Amos boasts not here, in speaking of his own words, that he adduced anything as from himself, but avows himself to be only the minister of God; for he immediately adds that he received them by a vision. God himself raised up the Prophets and employed their labor; And, at the same time, guided them b... [ Continue Reading ]
He employs here the same words which we explained yesterday in the Lecture on Joel; but for another purpose. By saying, ‘Jehovah from Zion shall roar,’ Joel intended to set forth the power of God, who had been for a time silent, as though he was not able to repel his enemies. As God was then despise... [ Continue Reading ]
It is singular that Amos said that his words were concerning Israel, and that he should now turn to speak of Damascus and the country of Syria. This seems inconsistent; for why does he not perform the office committed to him? why does he not reprove the Israelites? why does he not threaten them? why... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the Prophet subjoins, _I will send fire unto the house of Hazael, which will devour the palaces of Ben-hadad. _The Prophet speaks still of the kingdom of Syria; for we know that both Ben-hadad and Hazael were kings of Syria. But Jerome is much mistaken, who thinks that Ben-hadad was here put in... [ Continue Reading ]
He then adds,_I will break in pieces the bar of Damascus _The Prophet confirms what he had already said; for Damascus, being strongly fortified, might have seemed unassailable. By bar, the Prophet, mentioning a part for the whole, meant strongholds and everything which could keep out enemies. Nothin... [ Continue Reading ]
Amos directs here his discourse against Gaza, which the Philistine occupied. It was situated in the tribe of Judah, towards the sea; but as the Anakims were its inhabitants, the Philistine kept possession of it. Then the Jews had these enemies as ακτωρηκους, _(guardians of the shore), _who had a gre... [ Continue Reading ]
Now follows a denunciation of punishment, — that _God would send a fire on the wall of Gaza, to devour its palaces. _And it hence appears that Gaza was a splendid town, and sumptuously built; and for this reason the Prophet speaks of its palaces. He shows, at the same time, that neither strength nor... [ Continue Reading ]
He therefore adds, that _Jehovah Lord _had spoken,_saith the Lord Jehovah _This was added for confirmation; for the Philistine were then in possession of many and strong defenses, so that they boldly laughed to scorn the threatening of the Prophet. He therefore brings forward here the name of God. N... [ Continue Reading ]
He uses nearly the same words respecting Tyrus which he did respecting Gaza, and charges it with the same sin, which was that of removing the Jews from their country, as refugees and exiles, into Idumea, and of selling them as captives to the Idumeans. As of all the rest, he declares the same of Tyr... [ Continue Reading ]
But he adds, that _God would send a fire on the wall of Tyrus to consume its palaces. _When this happened, cannot with certainty be known: for though Tyrus was demolished by Alexander, as Gaza also was, these cities, I doubt not, suffered this calamity long before the coming of Alexander of Macedon;... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet now passes to the Idumeans themselves. He had denounced ruin on the uncircumcised nations who delivered up the Jews into their hands: but they deserved a much heavier punishment, because their crime was much more atrocious. The Idumeans derived their origin, as it is well known, from the... [ Continue Reading ]
He says in the last place, _I will send fire on Teman, to consume the palaces of Bozrah _By fire he ever means any kind of destruction. But he compares God’s vengeance to a burning fire. We know that when fire has once taken hold, not only on a house, but on a whole city, there is no remedy. So now... [ Continue Reading ]
He now prophesies against the Ammonites, who also derived their origin from the same common stock; for they were the posterity of Lot, as it is well known; and Lot was counted as the son of Abraham, as Abraham, having taken him with him from his country brought him up, no doubt, as his own son. Then... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will therefore kindle a fire in the wall of _ רבה _, Rabe, which shall devour its palaces, _(the Prophet adds nothing new, I shall therefore go on,) _and this by tumult, _or _by clamour, in the day of war. _The Prophet means that enemies would come and suddenly lay waste the kingdom of Ammon; and... [ Continue Reading ]
He finally adds, _And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together _As מלכם, _melcam, _was an idol of the people, some regard it here as a proper name; but he says, מלכם הוא ושריו, _melcam eva ushariu_, ‘their king, he and his princes;’ hence the Prophet, no doubt, names the king... [ Continue Reading ]