8. three cities wandered—that is, the inhabitants of three cities (compare :-). GROTIUS explains this verse and Amos 4:7, "The rain fell on neighboring countries, but not on Israel, which marked the drought to be, not accidental, but the special judgment of God." The Israelites were obliged to leave their cities and homes to seek water at a distance [CALVIN]. read more
Refusal to repent 4:6-11 read more
He had also sent drought when the people needed rain the most, three months before their harvest. He had let rain fall on one town but not another resulting in only spotty productivity (cf. 1 Kings 8:35). This too should have moved them to repent. Drought was also a punishment for covenant unfaithfulness (Leviticus 26:19; Deuteronomy 28:22-24; Deuteronomy 28:48). read more
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
(7, 8) Three months to the harvest.—The withdrawal of rain at this period (February and March) is at the present day most calamitous to the crops in Palestine.Caused it to rain . . .—The tenses should be regarded as expressing repetition of the act, and might be, with advantage, rendered as present cause it to rain . . . is rained upon, &c. The inhabitants of the most suffering districts wander, distracted and weary, to a more favoured city, and find no sufficiency. Comp. the graphic... read more
1. FOR WORSHIP, CHASTISEMENTAmos 4:4-13In chapter 2 Amos contrasted the popular conception of religion as worship with God’s-conception of it as history. He placed a picture of the sanctuary, hot with religious zeal, but hot too with passion and the fumes of wine, side by side with a great prospect of the national history: God’s guidance of Israel from Egypt onwards. That is, as we said at the time, ‘he placed an indoors picture of religion side by side with an open-air one. He repeats that... read more
COMMON SENSE AND THE REIGN OF LAWAmos 3:3-8; Amos 4:6-13; Amos 5:8-9; Amos 6:12; Amos 8:8; Amos 9:5; Amos 8:4-6FOOLS, when they face facts, which is seldom, face them one by one, and, as a consequence, either in ignorant contempt or in panic. With this inordinate folly Amos charged the religion of his day. The superstitious people, careful of every point of ritual and very greedy of omens, would not ponder real facts nor set cause-to effect. Amos recalled them to common life. "Does a bird fall... read more
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
4:7 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when [there were] yet three {i} months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.(i) I stopped the rain until the fruits of the earth were destroyed with drought, and yet you would not consider to return to me by repentance. read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Amos 4:7
7. withholden . . . rain . . . three months to . . . harvest—the time when rain was most needed, and when usually "the latter rain" fell, namely, in spring, the latter half of February, and the whole of March and April (Hosea 6:3; Joel 2:23). The drought meant is that mentioned in 1 Kings 17:1 [GROTIUS]. rain upon one city . . . not . . . upon another—Any rain that fell was only partial. read more