Amos 9

Amos 9:1

I Saw the Lord] In a Prophetick vision.

standing upon the altar] Of the Temple of Jerusalem; to shew, that there was no more pardon, seeing that the place of propitiation was by God converted as it were into a seat of rigorous and implacable justice.

and he said] To some Angel that was executioner of his judgement. See Ezekiel 9:4. 5.

lintel] Or, chapiter. Namely, of the door of the Temple. Heb. the knop; for they were wont to set great knops or bals in frontispice or lintels of the doors. And in this manner is represented the decree of the peoples desolation, amongst whom God had chosen his abode; and of the destruction of the materiall Temple, and the annihilation of the outward service.

cut them] Or, wound them. Let this act be a sign to them all, of what I intend to do to their persons.

he that fleeth of them] Chap. 2. 14.

Amos 9:2

Though they dig into hell] Psal. 139. 8, &c.

though they climbe up to heaven] Job 20:6. Jerem. 51. 53. Obadiah 1:4.

Amos 9:3

will I command the serpent] He sheweth that God will declare himself enemy unto them in all places, and that his elements and all creatures shall be enemies to destroy them.

Amos 9:4

thence will I command the sword] Dut. 28. 63.

I will set mine eyes] Leviticus 17:10. Jeremiah 44:11.

Amos 9:5

and shall be drowned] Chap. 8. 8.

Amos 9:6

stories in the heaven] Or, spheres. Heb. ascensions. Psalms 104:3. He declareth by the wonderful power of God, by the making of the heavens and the elements, that it is not possible for man to escape his judgements, when he punisheth.

troup] Or, bundle. All the universe, which is like the fabrick of a building, of which the earth being the lower part, and onely immoveable, hath some resemblance of a foundation.

that calleth for the waters of the sea] Chap. 5. 8.

Amos 9:7

Are ye not as the children of the Ethiopians unto me] Being degenerate, and having gone astray as you have done, I do hold you as Ethiopians, a base and accursed nation, as coming from Cham: and your deliverance out of Egypt shall be no more a pledge to you of my favour, then the deliverances which I have granted to these other profane nations.

from Caphtor] There is mention made of this in Deuteronomy 2:23. and Jeremiah 47:4.

Syrians] Heb. Aram. See Genesis 10:22.

from Kir] It is to be understood of the captivity of the Syrians, spoken of 2 Kings 16 9. Amos 1:5. which happened about Amos his time, whose deliverance, which was to come, is here set down, as if it were come already.

Amos 9:8

the eyes of the Lord] God judgeth, and punisheth all Kingdoms and nations alike, which are addicted to grievous sinnes; there is onely this difference, that he will never utterly destroy his people, without leaving some remnant of them. Jeremiah 30:11. and 31. 36, 37. Obad. 17.

Amos 9:9

fift] Heb. I will cause to move.

like as corn is fifted in a five] Governing their dispersion by my providence, in such sort, that none of mine elect shall perish in eternall prdition, nor the remainders of my faithfull be extinguished or overthrown.

grain] Heb. stone.

Amos 9:10

which say] Chap. 6. 3.

Amos 9:11

In that day will I raise] After I have thus punished my Church, I will restore the Kingdom of David by the Messias, changing it into a spirituall and everlasting Kingdom.

the tabernacle] Acts 15:16.

close] Heb. hege, or, wall.

Amos 9:12

That they may possesse] Obad. 19.

the remnant of Edom] Meaning, that the very enemies, as were the Edomites and others, should be joyned with the Jews in one society and body, whereof Christ should be the head. Or, that the true Israel according to the Spirit, joyned with Christ their Head, may participate of the universall kingdome, which he hath gotten over his enemies, such as the Idumeans were to the Israelites.

which are called by my Name] Heb. upon whom my Name is called.

Amos 9:13

the plow-man, &c.] Figurative promises of Gods spirituall graces and blessings to his Church. See Leviticus 26:5.

soweth seed] Heb. draweth forth.

sweet wine] Or, new wine. Joe 3:18.

all the hills shall melt] Into precious liquors, of honey, milk, oyl and musk.

Amos 9:14

I will bring again the captivity] The accomplishment hereof is under Christ, when they are planted in his Church, out of the which they can never be pulled, after they are once graffed therein. Isaiah 65:22.