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Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Amos 5

Amos 5:1

EVEN A LAMENTATION— This and the following chapter contain a kind of mournful song upon the misfortunes of Israel. See Jeremiah 9:17 and the introduction to the book of Lamentations.... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:2

FORSAKEN, &C.— _Cast down,_ or _laid prostrate,_ &c. The kingdom of Israel, or of the ten tribes, after being carried into captivity, was never more re-established: it never formed a distinct kingdom from that of Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:3

THE CITY THAT WENT OUT BY A THOUSAND— "The city which was able to furnish out a thousand men for war, shall have only a hundred of them left. Only one in ten of them shall escape the sword, and other chances of war." This was the exhausted state of Israel, when Salmaneser attacked and took Samaria,... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:5

AND PASS NOT TO BEER-SHEBA— Beer-sheba was not in the kingdom of Israel; and therefore we may hence collect that it was usual for the Israelites to pass into the kingdom of Judah, to Beer-sheba, and there to use some vain and idolatrous services. This place was remarkable for being the dwelling of A... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:9

THAT STRENGTHENETH THE SPOILED— _Who darteth out destruction upon the mighty, and bringeth devastation upon the fortress._ Schultens. We need not be surprised to find Amos, who was only a herdsman, speak here of the stars as an astronomer, Amos 5:8. In Arabia, and in the neighbouring countries, to t... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:11

BURDENS OF WHEAT— Houbigant's reading is, _A pledge,_ or _interest for wheat:_ "You exact a large and exorbitant interest or price for the necessaries of life.... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:13

THEREFORE THE PRUDENT SHALL KEEP SILENCE, &C.— "The prophet who finds that he shall not be heard, and that his remonstrances will not be regarded, shall retire, and keep silence till the Lord commands him to speak." This was the conduct of Amos himself. See chap. Amos 7:12; Amos 7:16. The wise man a... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:16

THEREFORE THE LORD, &C.— _Certainly the Lord of Hosts hath said,_ &c. Houbigant. The latter part of the verse may be read, _And the husbandman shall call the professed mourners to lamentation and wailing._... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:17

FOR I WILL PASS THROUGH THEE— "About to avenge mine own injuries; not, as before, sending the pestilence and famine." To the same purpose it is said in the 12th verse of the former chapter, _Prepare to meet thy God._... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:18

WOE UNTO YOU, &C.— _Woe unto them that wish for the day of the Lord. And why? To you the day of the Lord will be,_ &c. Infidels made a mock at the words of the prophets, when they told them the day of the Lord was at hand; and from a principle of unbelief expressed a desire of seeing this day, that... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:25-27

HAVE YE OFFERED UNTO ME, &C.— See the note on Deuteronomy 12:8. Jeremiah 7:22. These verses have made some people think that the Israelites, in their forty years' wanderings through the wilderness, continued in a course of rebellion against God, nay, and in the practice of idolatry: but this is a th... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:26

AND CHIUN YOUR IMAGES— _And the image of our idols._ Houbigant; who understands the word כיון _chiun_ to be an appellative, and not a proper name in this place. The LXX for _Chiun_ read Ραιφαν, _Raiphan,_ and St. Stephen, Acts 7:43. Ρεμφαν, _Remphan,_ or, as some copies read, Ραφαν, or Ρεφαν. Parkhu... [ Continue Reading ]

Amos 5:27

BEYOND DAMASCUS— The way into Assyria, whither the ten tribes were conveyed, was by Damascus. Amos does not expressly declare into what place the Israelites were to be removed; he only foretels that their banishment should be far remote; not at Damascus; whither they were carried by the kings of Syr... [ Continue Reading ]

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