Amos 4:1

Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. HEAR THIS WORD, YE KINE OF BASHAN - fat and wanton kine, such as the rich pasture of Bashan (east of Jordan, between Hermon and Gilead) was famed for (; , "Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round;" , "Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty ... all of them fatlings of Bashan"). Batanea in more recent times formed part of Bashan, and is still famed for its pastures and oak forests. Figure for those luxurious nobles mentioned Amos 3:9;...

He who divided the chapters seems not to have well considered the Prophet’s argument: for he pursues here his reproof of the rich, and he had been prophesying against the chief men in the kingdom of Israel. We indeed know how much ferocity there is in the rich, when they become formidable to others by their power. Hence the Prophet here laughs to scorn their arrogance: _Hear, _he says, _this word; _as though he said, “I see how it will be; for these great and pompous men will haughtily despise my threatening, they will not think themselves exposed to God’s judgment; and they will also think that wrong is done to them: they will inquire, ‘Who I am,’ and ask, ‘How dares a shepherd assail them with so much boldness?’ “_Hear _then _ye cows; _as though he said, that he cared not for the greatness in which they prided themselves. “What then is your wealth? It is even fatness: then I make no mo...

1-5 What is got by extortion is commonly used to provide for the flesh, and to fulfil the lusts thereof. What is got by oppression cannot be enjoyed with satisfaction. How miserable are those whose confidence in unscriptural observances only prove that they believe a lie! Let us see to it that our faith, hope, and worship, are warranted by the Divine word....

CHAPTER IV _Israel reproved for their oppression_, 1-3; _idolatry_, 4, 5; _and for their impenitence under the chastising hand of God_, 6-11. _The omniscience and uncontrollable power of God_, 12, 13. NOTES ON CHAP. IV Verse Amos 4:1. _HEAR THIS WORD, YE KINE OF BASHAN_] Such an address was quite natural from the herdsman of Tekoa. _Bashan_ was famous for the fertility of its soil, and its flocks and herds; and the prophet here represents the iniquitous, opulent, idle, lazy drones, whether men or women, under the idea of fatted bullocks, which were shortly to be led out to the slaughter....

HEAR YE THIS, YE KINE OF BASHAN - The pastures of Bashan were very rich, and it had its name probably from its richness of soil . The Batanea of later times was a province only of the kingdom of Bashan, which, with half of Gilead, was given to the half tribe of Manasseh. For the Bashan of Og included Golan Deuteronomy 4:43, (the capital of the subsequent Gaulonitis, now Jaulan) Beeshterah Joshua 21:27, (or Ashtaroth) 1 Chronicles 6:71, very probably Bostra (see ab. on 1 Chronicles 1:12), and Elrei Deute

EXPOSITION AMOS 4:1 _§ 2. Second address. The prophet reproves the voluptuous women of Samaria, and fortells their captivity _(Amos 4:1);_ with bitter irony he describes the people's devotion to idolatry _(Amos 4:4, Amos 4:5):_ he shows how incorrigible they have proved themselves under God's chastisements _(Amos 4:6);_ therefore they must expect further punishment, if so be that they will learn to fear the Lord _(Amos 4:12,...

HEAR THIS WORD, YE KINE OF BASHAN,.... Or "cows of Bashan" n; a country beyond Jordan, inhabited by the tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, very fruitful of pasturage, and where abundance of fat cattle were brought up; to whom persons of distinction, and of the first rank, are here compared. Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret them of the wives of the king, princes, ministers of state, and great men; and so it may be thought that Amos, a herdsman, in his rustic manner, compliments the court ladies with this epithet, for their plumpness, wantonness, and petulancy. Though it may be the princes and great men themselves may be rather intended, and be so called for their effeminacy, and perhaps with some regard to the calves they worshipped; and chiefly because being fat and flourishing, and abounding with wealth and riches, they became wanton and mischievous; like...

CHAPTER 4 The Second Discourse _ 1. Divine threatening and irony (Amos 4:1) _ 2. Yet have ye not returned unto Me (Amos 4:6) 3. Prepare to meet thy God (Amos 4:12) Amos 4:1. The prophet addresses them as “kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria.” The cows of Bashan were noted for their sleek and well-fed condition, feeding on the choicest of pasture. The term is descriptive of Israel's prosperous condition as well as their beastly character. They were selfish and cruel, for they oppressed the poor and crushed the needy. It seems that women are mostly here in view, which explains the fact that the comparison is with

THE WOMEN OF SAMARIA. Like Isaiah (Isaiah 31:6), Amos turns to denounce the extravagant and wicked frivolity of the women of the upper classes. He is not necessarily charging them with responsibility for the sins of the men; from those to whom much has been given (by Divine favour) much is required. The idle and pampered women of Samaria are described as kine of Bashan (_cf_. Deuteronomy 32:14; Psalms 22:12), or, as we should say, prize cows. They gratify their fads and fancies at the expense of the poor, since extravagance always involves injustice. The prophet may not intend to charge them with drunkenness, but rather, as Ehrlich suggests, with inducing their husbands to rob and wrong their poor neighbours i

HEAR... YE. Masculine KINE. heifers: the women. Compare Psalms 22:22 (masculine), Ezekiel 39:18 (masculine) MOUNTAIN = hill country. OPPRESS. Hebrew. _ashak_, as in Amos 3:9 (feminine) Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:13.Deuteronomy 24:14; Deuteronomy 24:14). Compare 2 Samuel 12:3;...