TITLE. The words of Amos. But the words of Jehovah by Amos. See [Amo 1:3].
Amos = Burden.
herdmen = shepherds. Hebrew. nokdim; so called from a peculiar breed of stunted sheep (with fine wool). Mesha was called a noked, rendered "sheepmaster"([ 2Ki 3:4]). See App-54. Occurs only in these two places. But Amos was also a herdman, as is clear from [Amo 7:14]; whereboker is from bakar, an ox, and hence is connected with ploughing ([ 1Ki 19:19], [ 1Ki 19:21], &c.) See note on [Amo 7:14].
Tekoa. Now Khan Telkua, five miles south of Bethlehem, and ten from Jerusalem. Compare [ 2Sa 14:2]. [ 2Ch 20:20].
which = which [words].
saw = saw [in a vision]. Compare [ Num 24:4], [ Num 24:16]. [ Isa 30:10]. [ Eze 12:27].
Israel. This gives us the subject of the book. in the days. Compare [ Hos 1:1].
Jeroboam. See [Amo 7:10].
two years before the earthquake: i.e. before the one well known and remembered. Compare [ Zec 14:5].
the earthquake. Figure of speech Hyster. App-6.
he said. Thus writing the words down.
The LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4. This title is not the usual one in this book.
roar = roar as a. lion, or thunder. It is always, when predicated of the Lord, connected with the end of Gentile dominion. Compare [ Jer 25:30], [ Joe 3:16].
utter = give out.
habitations = pastures.
shepherds. Not the same word as in [Amo 1:1], but the usual word (raah = tenders).
top of Carmel. Mount Carmel in the north, thus embracing the whole land; now Jebel Kurmul; not Carmel in Judah (south of Hebron); now el Kurmul. Compare [ 1Sa 25:2]. [ Isa 33:9].
wither = be dried up.
Thus saith the LORD. Jehovah’s words: not the words of Amos. . The prophetic formula. See App-82. See the twelve with Jehovah, in verses: [Amo 3:6], [Amo 3:9], [Amo 3:11], [Amo 3:13]; [Amo 2:1], [Amo 2:4], [Amo 2:6]; [Amo 8:12]; [Amo 5:4]; [Amo 5:16]; [Amo 7:17]; and the two with Adonai Jehovah in [Amo 3:11]; [Amo 5:3].
three . . . four. Hebrew idiom to express several, or many ([ Job 33:29], margin) Compare [ Pro 30:15], [ Pro 30:18], [ Pro 30:21], [ Pro 30:29].
transgressions. Hebrew pasha. App-44.
turn away = turn it back, or avert it. the punishment thereof. There is no Ellipsis to be supplied, and no separate Hebrew word for "thereof". The Hebrew is lo’ ashibennu, I will not cause it to turn back: i.e. I will not avert it.
The pronoun "it" is masculine, agreeing with and referring to earthquake ([Amo 1:1]), and means that Jehovah would not avert it. So in all the eight occurrences (verses: [Amo 3:6], [Amo 3:9], [Amo 3:11], [Amo 3:13]; [Amo 2:1], [Amo 2:4], [Amo 2:6]).
thrashed Gilead. Compare [ Joe 8:14]. The very term used in [ 2Ki 13:7].
With = [as it were] with. Figure of speech Hypocatastasis. App-6.
I will send a fire. Compare [Amo 1:7], [Amo 1:10], [Amo 1:12]; [Amo 2:2], [Amo 2:5]. Refer to [ Jer 17:27]; [ Jer 49:27]; [ Jer 50:32]. [ Hos 8:14].
Hazael. Compare [ 2Ki 8:12]; [ 2Ki 10:32], as; [Amo 18:3].
palaces: or fortresses. Hebrew. ’armon. Occurs (in plural) twelve times in Amos (see App-10): [Amo 1:4], [Amo 1:7], [Amo 1:10], [Amo 1:12], [Amo 1:14]; [Amo 2:2], [Amo 2:5]; [Amo 3:9], [Amo 3:10], [Amo 3:11]; [Amo 6:8]; seven times with the verb "devour" (Hebrew. akal).
Ben-hadad. An official title of the Syrian kings = son of Hadad i.e. the sun-god. The Ben-hadad of [ 2Ki 13:3]; not of [ 2Ki 8:7-15].
the bar. Note the Figure of speech Metalepsis (App-6), by which "bar" is put by Figure of speech Metalepsis, App-6, for the gates, and then the gates put for defence of the city. Compare [ Deu 3:5]. [ 1Ki 4:13]. [ Jer 51:30]. [ Lam 2:9].
the inhabitant: or, him that is seated: i.e. the ruler, corresponding with the next line.
Avon. Same a Beth-aven, east of Beth-el, belonging to Benjamin. Compare [ Hos 4:15]; [ Hos 5:8]; [ Hos 10:5], [ Hos 10:8].
the house of Eden = Beth-eden.
Kir. So in [Amo 9:7], [ 2Ki 16:9]. [ Isa 22:6].
Gaza. Now Ghuzzeh, in- Philistia.
the whole captivity = a wholesale captivity.
captivity = captives. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for a whole body of captives. See [ Jer 13:19]. Compare [ Jer 47:1]. [ 2Ch 21:16], [ 2Ch 21:17]; [ 2Ch 28:17].
wall. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6, for the whole city.
Ashdod. Afterward called by the Greeks, "Azotus". Now Esclud, in the plain of Philistia, thirty-five miles north of Gaza.
Ashkelon. Now ’Askalan, on the coast of Philistia.
Ekron. Afterward, Greek, "Accaron" (1 Macc. 10.89), Now ’Akir, six miles west of Gezer. For "Gezer "see note on [ 1Ki 9:15-17].
saith = hath said.
the Lord GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4. This Divine title occurs twenty-one times (7 x 3. See App-10) in this book ([Amo 1:8], [Amo 1:3], [Amo 1:7], [Amo 1:8], [Amo 1:11], [Amo 1:13]; [Amo 4:2], [Amo 4:5]; [Amo 5:3]; [Amo 6:8]; [Amo 7:1-6]; [Amo 8:1], [Amo 8:3], [Amo 8:9], [Amo 8:11]; [Amo 9:5], [Amo 9:8]). For "thus hath said Adonai Jehovah" See [Amo 3:11].
Tyrus. Now es Sur. See notes on Isa 23. [ Jer 25:22]; [ Jer 47:4]. Also Eze 26-28. [ Joe 3:4], [ Joe 3:5].
the brotherly covenant = a covenant of brethren. Compare [ 2Sa 5:11]. [ 1Ki 5:1]; [ 1Ki 9:11-14].
Edom. Compare [ Isa 21:11]; [Amo 34:5]. [ Jer 49:8], &c. [ Eze 25:12-14]; [ Eze 35:2]. [ Joe 3:19]; [ Oba 1:1]. [ Mal 1:4].
because, &c. Reference to Pentateuch ([ Gen 27:41]. Compare [ Deu 23:7]). App-92. Compare [ Mal 1:2].
his brother. Reference to Pentateuch ([ Gen 25:24-26]).
tear perpetually : or, tear [his prey] perpetually. Ginsburg thinks = kept his grudge. Compare [ 2Ch 28:17].
he. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version omits "he".
Teman. Compare [ Jer 49:7]. [ Oba 1:9]. I-lab. [Amo 3:3]. Elipbaz was a Ternanite ([ Job 2:11], &c.)
Bozrah. Now el Buseirah, south-east of the Dead Sea.
children = sons.
Ammon. Compare [ 1Sa 11:1].
ripped up, &c. Foretold in [ Hos 13:16]. [ 2Ki 8:12]; [ 2Ki 8:15], [ 2Ki 8:16].
that they might, &c. Compare [ Jer 49:1:14] Rabbah. Now ’Amman (on the highlands of Gilead), "the city of waters", twenty-five miles north of the Dead Sea. Compare [ 2Sa 11:1], and [ 2Sa 12:26], [ 2Sa 12:27]. [ Jer 49:2]. Reference to Pentateuch ([ Deu 3:10], [ Deu 3:11]). App-92.
shouting = a great war-cry.
the day of battle: i.e. the day of their foe’s tumultuous assault.
he. Ginsburg thinks it = his priests, with Septuagint.