hebrew ' ebyan (masculine) See note "poverty" Proverbs 6:11 .

say (feminine)

their (masculine)

Verse 2

The Lord GOD . See note on Amos 1:7 .

sworn by His holiness. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 22:16 ).

lo. Figure of speech Asferismos. App-6 .

hooks. In the Assyrian monuments we see the captives with literal "hooks" in their noses. Compare 2 Chronicles 33:11 .Job 40:24 ; Job 41:2 .Isaiah 37:29 . Ezekiel 29:4 .

your posterity = the remnant of you. Hebrew. 'aharith, as in Ezekiel 23:25 . Not posterity.

Verse 3

cow , i.e. woman.

at that which is before her = each woman through the breach [in the wall of Samaria].

before her i.e. without turning to the left or right. Compare Joshua 6:5 , Joshua 6:20 .

ye shall cast them into the palace . Palace, Hebrew. harmon (see note on Amos 1:4 ). Here it is haharmonah, which forms the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ) with 'arman (Amos 3:11 ). The clause is to be interpreted by Amos 3:11 , Amos 3:12 , end Amos 5:27 , and would then road: "ye shall be cast forth toward Ha-Harmon". The place is not known, but it may mean "ye women who are at ease in your palaces" (arman, Amos 3:11 , Amos 3:12 ) will be cast forth into Ha-Harmonak: into exile. The text is not necessarily "corrupt" because we do not happen to know a place of that name.

saith the LORD = is Jehovah's oracle.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 4

Come to Beth-el, &c. Here we have Divine irony, as though it meant "Fill up the measure of your iniquity". Compare Matthew 23:32 .

transgress . . . transgression. Hebrew pasha'. App-44 .

Beth-el . . . Gilgal. Compare Amos 3:14 ; Amos 5:5 .Hosea 4:15 ; Hosea 9:15 ; Hosea 12:11 .

after three years . The ref is to the Pentateuch (Numbers 28:3 .Deuteronomy 14:28; Deuteronomy 14:28 ), App-92 ; not to "days", or to modern "Mohammedan pilgrimages".

Verse 5

offer a sacrifices = offer as incense. Hebrew katar. App-43 . Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 7:13 ; Leviticus 23:17 ). App-92 . Compare Psalms 56:12 .Jeremiah 17:26 ; Jeremiah 33:1 .Hebrews 13:15 .

with leaven. Leavened bread might be eaten by the offerer, but not consumed on the altar (Leviticus 2:11 , Leviticus 2:12 ). Leaven is mentioned five times in Exodus; four in Leviticus; one in Deuteronomy; and not elsewhere. The Mosaic law was well known. App-92 . There was no "historic growth" of the Pentateuch.

free offerings. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 22:18 , Leviticus 22:21 .Deuteronomy 12:6; Deuteronomy 12:6 ). App-92 .

this liketh you = so ye have loved [to have it).

children = sons.

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

Verse 6

cleanness of teeth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for famine.

yet have ye not . &c. Note the Structure above, showing the Figure fo Speech Amoeboeon ( App-6 ). Compare Isaiah 26:11 .Jeremiah 5:3 .Haggai 2:12 .

Verse 7

have withholden , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:22-24 ).

piece = portion of land.

it. Ginsburg thinks this should be "I".

Verse 9

I have smitten , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:22 ). App-92 . Compare Haggai 2:17 .

the palmerworm = the gnawer. Hebrew. gazam. See note on Joel 1:4 .

Verse 10

I have sent, &c. Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:25 .Deuteronomy 28:21 , Deuteronomy 28:27 , Deuteronomy 28:60 ). App-92 .

the pestilence = a pestilence. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the

death resulting from it. Septuagint renders it "death". See note on Amos 6:10 .

after the manner, &c. Reference to Pentateuch, (Exodus 9:3 , Exodus 9:6 ; Exodus 12:29 . Deuteronomy 28:27 ). App-92 . Compare Psalms 78:50 . Isaiah 10:24 , Isaiah 10:26 .

taken. away , &c. Compare 2 Kings 13:7 .

I have made, &c. Compare Joel 2:20 .

Verse 11

as God overthrew, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 19:24 , Genesis 19:25 .Deuteronomy 29:23; Deuteronomy 29:23 ). App-92 . Compare Isaiah 13:19 . Jeremiah 49:18 . God. Hebrew Elobim. App-4 .

ye were as a firebrand, &c. Compare Zechariah 3:2 .Jude 1:23 .

Verse 12

prepare to meet, &c. i.e. in judgment. Compare Ezekiel 13:5 ; Ezekiel 22:30 . Amos 4:11 and Amos 4:12 are not "out of place" or an "interpolation", but are required by the Structure, "M", below.

Amos 4:1-13 (F2). THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. (THE KINE OF BASHAN.) (Extended Alternation.)

F2 | K |1-. call to Hear.

L | -1. Judgements deserved.

M | 2,3. Threatening.

| K | 4,5. call to Come.

L | 6-11. Judgements inflicted.

M | 12,13. Threatening.

Verse 13

createth. Some modern critics allege that this word (Hebrew. bara, Genesis 1:0 Amos 1:1 ) was not used before the time of Jeremiah; but it is used, besides the Pentateuch, in Psalms 51:10 ; Psalms 89:12 , Psalms 89:47 ; Psalms 102:18 ; Psalms 104:30 ; Psalms 148:5 .Ecclesiastes 12:1 ; and in Isaiah frequently.

wind. Hebrew ruach. App-9 .

declareth unto man, &c. Compare Psa 189:2 .Daniel 2:28 .

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

That maketh, &c. Compare Amos 5:8 ; Amos 8:9 .

and treadeth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:13 ; Deuteronomy 33:29 ). App-92 . Compare Micah 1:3 .

is His name. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:3 ). App-92 . Compare Amos 5:8 ; Amos 9:6 . Isaiah 47:4 .Jeremiah 10:16 .