_Thus hath the Lord showed unto me_ The Lord also showed me the following things. Here the prophet mentions the first of five prophetic representations of what was coming upon this people. _He formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the latter growth_ He appeared to me as bringing a vast multitude o... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they had made an end of eating the grass_ With us grasshoppers are not hurtful, but those in our text were _locusts_, as the word גבי, here used, is rendered, Isaiah 33:4: in which sense the word is understood by the Vulgate and Houbigant: see also Nab. 3:17. _By whom shall Jacob arise?_ Or, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord God called to contend by fire_, &c. This represented a sorer judgment than the former, and, in the opinion of some expositors, denoted the invasion of Tiglath-pileser, who carried a great part of Israel away captive, 2 Kings 15:29, and so was properly represented by a raging fire, which co... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb-line_ A wall strongly and beautifully built. God's judgments are sometimes represented in Scripture by a line and a plummet, to denote that they are measured out by the exactest rules of justice. _Behold, I will set a plumb-line in the midst of my people I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam_ This was a priest not of the tribe of Levi, but such a one as those were whom Jeroboam I. had consecrated to perform the idolatrous services at Beth-el: see 1 Kings 12:31. _Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst_, &c. That is, in an open a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amaziah said, O thou seer, go flee_, &c. Thou that sayest thou art a prophet, get thee hence, where thou signifiest that thou art so much displeased with the actions of the people, and go _into the land of Judah_ Where it is likely thou wilt be better entertained than thou art here. _And there eat... [ Continue Reading ]
_I was no prophet_ Not originally, or by study, or by any human designation; _neither was I a prophet's son_ Neither was I bred up at the schools of the prophets; as those usually were who took that office upon them. _But I was a herdman_ By breeding and occupation I was, and still am, a herdman; _a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now, hear thou the word of the Lord_ Who hath sent me, and whom thou contradictest; from him I have a message to thee also, which much concerns thee. _Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel_ Thou usest thy power to silence me; _therefore thus saith the Lord_ Because thou hast so directly and wilf... [ Continue Reading ]