Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Hook. Hebrew “basket of summer fruit.” Septuagint “bird cage or net.” Bible.—Israel was ripe for destruction. verse 2. Calmet. 7:8. Calmet.—Not only those who were near, (4 Kennicott. 15:29) but the rest also were taken, (4 Kennicott. 17:6) as we pull with a hook the fruit when we cannot reach otherwise. Worthington.
Verse 3. Temple, when God comes like a mighty warrior; or when the profane temples shall be pillaged. Calmet. 9:1. Hebrew also, “the canticles of the temple or palace shall be changed into lamentations.”—Place. Hebrew “a multitude of dead bodies shall be cast in every place. Keep silence.” Calmet.
Verse 5. Mouth: the first day was observed as a festival. Numbers 10:10. Bible.—At the expiration of the month usurers demanded their money. Hor. i. sat. 3. Aristoph. Nub. ii. 1.—Corn, to sell after the sabbatical year, when it was dearest. Sabbath also denotes all “festivals.” These misers think that there are too many.—Sicle. Having a large measure to buy, and a small one to sell again. Deuteronomy 25:13. Proverbs 20:10.
Verse 6. Shoes, for almost nothing. Thus they forced the poor to serve, or to sell their effects.
Verse 7. Jacob, because the rich despise the poor. It may also mean, that he swore by heaven, or the temple, (Leviticus 26:19) or that he would destroy the high places. Calmet.
Verse 8. Altogether. Septuagint “its total ruin shall rise as a river.”—Egypt. The whole land shall be visited with misery, as Egypt is by the Nile. Bible.—The enemy shall retire with the booty. The Nile overflows in summer, and covers Egypt for six weeks, carrying much earth with its impetuous waves. Isaiah 18:2.
Verse 9. Light. Usher ( A. 3213.) explains this of an eclipse, at Pentecost. The Fathers generally understand that which accompanied the death of Christ; but it only implies great desolation and terror. Jeremiah 15:9. Joel 3:11. Saint Jerome and so forth Calmet.—In their greatest prosperity, calamities shall unexpectedly fall upon them. Worthington.
Verse 10. Baldness, the hair being cut in mourning. Job 1:20.—Son, most afflicted. Zechariah 12:10. Jeremiah 6:26. Calmet.
Verse 11. Lord. During the siege provisions were wanting, but instruction still more so. Worthington.—Israel had banished Amos. They would be left destitute. We find no prophet among the during the captivity, except Tobias. Calmet. 13:3. We may apply this to the state of the Jews since the death of Christ. They have no guides. Calmet.—They read incessantly, and do not understand (Saint Jerome Mercer.) the Bible, which non will ever penetrate who refuse to receive the key from the Church. Bible.
Verse 12. Sea to sea: from west to south, or to the ocean; in whatever part of the world they may be. Calmet.
Verse 14. Sin. Septuagint “propitiation,” which the pagans deemed requisite; (Hor. i. ode 2.) or worship ( Bible.) of Baal, (4 Kennicott. 17:16. Calmet.) and all the other superstitions. Bible.—Way. Septuagint “thy God,” or religion, (Acts 9:2) or pilgrimage to Bersabee. Calmet. 5:5. Perhaps the true God was here adored; but it was in a manner which he condemned. Calmet.—In vain do those pretend to honour Him, who follow the traditions of unbelieving men. Bible.
1 ephah is about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel
a normal shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces.