INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF AMOS.

Jeroboam the Second, who was then living. He foretold the death of King Zechariah; the invasion of the lands belonging to Israel by Pul and Tiglath-pileser, kings of Assyria; and speaks of the captivity of the ten tribes, and of their return into their own country. He makes sharp invectives against the sins of Israel; against their effeminacy and avarice, their harshness to the poor, the splendour of their buildings, and the delicacy of their tables. proves the people of Israel for going to Beth-el, Dan, Gilgal, and Beer-sheba, which were the most famous pilgrimages of the country; and for swearing by the gods of these places.

The time and manner of his death are not known. Some old authors relate that Amaziah, priest of Beth-el, whom we have spoken of, provoked by the discourses of the prophet, had his teeth broken in order to silence him. Others say that Hosea, or Uzziah, the son of Amaziah, struck him with a stake upon the temples, and knocked him down, and almost killed him; that in this condition he was carried to Tekoa, where he died, and was buried with his fathers. This is the account these authors give us. On the contrary, it is the opinion of others, that he prophesied a long time at Tekoa after the adventure he had with Amaziah: and the prophet taking no notice of the ill treatment which he is said to have received from Uzziah, his silence is no argument that he suffered nothing from him.

St. Jerome observes, that there is nothing great and sublime in the style of Amos. He applies these words of St. Paul to him, rude in speech, though not in knowledge. He says farther, that as every one chooses to speak of his own art, Amos generally makes use of comparisons taken from the country life wherein he had been brought up. St. Austin shows that there was a certain kind of eloquence in the sacred writers, directed by the spirit of wisdom, and so proportioned to the nature of the things they treated of, that even they who accuse them of rusticity and unpoliteness in their way of writing, could not choose a style more suitable, were they to have spoken on the same subject, to the same persons, and in the same circumstances.

Bishop Lowth is not satisfied with the judgment of St. Jerome. His authority, says the learned prelate, has occasioned many commentators to represent this prophet as entirely rude, void of eloquence, and wanting in all the embellishments of style; whereas any one who reads him with due attention will find him, though a herdsman, not a whit behind the very chiefest prophets; almost equal to the greatest in the loftiness of his sentiments; and not inferior to any in the splendour of his diction, and the elegance of his composition. And it is well observed, that the same heavenly Spirit which inspired Isaiah and Daniel in the palace, inspired David and Amos in their shepherds' tents; always choosing proper interpreters of his will, and sometimes perfecting praise even out of the mouths of babes: at one time using the eloquence of some; at another, making others eloquent to subserve his great purposes. See Calmet and Dodd.

Archbishop Newcome speaks also justly of this prophet: "Amos borrows many images from the scenes in which he was engaged; but he introduces them with skill, and gives them tone and dignity by the eloquence and grandeur of his manner. We shall find in him many affecting and pathetic, many elegant and sublime, passages. No prophet has more magnificently described the Deity; or more gravely rebuked the luxurious: or reproved injustice and oppression with greater warmth, and a more generous indignation. He is a prophet on whose model a preacher may safely form his style and manner in luxurious and profligate times."

672

THE BOOK

OF THE

PROPHET A MOS.

Chronological Notes relative to this Book.

Year from the Creation, according to Archbisop Usher, 3217.-Year of the Julian Period, 3927.-Year since the Flood, 1561.-Year from the foundation of Solomon's temple, 225.-Year since the division of Solomon's monarchy into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, 188.Year since the first Olympic games were celebrated in Elis by the Idæi Dactyli, 667.-Year since the restoration of the Olympic games at Elis by Lycurgus, Iphitus, and Cleosthenes, 97.-Year before the conquest of Corcbus at Olympia, vulgarly called the first Olympiad, 11.-Year before the building of Rome, according to the Varronian computation, 34.-Year before the birth of Christ, 783.—Year before the vulgar era of Christ's nativity, 787.-Cycle of the Sun, 7.-Cycle of the Moon, 13.-Twenty-eighth and last year of Caranus, the founder of the kingdom of Macedon-Twenty-third year of Nicander, king of Lacedæmon, of the family of the Proclide. Twenty-seventh year of Alcamenes, king of Lacedæmon, of the family of the Eurysthenida. Eleventh year of Ardysus, king of Lydia.-Eleventh year of Agamestor, perpetual archon of the Athenians. Tenth year of Amulius Sylvius, king of the Albans. Fifth year of Telestus, monarch of Corinth.Sixth year of Sosarmus, king of the Medes, according to some chronologers.-Thirty-ninth year of Jeroboam II., king of Israel. Twenty-fourth year of Uzziah, king of Judah.

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CHAPTER I.

This chapter denounces judgments against the nations bordering on Palestine, enemies to the Jews, viz., the Syrians, 1-5; Philistines, 6-8; Tyrians, 9, 10; Edomites, 11, 12; and Ammonites, 13-15. The same judgments were predicted by other prophets, and fulfilled, partly by the kings of Assyria, and partly by those of Babylon; though, like many other prophecies, they had their accomplishment by degrees, and at different periods. The prophecy against the Syrians, whose capital was Damascus, was fulfilled by Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria; see 2 Kings xvi. 9. The prophecy against Gaza of the Philistines was accomplished by Hezekiah, 2 Kings xviii. 8; by Pharaoh, Jer. xlvii. I; and by Alexander the Great; see Quintius Curtius, lib. iv. c. 6. The prophecy against Ashdod was fulfilled by Uzziah, 2 Chron. xxvi. 6; . and that against Ashkelon by Pharaoh, Jer. xlvii. 5. All Syria was also subdued by Pharaoh-necho; and again by Nebuchadnezzar, who also took Tyre, as did afterwards Alexander: Nebuchadnezzar also subdued the Edomites, Jer. xxv. 9, 21, and xxvii. 3, 6. Judas Maccabeus routed the remains of them, 1 Macc. v. 3; and Hyrcanus brought them under entire subjection. The Ammonites were likewise conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. The earthquake, which the prophet takes for his era, is perhaps referred to in Zech. xiv. 5, and also in Isa. v. 25. Josephus ascribes it to Uzziah's invasion of the priestly office; see 2 Chron. xxvi. 16. A. M. cir. 3317. B. C. cir. 787. THE words of Amos, who | Uzziah king of Judah, and in A. was among the herdmen of the days of Jeroboam the Tekoa, which he saw con- of Joash king of Israel, two cerning Israel in the days of years before the earthquake.

Ante U. C. 34.
Amulii Sylvii,
R. Alban.,
cir. annum 10.

b

1

a

Chap. vii. 14.

b2 Sam. xiv. 2; 2 Chron. xx. 20.

NOTES ON CHAP. I.

d

с

e Hos. i. 1.

son

M. cir. 3217.

B. C cir. 787. Ante U. C. 34. Amulii Sylvii, R. Alban., cir. annum 10.

d Chap. vii. 10. Zech. xiv. 5. lation, were as different in their names as in their Verse 1; The words of Amos] This person and persons. The father of Isaiah, Amots; the prothe father of Isaiah, though named alike in our trans- | phet before us, Didy Amos. The first, aleph, mem, vau,

Verse 2. The Lord will roar from Zion] It is a pity that our translators had not followed the hemis-polyt., Act. ii. 694. tich form of the Hebrew:

Carmel was a very fruitful mountain in the tribe of And so the ancient oracle quoted by Pausanias, Judah, Josh. xv. 55; Isa. xxxv. 2,

CHAP. I.

6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, "tò deliver them up to Edom:

t

W

Ver. 9. Jer. xlvii.
Psa. lxxxi. 14. Jer.

e

Edomites and Ammonites.

B. C. cin. 787.

Ante U. C. 34.
Amulii Sylvii,
R. Alban.,.

cir. annum 10.

11 Thus saith the LORD; For A. M. cir. 3217. three trànsgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: 12 But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. 13 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishmentthereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, " that they might enlarge their border:

m

14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, P with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind: 15. And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.

2 Chron. xxviii. 18; Isa. xiv. 29; Jer. xlvii. 4, 5; Ezek. xxv. d Isa. xxi. 11; xxxiv. 5; Jer. xlix. 8, &c.; Ezek. xxv. 12, 13, 15; Zeph. n. 4. Or, carried them away with an entire captivity; 14; xxxv. 2, &c.; Joel iii. 19; Obad. I, &c.; Mal. i. 4. 2 Chron. xxi. 16, 17; Joel iii. 6.Gen. xxvii. 41; Deut. xxiii. 7; Mal. i. 2.——— 2 Chron: xxiii. 1. Zeph. ii. 4; Zech. ix. 5, 6. 17. Heb. corrupted his compassions.- hEzek. xxxv. 5. xlvii. 4; Ezek. xxv. 16. Isa. xxiii. 1; Jer. xlvii. 4; Ezek. Obad. 9, 10. Jer. xlix. 1, 2 Ezek. xxv. 2; Zeph. ii. 9. xxvi., xxvii., xxviii.; Joel iii. 4, 5. Ver. 6.- Heb. theOr, divided the mountains. m Hos. xiii. 16. Jer. xlix. I. covenant of brethren; 2 Sam, v. 11; 1.Kings v. 1; ix, 11-14. Deut. iii. 11; 2 Sam. xii. 26; Jer. xlix. 2; Ezek. xxv. 5. e Ver. 4, 7, &c. P Chap. ii. 2.- - Jer. xlix. 3.

of Syria, at present called Baal-Bek, and by the Greeks Heliopolis; and is situated at the end of that long valley which extends from south to north, between Libanus and Anti-Libanus.

The people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir] KIR is supposed to be the country of Cyrene in Albania, on the river Cyrus, which empties itself into the Caspian Sea. The fulfilment of this prophecy may be seen in 2 Kings xvi. 1–9.

7

by the most intimate ties of kindred; the two people having descended from the two brothers, Jacob and Esau. See Calmet.

Verse 10. I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus] The destructive fire or siege by Nebuchadnezzar, which lasted thirteen years, and ended in the destruction of this ancient city; see on Ezekiel, chap. xxvi. 7-14, as above. It was finally ruined by Alexander, and is now only a place for a few poor fishermen to spread their nets upon.

Verse 6. They carried away captive] Gaza is well known to have been one of the five lordships of the Verse 11. For three transgressions of Edom] That Philistines; it lay on the coast of the Mediterranean the Edomites (notwithstanding what Calmet observes Sea, near to Egypt. Ekron, Ashdod, and Ashkelon, above of the brotherly covenant) were always implawere other seignories of the same people, which are cable enemies of the Jews, is well known; but most. here equally threatened with Gaza. The captivity probably that which the prophet has in view was the mentioned here may refer to inroads and incursions part they took in distressing the Jews when Jerusamade by the Philistines in times of peace. See lem was besieged, and finally taken, by the Chaldeans. 2- Chron, xxi. 16. The margin reads, an entire cap-See Obad. 11-14; Ezek. xxv. 12; xxxv. 5; Psa. tivity. They took all away; none of them afterwards cxxxvii. 7. returned.

The brotherly covenant] This possibly refers to the very friendly league made between Solomon and Hiram, king of Tyre, 1 Kings y. 12; but some conBecause they have ripped up] This refers to some tend that the brotherly covenant refers to the consan- barbarous transaction well known in the time of this guinity between the Jews and Edomites. The Ty-prophet, but of which we have no distinct mention in rians, in exercising cruelties upon these, did it, in the sacred historians.

effect, on the Jews, with whom they were connected Verse 14. With shouting in the day of battle] They

This was done by Nebu-chief god of the Ammonites; and the following words, See Jer. xxvii. 3, 6, he and his princes, may refer to the body of his priestTheir king shall go into captivity] Pro-hood. See 1 Kings xi. 33, and the notes there. All malcham should be Milcom, who was a these countries were subdued by Nebuchadnezzar.

CHAPTER II.

The prophet goes on to declare the judgments of God against Moab, 1–3; against Judah, 4, 5; and then against Israel, the particular object of his mission. He enumerates some of their sins, 6–8, aggravated by God's distinguishing regard to Israel, 9-12; and they are in consequence threatened with dreadful punishments, 13-16. See 2 Kings xv. 19, and xvii. 6.

ABC 1877 THUS saith the LORD; For have not kept his commandments,