Bible Commentary

You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 2. You only &c.] The pron. is emphatic by its position, in the Heb., as in the English. known ] i.e. known favourably, noticed, regarded: so Gen 18:19, “I have known him to the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 3:2”

Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, 1. the whole family ] The expression used includes naturally Judah, though, as the context shews, Amos is practically thinking only of Israel. For family, used in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 3:1”

And [he that is] courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD. 16. courageous ] lit. strong (cognate with strengthen, Amo 2:14) of his heart: cf. Psa 27:14; Psa 31:24 (“Be firm; and let thy (your) heart shew strength,” i.e. let it take courage). Mighty, as Amo 2:14. naked … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 2:16”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 2:15”

Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: 14 16. A disaster, in which neither the swiftest nor the best equipped warrior will be able to escape, brings the kingdom of Israel to its end. Therefore ] simply And (as R.V.). … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 2:14”

Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed [that is] full of sheaves. 13. Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed &c.] The intransitive sense of the Hifil conjugation (properly, to shew pressure, or constraint), though just possible, cannot be said to be probable; and Behold (with the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 2:13”

But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. 12. But the Israelites had refused to respect either. They had tempted the Nazirites to break their vow; and had striven to silence the prophets. Ye shall not prophesy ] Cf. 1Ki 22:13-28 (Micaiah); Amo 7:13; Amo 7:16; Hos 9:8; … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 2:12”

And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. [Is it] not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD. 11. raised up ] Cf. Deu 18:15, Jer 6:17: similarly of judges, Jdg 2:16; Jdg 2:18; deliverers ( ib. Jdg 3:9; Jdg 3:15); a priest, 1Sa … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 2:11”

Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite. 10. Also I brought you up, &c.] as before, “And I (emph.)” &c. The providential guidance in the wilderness is instanced as a further motive to obedience, the appeal to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 2:10”

Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height [was] like the height of the cedars, and he [was] strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. 9. Yet destroyed I ] The pron. is emphatic: ‘Yet I (whom you thus requite) destroyed the Amorites, that mighty … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 2:9”