Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 7:9
And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
9. high places ] local sanctuaries, usually situated on eminences (1Ki 14:23; 2Ki 17:10 f.), a little outside the towns to which they belonged (cf. 1Sa 9:12; 1Sa 9:14; 1Sa 9:19 ; 1Sa 9:25; 1Sa 10:5), sometimes, where no natural eminence was available, erected, it is probable, upon artificial mounds (cf. Jer 7:31; 2Ki 17:9). The custom of worshipping at such spots was borrowed, as seems evident (cf. Deu 12:2), from the Canaanites: it also prevailed in Moab (Isa 15:2; Isa 16:12: Mesha also, in his Inscription, Isa 50:3, tells us that he had “made a high-place” for his god Chemosh). The sanctuaries in question consisted of a “house,” or shrine (1Ki 12:31; 1Ki 13:32), with an altar, and were served by priests (1Ki 12:31-33; 1Ki 13:33; 2Ki 23:9): they are often alluded to as popular places of sacrifice, especially during the period of the monarchy (1 Sam. ll. cc.; 1Ki 22:43; 2Ki 12:3 ; 2Ki 14:4; 2Ki 15:4, &c.). Worship at such local sanctuaries, down to the 7th cent. b.c., in so far as it was not contaminated with heathen elements, was regarded as quite regular (comp. Exo 20:24; 1Sa 9:13, where Samuel presides at and blesses the sacrifice at such a bmh; 1Ki 3:4; 1Ki 18:30); but under the centralizing influence of Deuteronomy, a change came in, and it was treated as illegitimate. The compiler of the Book of Kings, in his condemnation of the worship at the high-places, reflects the Deuteronomic standpoint. Amos, in so far as he refers to the bmth with disparagement, does so, not on account of their conflicting with the Deuteronomic law of the single sanctuary, but on account of the unspiritual character of the worship carried on at them. Comp. Nowack, Heb. Arch. ii. 12 14.
Isaac ] As in Amo 7:16, a poetic synonym of Israel (not so elsewhere).
and I will rise, &c.] For the expression, cf. Isa 30:2; for the thought, Hos 1:4, where the same dissatisfaction with the dynasty of Jehu finds expression.
with the sword ] Jehovah’s agent, then, will be the army of an invader, the nation, viz., whom in Amo 6:14 He says that He will “raise up” against Israel.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The high places of Isaac – He probably calls the ten tribes by the name of Isaac, as well as of Israel, in order to contrast their deeds with the blameless, gentle piety of Isaac, as well as the much-tried faithfulness of Israel. It has been thought too that he alludes to the first meaning of the name of Isaac. His name was given from the joyous laughter at the unheard-of promise of God, to give children to those past age; their high places should be a laughter, but the laughter of mockery . The sanctuaries were perhaps the two great idol-temples at Bethel and Dan, over against the one sanctuary of God at Jerusalem; the high places were the shrines of idolatry, especially where God had shown mercy to the patriarchs and Israel, but also all over the land. All were to be wasted, because all were idolatrous.
I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword – God speaks after the manner of people, who, having been still, arise against the object of their enmity. He makes Himself so far one with the instruments of His sentence, that, what they do, He ascribes to Himself. Jeroboam II must, from his military success, have been popular among his people. Successful valor is doubly prized, and he had both valor and success. God had saved Israel by His hand 2Ki 14:27. A weak successor is often borne with for the merits of his father. There were no wars from without which called for strong military energy or talent, and which might furnish an excuse for superseding a faineant king. Ephraim had no ambition of foreign glory, to gratify. Zechariah, Jeroboams son, was a sensualist ; but many sensualists have, at all times, reigned undisturbed. Shallum who murdered Zechariah was simply a conspirator 2Ki 15:10; he represented no popular impulse, and was slain himself a month 2Ki 15:13-14 after. Yet Amos foretells absolutely that the house of Jeroboam should perish by the sword, and in the next generation his name was clean put out.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate] Their total destruction is at hand. The high place of Isaac was Beer-sheba, where Isaac had built an altar to the Lord, Ge 26:25. This high place, which had been abused to idolatrous uses, was demolished by Josiah, king of Judah, as we read in 2Kg 23:8, for he defiled all the high places from Geba to Beersheba.
I will rise against the house of Jeroboam] The Lord had promised to Jehu, the ancestor of Jeroboam, that his family should sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. Zechariah, the son of Jeroboam, was the fourth in order after Jehu; and on him the threatening in this verse fell; for he was murdered by Shallum after he had reigned six months, and in him the family became extinct. See 2Kg 10:30; 2Kg 15:8-10.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The high places; the temples on high mountains built to idols, or for the worship of God, though he forbade them. Of Isaac: the father is here named, but his children are intended, all the seed of Isaac. I cannot, though some do, think the prophet alludes to Isaacs being offered upon a high mountain.
Shall be desolate; shall be rased to the foundation, or left to moulder and fall with length of time, and assaults of storms and weather.
The sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste: this explains the former, and, speaking after the custom of those times, the prophet calls the idol temples sanctuaries, whether in Dan and Beth-el or elsewhere.
I will rise; God will, but not immediately, rise up: he will stir up some or other to do what he threatens.
Against the house of Jeroboam; in the days of Zachariah, (son of Jeroboam,) murdered by Shallum. With the sword, first of a conspirator, Shallum, next of civil war.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. high placesdedicated toidols.
of IsaacThey boastedof their following the example of their forefather Isaac, in erectinghigh places at Beer-sheba (Am 5:5;compare Gen 26:23; Gen 26:24;Gen 46:1); but he and Abrahamerected them before the temple was appointed at Jerusalemand toGod; whereas they did so, after the temple had been fixed as the onlyplace for sacrificesand to idols. In the Hebrew here”Isaac” is written with s, instead of the usual ts;both forms mean “laughter”; the change of spelling perhapsexpresses that their “high places of Isaac” may be well socalled, but not as they meant by the name; for they are only fit tobe laughed at in scorn. Probably, however, the mention of”Isaac” and “Israel” simply expresses that thesenames, which their degenerate posterity boasted in as if ensuringtheir safety, will not save them and their idolatrous “sanctuaries”on which they depended from ruin (compare Am8:14).
house of Jeroboam with . . .swordfulfilled in the extinction of Zachariah, son of JeroboamII, the last of the descendants of Jeroboam I, who had originated theidolatry of the calves (2Ki15:8-10).
Am.7:10-17. AMAZIAH’SCHARGE AGAINST AMOS:HIS DOOMFORETOLD.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate,…. Such as the ten tribes of Israel, who descended from Isaac, built at Beersheba, in imitation of Isaac, and pleading his example; who worshipped there, though not idols, as they, but the true God; and in commemoration of his being bound upon an altar on Mount Moriah: but these, as the Septuagint version renders it, were “high places of laughter”, ridiculous in the eyes of the Lord, despised by him, and so should be made desolate:
and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; the temples built for the calves at Dan and Bethel, and other places:
and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword; or, as the Targum,
“I will raise up against the house of Jeroboam those that slay with the sword;”
this was fulfilled by Shallum, who conspired against Zachariah the son of Jeroboam, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, which put an end to the family of Jeroboam, 2Ki 15:10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It now follows, And destroyed shall be the high places of Isaac, and overthrown shall be the sanctuaries (some render palaces) of Israel; and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword. The Prophet here distinctly declares, that the people in vain trusted in their temples and superstitions, for by these they kindled the more against themselves the wrath of God. He would not indeed have expressly threatened the high places and the temples, unless the Israelites had provoked in this way, as I have already said, the vengeance of God against themselves, inasmuch as they had corrupted the true and lawful worship of God.
Destroyed then shall be the high places of Isaac It may be asked, Why does he mention here the name of Isaac, which is rarely done by the Prophets? And there is also a change of one letter; for the word Isaac is commonly written with ץ, tsade, but here it is written with ש, shin; but it is well known that ש, shin and ץ, tsade, are interchangeably used. It is, however, beyond dispute, that the Prophet speaks here of the holy man Isaac; and the reason seems to be plainly this, — because the Israelites absurdly pretended to imitate their father in their superstitions; for temples, we know, had been erected where Isaac had worshipped God, and also their father Abraham and Jacob. Inasmuch then as the Israelites boasted of the examples of holy fathers, the Prophet here condemns this vain and false boasting. They who understand by the word Isaac, that the Prophet threatens the Idumeans as well as the Israelites, have no reason for their opinion; but the reason which I have already mentioned is quite sufficient.
We indeed know, that the Israelites had ever in their mouths the examples of the fathers, like the woman of Samaria, who said to Christ, ‘Our fathers worshipped in this mountain,’ (Joh 4:20) So also the Israelites were wont formerly to allege, that the holy patriarchs worshipped God in those places, — that God appeared in Bethel to holy Jacob, and also that in other places altars were built. Being armed with the examples of the fathers, they thought them to be their shield. The case is the same with the Papists in our day; when they hear of anything as having been done by the fathers, they instantly lay hold on it; but these are vain excuses. Like them were also the Israelites; hence the Prophet says, “Behold, ye gain nothing by this fallacious pretense; for destroyed shall be the high places of Isaac, even those which are now covered by an honorable name: and at the same time the temples or palaces of Israel shall be overthrown.
And I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword We learn from this last clause that things were then, as we have stated elsewhere, in a prosperous state in the kingdom of Israel, though God had in various ways wasted it before Jeroboam: but they had been ever obstinate. He afterwards restored them to a better condition; for the state of the people greatly improved under Jeroboam: he recovered many cities enlarged the borders of his kingdoms and then the people, in their affluence began to grow wanton against God. As then the Prophet thus saw that they abused God’s goodness, he denounced destruction on Jeroboam; hence he says, Against the house of Jeroboam I will rise up with the sword; that is, “I will begin to execute my judgment on the offspring of the king himself; though I may spare him, yet his posterity shall not escape my hand.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) High places of Isaac.The name Isaac is here spelt somewhat differently in the Hebrew from the form we have in Genesis. The LXX. misunderstand the word, and render altars of laughter, in accordance with the etymological sense of the proper name. The residents in the neighbourhood of Beersheba may have boasted of the favour or honour belonging to them, as occupying the home of Isaac and the birthplace of Jacob.
Will rise against.This dreadful doom fell on the house of Jeroboam, and was the prelude of the final destruction of the nations by Shalmaneser IV., in 721 (2Ki. 15:10).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Amo 7:9. The high-places of Isaac That is, of Beer-sheba, where Isaac dwelt and built an altar to the Lord. See Gen 26:25.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Amo 7:9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
Ver. 9. And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate ] The Edomites also came of Isaac; but by a synecdoche a the Israelites only are here, and Amo 7:16 , to be understood. Like as elsewhere Heber is put for the Israelites only, Num 24:24 , and Joseph for Ephraim, Rev 7:8 . Some think that the high places of Isaac are here mentioned to show that they were erected by the people in an apish imitation, either of Beersheba, where Isaac worshipped, or of Mount Moriah, where Isaac should have been offered: and that Isaac is here written with sin, and not tsadi, to show that God held himself not adored, but derided by those high places of derision, or those ridiculous altars, which therefore he threateneth to desolate and lay waste.
And I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword
a A figure by which a more comprehensive term is used for a less comprehensive or vica versa; as whole for part or part for whole, genus for species or species for genus, etc. D
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
high places. Used for idolatrous altars, &c.
Isaac . . . Israel. Used only by Amos in this sense. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the nation of Israel. Compare Pe. Psa 105:9, Psa 105:10. Jer 33:26, &c.
I will rise against, &c. Fulfilled in 2Ki 15:10. Jeroboam. Compare Hos 1:4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
raise
As prophesied and fulfilled, 2Ki 15:10.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the high: Amo 3:14, Amo 5:5, Amo 8:14, Beer-sheba, Gen 26:23-25, Gen 46:1, Lev 26:30, Lev 26:31
I will: Fulfilled, 2Ki 15:8-10
Reciprocal: 2Sa 12:10 – the sword 2Ki 14:23 – Jeroboam 2Ki 15:10 – smote him Isa 9:14 – will cut Isa 17:9 – General Hos 5:1 – O house Hos 5:9 – Ephraim Hos 10:15 – shall Bethel Amo 1:1 – and in Amo 7:11 – Jeroboam
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Amo 7:9. We have seen the names of Joseph and Jacob used to signify the nation of Israel, now it is Isaac that is used in the same way. In all of the cases it is because of the important relation the men sustained to the race. The predictions and rebuke of the book frequently apply with equal force to all of the Jewish nation, but the writings of Amos generally are made with reference to the 10-tribe kingdom, That is why this verse mentions Jeroboam, he being the man who led the revolt resulting in the establishment of that kingdom (1 Kings 12).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The method of judgment God would use would not be locust invasion or fire but the sword. An enemy would invade Israel (cf. Deu 28:49-50). This enemy, as Yahweh’s agent, would destroy the outdoor high places on hilltops and the temple sanctuaries at Dan and Bethel where the people worshipped God and idols, namely, all their worship centers.
Amos probably used "Isaac" simply as a synonym for "Jacob" and "Israel." Another view follows.
"Amos seems to have in mind the special veneration for Isaac which members of the Northern Kingdom displayed in making pilgrimages south to Beersheba (cf. Amo 5:5; Amo 8:14), Isaac’s birthplace." [Note: Hubbard, p. 210.]
The "house of Jeroboam" probably refers to the dynasty of Jeroboam II, but it could refer to the nation of Israel as headed by Jeroboam I. Jeroboam II’s dynasty came to an end with the assassination of his son and successor Zechariah (2Ki 15:8-10).
These three visions appear to have come to Amos in close succession. The final compiler of Amos’ prophecies, probably Amos himself, undoubtedly grouped them because of their similarity. They are obviously alike and together present a picture of judgment mercifully deferred twice but finally brought on Israel. They clarify the method of Israel’s punishment, namely, defeat by an enemy’s invading army, and they show that judgment would come after God’s patience with the nation had been exhausted.