Amos 4:1-5:10 NIV

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Amos 4:1

Hear . . . ye. Masculine kine = heifers: the women. Compare Psalms 22:22 (masculine), Ezekiel 39:18 (masculine) mountain = hill country. oppress. Hebrew. ashak , as in Amos 3:9 (feminine) Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:13 .Deuteronomy 24:14; Deuteronomy 24:14 ). Compare 2 Samuel 12:3 , 2 Samuel 12:4 . the poor = exhausted ones. Hebrew. dal (masculine) See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11 the needy = needy ones. Hebrew ' ebyan (masculine) See note "poverty" Proverbs 6:11 . say... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Amos 4:1

There is a continuation in this chapter of the general thought and movement of the last, consisting of denunciations and exhortations of Israel. First, there is a powerful blast against the idle, sinful and oppressive rich "in the mountain of Samaria" (Amos 4:1-3), then, a sarcastic and ironical "call to worship" at Bethel and Gilgal (Amos 4:4,5), and next, a dramatic reminder by the prophet of the seven disasters God had sent upon Israel with the benign purpose of leading them to repentance... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Amos 4:1

Amos 4:1. Ye kine of Bashan— See the note on Psa 22:12 and Ezekiel 39:18. After having testified in the preceding chapter against the sumptuous palaces, the luxury and extravagance of Samaria, the prophet here attacks the covetousness, softness, and violence of the powerful women of this city; who abused their authority over their husbands, and employed their credit and power, like other Jezebels, to oppress the poor, and to perform all acts of cruelty and injustice. These women are represented... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Amos 4:1

1. kine of Bashan—fat and wanton cattle such as the rich pasture of Bashan (east of Jordan, between Hermon and Gilead) was famed for (Deuteronomy 32:14; Psalms 22:12; Ezekiel 39:18). Figurative for those luxurious nobles mentioned, Amos 3:9; Amos 3:10; Amos 3:12; Amos 3:15. The feminine, kine, or cows, not bulls, expresses their effeminacy. This accounts for masculine forms in the Hebrew being intermixed with feminine; the latter being figurative, the former the real persons meant. say to their... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Amos 4:1

Amos opened this second message as he did the first (ch. 3), with the cry, "Hear this word." He addressed the wealthy women of Samaria, calling them "cows of Bashan." Bashan was a very luxuriant region of Transjordan east and northeast of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee) where cattle had plenty to eat and grew fat (cf. Psalms 22:12; Jeremiah 50:19; Ezekiel 39:18; Micah 7:14). These women, along with their men, were oppressing (threatening) the poor and crushing (harassing) the needy. The women... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Amos 4:1-3

Economic exploitation 4:1-3 read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 4:1-13

The Second Address1-3. The heartless luxury of the rich women. 4, 5. The elaborate sacrifices and pilgrimages. 6-12. The failure of God’s chastisements to produce amendment.1. These pampered women are compared to cows grown fat through feeding in the rich pastures of Bashan (Numbers 32:1-5; Deuteronomy 32:14; Micah 7:14).Masters] RV ’lords,’ i.e. husbands (1 Peter 3:6). 2. He] RV ’they,’ i.e. the conquerors.Your posterity] RV ’your residue.’ Those farthest removed from danger will be dragged... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Amos 4:1

(1) Bashan.—This contained the rich pasture-lands east of the Jordan, between Hermon and the mountains of Gilead, where cattle flourished. The “strong bulls of Bashan” (Psalms 22:12) were descriptive of the malignant enemies of the ideal sufferer. The feminine “kine” refers to the luxurious self-indulgent women of fashion in Samaria.Which say to their masters (i.e., their husbands), Bring, and let us drink.—Their very debauch being paid for by the robbery of the poor. Some regard the feminines... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Amos 4:1-3

5CIVILIZATION AND JUDGMENTAmos 3:1-15 - Amos 4:3WE now enter the Second Section of the Book of Amos: chapters 3-6. It is a collection of various oracles of denunciation, grouped partly by the recurrence of the formula "Hear this word," which stands at the head of our present chapters 3, 4, and 5, which are therefore probably due to it; partly by two cries of "Woe" at Amos 5:18 and Amos 6:1; and also by the fact that each of the groups thus started leads up to an emphatic, though not at first... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Amos 4:1-13

CHAPTER 4 The Second Discourse 1. Divine threatening and irony (Amos 4:1-5 ) 2. Yet have ye not returned unto Me (Amos 4:6-11 ) 3. Prepare to meet thy God (Amos 4:12-13 ) Amos 4:1-5 . The prophet addresses them as “kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria.” The cows of Bashan were noted for their sleek and well-fed condition, feeding on the choicest of pasture. The term is descriptive of Israel’s prosperous condition as well as their beastly character. They were selfish and... read more