Amos 8

Amos 8:1

A Basket of summer fruit] In the Hebrew there is a kinde of affinity between the word summer and the word end, which is the onely ground of this signe: and for to keep some mark thereof, the word [appointed end] is joyned in the next verse. See Jeremiah 1:11.

Amos 8:2

a basket of summer fruit] Which signifieth the ripenesse of their sinne, and the readinesse of Gods judgements.

Amos 8:3

the songs of the temple] Namely, the sweet melody of great ones. See Amos 6:5.

shall be howlings] Heb. shall hwl.

dead bodies in every place] The dead bodies shall not be buried honourably, and with funerall pomp; but shall be thrown into pits and common graves, without any mourning. Psalms 78:64.

they shall ast them] Chap. 6. 10.

with silence] Heb. be silent.

Amos 8:4

that swallow up the needy] By staying of the sale of food and necessary things, which ye have gotten into your owne hands, and so cause the poor to spend quickly that little which they have, and at length for necessity to become your slaves.

new-moon] Or, moneth. When the dearth was once come, they were so greedy of gain, that they thought the holy day to be an hinderance unto them; for on such dayes it was not lawfull to buy or sell. Nhem. 13. 15, 16.

set forth wheat] Heb. open wheat.

making the Ephah small] That is, the measure small, and the price great.

falsifying the balances by deceit] Heb. perverting the balances of deceit.

Amos 8:6

buy the poor] Insnaring the poor into fraudulent debts, to make thm your bondmen; abusing the permission, Leviticus 25:39. which aimed onely at a remedy for casuall poverty.

for silver] Chap. 2. 6.

Amos 8:7

The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob] By himself who is the glorious God of his people, Psalm. 106. 20. by whom Jacob, that is, Israel doth excell. See Deut. 4. 7, 8.

Amos 8:8

Shall not the land tremble for this] Are not these wickednesses sufficient to cause the land to be destroyed and laid waste; as Egypt is overflown by the river Nilu?

and it shall be cast out] Chap. 9. 5.

Amos 8:9

cause the sun to go down at oon] I will encumber the land with horrible and mournfull calamities, when it shall be least thought of, and when a man shall think himself happy and peaceable. See Job 5:14. Isaiah 13:10. and 59. 9, 10. Jeremiah 15:9.

and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loyns] Isaiah 15:2. Jeremiah 48:37. Ezekiel 7:18.

as the mourning of an onely sonne] Jerem. 6. 26. Zechariah 12:10.

as a bitter day] Job 3:5.

Amos 8:11

but of hearing the words of the LORD] 1 Samuel 3:1. Psalms 74:9. For to receive some comfort, counsell or advice thereby.

Amos 8:12

seek the word of the LORD] Whereby he sheweth, that they shall not onely perish in body, but also in soul for lack of Gods Word, which is the food thereof. See Hosea 4:6.

Amos 8:13

faint for thirst] Namely, by the the effects of my burning wrath, without any refreshment of comfort. Hosea 2:3.

Amos 8:14

that swear by the sinne of Samaria] By the Calves and other idols, which are the objects and instruments of their sinne; as Deuteronomy 9:21. for the idolaters did use to swear by their idols, as the Papists yet do by theirs.

Thy God] For they made profession of worshipping the true God in those figures. See Exodus 32:4; Exodus 5:2 King. 10. 16, 29. Hosea 4:15.

O Dan] Where one of the Calves was set up, 1 Kings 12:29.

the manner] Heb. the way. Namely, the religion or worship; as Acts 9:2. and Acts 18:25. and Acts 24:14.

of Beer-sheba] See upon Amos 5:5.