AMOS THE ARGUMENT IF we might be allowed to make a conjecture at the quality of our prophet’s sermons by the signification of his name, we must conclude that they contain heavy tidings and grievous judgments coming upon them to whom he is sent to preach; Amos in the Hebrew coming from a word which…

The words: the Holy Ghost doth in this expression comprehensively take in all the sermons, visions, and predictions which Amos preached and published; all the exhortations to duty, the menaces against sins, the warnings of dangers coming, and the promises of mercy to them that hear and obey his…

He; Amos. The Lord; the Almighty and Eternal, whom you of the ten tribes have forsaken, and thereby have provoked to displeasure. Will roar: the prophet, alluding to what was dreadful, dangerous, and most rousing to shepherds, the roaring of a hungry lion that comes out of his den for prey, doth…

Thus saith the Lord; Amos speaks not by conjecture, or of his own head, but as he comes in the name of the Lord, so he assures us of it by this most solemn attestation. Three transgressions: this certain number is put for an uncertain; three, i.e.

I the Lord, avenger of mine oppressed Israel, Jehovah, as Amos 1:3. A fire; either literally understood, or figuratively, famine, pestilence, wars foreign or intestine, effects of God’s great but just displeasure, which destroys all like fire.

I, the mighty God, as Amos 1:4, will break, weaken and shake into pieces, the bar; literally, the bar with which the city gates were shut, and both fastened and strengthened, Judg. 16:3, Neh. 7:3, Ps. 107:16.

Three transgressions: see Amos 1:3. Gaza; the principal city of the Philistines; all the rest are to be understood; and here the city is named, but the inhabitants are meant also with the city; ancient and strong, the seat of the Anakims, conquered by Judah, yet lost soon after to the old…

I will send a fire; see Amos 1:4; desolating judgments, expressed here by fire. On the wall; which was strong, and a mighty defence to the city; this only mentioned, but all the power and strength of Gaza, and of whole Palestina, is here included, and the judgment denounced is here intended against…

The inhabitant: see Amos 1:5. Ashdod: see Zeph. 2:4, Zech. 9:6. This was one of the five cities of the Philistines, and had its roitelet. it was afterwards called Azotus, Acts 8:40. In this city was Dagon’s temple and statue, 1 Sam. 5:1–3. The like threat against Ashdod did Jeremiah denounce, Jer.

The prophet having foretold the destruction of the Syrians and the Philistines, for their inhumanity and barbarous cruelty against the Jews, he doth now in the same manner and words foretell the destruction of the Tyrians. See Amos 1:3.

Three transgressions: see Amos 1:3. Edom: see Amos 1:6. I will not turn away the punishment thereof: see Amos 1:3. He did pursue; watch for and lay hold on every occasion to oppress Israel. His brother; Jacob and his posterity here are meant, as is Esau and his posterity.

I will send a fire: see Amos 1:4, Amos 1:7. Teman; metropolis of Idumea, called from Esau’s grandson of that name; of this see Ezek. 25:13, Hab. 3:3. And this here taken synecdochically implieth the inhabitants of this city, and of the whole country, which shall perish when the judgment here…

The children of Ammon: this is the fourth kingdom threatened; a people descended from Lot, by his younger daughter, of near kin to Israel, and much-like neighbours as the Edomites, bitter enemies to the Jews: see Ezek. 25:2. I will not turn away the punishment thereof: see Amos 1:4.

I will kindle a fire in the wall: see Amos 1:4, where the phrase is explained: as to the time when this prophecy was fulfilled, it was partly when the Assyrian kingdom flourished, and partly by Nebuchadnezzar, as was foretold by Ezekiel, Ezek. 25:1–3;c., which see.

Their king; or Milchore, or Moloch, the idol of the Ammonites, so it signifieth, as well as king. I suppose the prophet may intend both, their god as well as their king shall be carried captive, as was customary with conquerors, 1 Sam. 5:2, Isa. 46:2.