Amos shows in this chapter that God had already often deferred the punishments which he had yet determined to inflict on the people; and thus he reminds the Israelites of their perverseness, inasmuch as they had abused the forbearance of God, and repented not after a long lapse of time: for God had... [ Continue Reading ]
But we must supply this prophecy or vision to its proper time. I doubt not, and I think that I can gather this from certain considerations, that the Prophet here compares the time which had preceded the reign of Jeroboam, the son of Joash, with the prosperous time which followed. For when Jeroboam t... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet shows that God had not once only spared the people, but that when he was again prepared for vengeance, he still willingly deferred it, that, if possible, the people might willingly recover themselves: but as all were unhealable, this forbearance of God produced no fruit. Now as to the wo... [ Continue Reading ]
He adds, that God was again pacified. We must ever bear in mind the object he had in view; for ungodly men thought the Prophets to be liars, whenever God did not immediately execute the vengeance he had denounced: but Amos here reminds them, that when God defers punishment, he does not in vain threa... [ Continue Reading ]
This vision opens more clearly to us what the Prophet meant before, and what was the object of his doctrine: his intention was to show the people that what they had gained by their obstinacy was only to render God implacable, and to cause him not to spare them any longer, as he had hitherto done. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
But that which follows has an important meaning: God asks his Prophet, _What sees thou, Amos? _It is probable that the Prophet was astonished at a thing so mysterious. When locusts were formed, and when there was a contention by fire, he might have easily gathered what God meant; for these visions w... [ Continue Reading ]
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 su... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet here relates the device by which Satan attempted to depress his mind, that he might not go on in the discharge of his prophetic office. He says, that Amaziah had sent to the king to induce him to adopt some severe measure; for he pretended that as Amos scattered words full of sedition, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Now our Prophet is wholly silent as to the answer of the king: it is therefore probable, either that the king was not much excited, — or that he dared not openly to take away the life of Amos; for he had probably obtained some authority among the people; and though he was hated, yet his name as a Pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amaziah then said to Amos, _— that is, after his first proceeding disappointed him; for he did not obtain from king Jeroboam what he expected, — then Amaziah said to Amos, _Seer, go, flee to the land of Judah! _By saying _Go, _he intimates that he was at liberty to depart, as though he said, “Why w... [ Continue Reading ]
Now as to the fifth argument, it is especially needful to dwell on it. _In Bethel, _he says, _add no more to prophesy, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the house of the kingdom _Here only Amaziah shows what he wished, even to retain possession of his priesthood; which he could not have done... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet Amos first pleads for himself, that he was not at liberty to obey the counsel of Amaziah, because he could not renounce a calling to which he was appointed. As then he had been sent by God, he proves that he was bound by necessity to prophesy in the land of Israel. In the first place, he... [ Continue Reading ]
Amos having shown that he must obey God, who had committed to him the office of teaching, now turns his discourse to Amaziah, and points out what he would gain by his insolence in daring to forbid a Prophet, an ambassador of the God of heaven, to proclaim what he had in command. As, then, Amaziah ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Now follows a denunciation, _Therefore thus saith Jehovah _This לכן, _lacen_, therefore, shows that Amaziah suffered punishment, not only because he had corrupted God’s worship, because he had deceived the people by his impostures and because he had made gain by the disguise of religion; but because... [ Continue Reading ]