Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 2:15

Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and [he that is] swift of foot shall not deliver [himself]: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.

15. stand ] i.e. keep his place, or halt in the flight: so Nah 2:8; Jer 46:21.

swift of foot ] For this virtue of a warrior cf. 2Sa 1:23; 2Sa 2:18 (the same expression as here), 1Ch 12:8.

deliver himself] As the text stands, himself must be understood from the next clause: but it is better, with a change of vowel-points, to read yimml, which will itself mean ‘deliver himself.’

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 15. Neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.] I believe all these sayings, Am 2:13-16, are proverbs, to show the inutility of all attempts, even in the best circumstances, to escape the doom now decreed, because the cup of their iniquity was full.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Neither shall he stand; though at distance from the enemies, yet shall not dare to keep his place.

That handleth the bow; much used in the wars of those times, and used by strong and valiant men, but now both strength and valour should fail Israels bow-men.

He that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: this is the same, and explains that in the 14th verse.

Neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself: here the prophet foretells that the swiftness of the horse, which some will make use of, shall as little avail, nor his strength joined with his speed shall deliver the rider; neither the strength of the horse shall carry him through, nor his swiftness carry him away from the hand of the pursuer.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow,…. That is, at some distance, and can make use of his instruments of war afar off; yet will not think it safe to stand his ground, but will betake himself to his heels as fast as he can to save himself:

and [he that is] swift of foot shall not deliver [himself]; this is repeated, lest any should place confidence in their agility, and to show how complete and inevitable the affliction will be:

neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself; by fleeing on horseback, no more than he that is on foot; no ways that can be devised or thought on would preserve from this general calamity; see Ps 33:17.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(15) Is omitted in some of Kennicotts and De Rossis MSS., but without authority.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Amo 2:15 Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and [he that is] swift of foot shall not deliver [himself]: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.

Ver. 15. Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow ] Arcitenens, though he can do it never so dexterously, yet if he trust in his bow, Psa 44:6 , God will break it, Jer 49:35 , or otherwise render it unuseful; as it befell the army of Sennacherib in Egypt, of Maximus against Theodosius, and the French in the battle between our Edward III and their King Philip, who being enraged with a defeat, resolved presently to revenge it, being elevated with an assured hope of triumphant victory. But it happened otherwise; for there fell at the instant of the battle a piercing shower of rain which dissolved their strings, and made their bows useless.

Neither shall he that rideth the horse ] Though it be as good a one as Cain is feigned by Dubertas to have managed, or as Alexander’s Bucephalus, or Julius Cesar’s great horse serviceable, and full of terror. A horse is so swift that Job saith he “eateth up the ground”; and the Persians dedicated him to their god the sun, as the swiftest creature to the swiftest power divine, (Pausan.). But as the sun in heaven can neither be outrun nor stopped in his race, so neither by men nor means can God be frustrated, or his anger avoided. The Canaanites had both horses and chariots, the Israelites had neither; and yet they found a horse a vain thing for victory, Psa 33:17 ; Psa 147:10 .

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

neither: Psa 33:16, Psa 33:17

himself: Heb. his soul, or life

Reciprocal: 1Ki 20:30 – a wall Jer 11:11 – which Jer 46:6 – not Jer 48:44 – that fleeth Jer 52:8 – General Amo 9:1 – shall not flee

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Amo 2:15, The bow and the horse were used in warfare, either offensive or defensive. Hence when the Assyrians make their invasion into the realm of Israel they will overcome them because of their insufficient ability either for fighting or fleeing.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary