Amos 5:10

The prophet reverts to the subject of Amos 5:7, which was interrupted by Amos 5:8.

They hate him that reproveth in the gate, &c. They are heedless (Amos 5:7) of the claims of justice: they will not listen either to the exposure of wrong-doing or to the defence of innocence, in the public place of judgement. The same phrase, -the reprover in the gate," in a similar connexion, recurs Isaiah 29:21: it denotes the person, whether judge or advocate, who indicts, impeaches, seeks to convict, the wrong-doer; cf. Job 13:10; Job 22:4, and the corresponding subst. -reproof," or -indictment" (R.V. -reasoning"), Job 13:6 The -gate" more exactly the -gate-way," with a depth corresponding to the thickness of the wall, in which it was constructed, and no doubt with seats along each side is the Oriental forum: and it is often alluded to as the place in which the -elders" sat, and justice was administered (e.g. Amos 5:12; Amos 5:15; Deuteronomy 21:19; Deuteronomy 22:15; Deuteronomy 25:7; Ruth 4:1-2; Ruth 4:11; Job 31:21; Psalms 127:5).

him that speaketh uprightly sincerelyor blamelessly(Judges 9:16; Psalms 15:2); any one who comes forward to speak honestly in defence of the innocent, is the object of their undisguised -abhorrence." Abhorforms a climax upon hate: cf. Psalms 5:5 b, Psalms 5:6 b.