Amos
Verse 1. Family, including all the posterity of Jacob. Worthington.—He afterwards addresses the ten tribes in particular. Saint Jerome Calmet.
EXPLANATIONS
Amos 3
Historical chapter commentary
Amos
Verse 2. Known, with love, ( Bible.) and favoured with the law, and so forth Above all, styling you my people. Exodus 19:6. Ezekiel 20:5. Calmet.—Visit. That is, punish. Challoner.—I will treat you like my children, that I may spare you in eternity. Calmet.
Amos
Verse 3. Agreed? As t hey cannot do this well, so neither can man be acceptable to God, unless he keep his laws. Worthington.—The prophet here proves his mission, intimating that if he were not inspired, he would soon be open to detection. He had been banished from Bethel. Calmet. 7. By many similes, he shows that the event will prove the sincerity of his character, and that he cannot resist the holy spirit which is in him.
Amos
Verse 4. Nothing? Thus, shall I inveigh against your crimes, if there were no need?
Amos
Verse 5. Somewhat? When the prophet speaks, has he no reason? God shews that he has sent him, by inflicting the punishments which he denounces.
Amos
Verse 6. Afraid. Yet you can hear these terrible truths without consternation! Will you therefore escape? Calmet.—Evil. He speaks of the evil of sin, of which God is not the author. Challoner.—All evil of punishment is sent by God, either to reclaim sinners or to be the beginning of sorrows, if they die impenitent. Worthington.—You know that He rewards or punishes. If, therefore, what I foretell come to pass, do not blame me.
Amos
Verse 7. Prophets. In vain then would you silence them. Calmet. 2:12, and 7:12. He always tends to the conclusion. verse 8. Calmet.
Amos
Verse 9. Azotus. Septuagint “Assyrians.”—Follies. Septuagint “wonders.” Let you greatest enemies know what crimes you commit against yourselves ( Bible.) and others.
Amos
Verse 11. About, As oxen tread out corn, going round a tree. Calmet.—Septuagint “Tyre even all round, thy land shall be a desert.” Tsar means “Tyre and tribulation,” according to S. Jerom’s master. Bible.
Amos
Verse 12. Ear: things of small value. Thus few even of the poor will escape the Assyrians. Menochius.—Damascus. Some render “couch side.” But there is no proof of this being accurate. Jeroboam II. subdued Damascus, and reigned in prosperity. Who would then have thought that Israel should so soon be removed into Media? Calmet.—Septuagint “over-against the tribe of Juda, and in Damascus, priests hear,” and so forth They probably left hares, ( Bible.) “couches,” (Aquila) untranslated, and some person has substituted “priests.” Saint Jerome—Only the miserable Menochius. or fugitives escape the enemy. Bible.
Amos
Verse 14. Bethel. Manahem seems to have sent one of the calves to engage Phul to come to his assistance. Osee 10:5 and 4 Kennicott. 15:19. Salmanasar had both. Osee 8:5. Josias afterwards defiled the profane altars. 4 Kennicott. 23:15.—Horns, made of brass, which the Assyrians carried off. Calmet.—The fairest possessions of sinners will at last perish. Worthington.
Amos
Verse 15. Winter. Septuagint “winged house,” to keep off cold, (Saint Jerome) or to give air. Calmet.—Summer-house. The noblemen had such is cooler regions. Menochius.—The kings of Persia passed the summer at Ecbatana. Xen. Cyr. viii.—Palladius (1:12) orders that the summer apartments must look to the north.—Ivory. Many ornaments of this nature appeared in them, ( Calmet.) whence Achab’s palace was so called. 3 Kennicott. 22:39. Bible.