Amos 5

Amos 5:2

THe virgin of Israel] So are called in Scripture those States, which subsist and flourish in their first libertie and splendor. See Isaiah 13:12. & Isaiah 47:1.

Amos 5:3

an hundred] Meaning that the tenth part shall scarcely be saved.

Amos 5:4

Seck ye me] Here must be understood: which ye have refused to do.

Amos 5:5

Beth-el] Chap. 4. 4. Namely, the idols which were in these cities, Amos 4:4.

Beer-sheba] By Amos 8:14. it appeareth that this citie also was the seat of some solemn idolatry, though it belonged to the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:28. 1 Kings 19:3.

Gilgal] Namely, the inhabitants thereof. In the Hebre there is an allusion between the word Gilgal and captivitie.

Beth-el shall come to nought] Bethel signifies the house of God: but by reason of the idolatry that was used therein, it is called Beth-avn, that is to say, the house of an idol. Hosea 4:15. & Hosea 10:8. And because Aven signifies an idol, or nought, and vanitie; therefore her last ruine is also set forth by this name.

Amos 5:6

the house of Joseph] Of the ten tribes, whereof the chief was that of Ephraim, that came of Joseph.

Beth-el] None of your idols which you serve in Bethel shall be able to help you.

Amos 5:7

turn judgement to wormwood] Chap. 6. 12. Ye corrupt justice: and whereas of it self it is a most profitable and pleasing thing, ye make it most bitter to those who are oppressed, and most abominable to God.

Amos 5:8

maketh] He describeth the power of God, Job 9:9. & Job 38:31.

turneth] This may properly be understood of the great and prodigious changes in the aire: or figuratively of the alteration of States, and changes of the world.

and maketh the day dark] Chap. 4. 13.

calleth for the waters of the sea] Chap. 9. 6.

poureth them out] By this is more likely to be meant the deluges and inundations of the sea, then the vapours of it resolved into rain.

Amos 5:9

spoiled] Heb. spoil.

Amos 5:10

rebuketh] They hate the Prophets, which reprove them in the open assemblies. Others, the judges and magistrates (who kept their courts neer to the gates of the cities) cannot indure the censures of Gods servants. See Isaiah 29:21.

Amos 5:11

burdens of wheat] That little he hath to relieve himself, his money and food.

ye have built houses of hewen stone] Deuteronomy 28:38-39. Zephaniah 1:13.

pleasant vineyards] Heb. vineyards of desire.

Amos 5:12

a bribe] Or, a ransome.

Amos 5:13

prudent] That is, true beleevers, which judge truly of the calamities, and of their causes, shall in silence, and with patience worship Gods justice, without any murmuring or offence.

Amos 5:14

as ye have spoken] As you make your boasts that he is, you being his people. Or, as you desire, and continually pray that he may be.

Amos 5:15

Hate the evil] Psalms 34:14. and Psalms 97:10. Romans 12:9.

it may be that the LORD God of hosts] Joe 2:14.

Amos 5:16

Therefore] Because you reject all my exhortations, and admonitions.

shall call the husbandman] As to a publique and generall mourning.

such as are skilfull of lamentation] Those teachers of funerall mournings: whereof see Jeremiah 9:17.

Amos 5:17

all vineyards shall be wailing] In stead of the joyfull songs in time of vintage, there shall nothing be heard, but weeping and howling, because of the spoyle of the countrey.

I will passe through thee] As it were to do a generall execution of justice, Exodus 11:4. & Exodus 12:12.

Amos 5:18

Wo unto you] Jeremiah 30:7. Joel 2. 2. Zeph. 1. 15.

that desire the day of the LORD] By a profane boldnesse, as provoking him to bring that once to passe which he hath so long threatned: Or by an impudent boasting of your own innocency, as if God coming to judgement should finde you guiltlesse, or at least lesse guiltie then the Prophets report you to be. See Isaiah 5:19. Jeremiah 17:15.

Amos 5:19

As if a man did flee from a lion] These judgements of God shall be utterly unavoydable, and he that shall escape one evil, shall fall into a worse, Job 20:14. Isaiah 24:18. Jeremiah 48:44.

Amos 5:20

no brightnesse in it] Of any comfort, ease, direction, or good counsell.

Amos 5:21

I hate] Isaiah 1:11. Jeremiah 6:20.

will not smell in your solemn assemblies] Or, smell your holydaies. I will not accept of your sacrifices, which you shall offer me at those times. See Leviticus 26:31.

Amos 5:22

peace-offerings] Or, thank-offerings.

Amos 5:23

of thy songs] He meaneth the sacred songs, which were part of Gods service: which he reproves as defiled with impietie and hypocrisie.

Amos 5:24

run down as waters] Heb. roll. Do righteousnesse and justice, in a firm and unvariable way.

Amos 5:25

Have ye offered, &c.] Acts 7:42. Your forefathers even in the wildernesse were idolaters, neglecting a great part of the worship which I had appointed them; See Deuteronomy 32:17. and you imitate them, and heap up their measure.

Amos 5:26

But ye have born the tabernacle] Or, Siccuth your king. Your forefathers, making shew of serving me, carrying my tabernacle, and all things belonging to it in the wildernesse, had notwithstanding their hearts set upon their idols, and secretly carryed some chappell or image of Moloch the idol of the Moabites. Others take the names of Tabernacle and Image, Siccuth and Chiun, for the names of idols, or planets, Venus and Saturn.

starre of your god] It is thought for certaine that Moloch represents Saturn, and the other Baalims, the other planets. See 1 Kings 11:5.

ye made to your selves] You had made the images of them, and had attributed divinitie to them, and had consecrated and set them up, for the object of your worship.

Amos 5:27

Therefore will I cause you to go, &c.] Because that after so many sinnes of your forefathers, punished by me from time to time, you have persevered in them, yea and have gone beyond them: I will execute the finall judgement upon you, in a totall desolation, and dispersion in strange countreys: to the grievousnesse of which, the captivitie of the people in Syria, caused by Hazael, who reigned in Damascus, shall no way be equall nor comparable, 2 Kings 13:3.