Amos 2:8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 2:1-8

Here is, I. The judgment of Moab, another of the nations that bordered upon Israel. They are reckoned with and shall be punished for three transgressions and for four, as those before. Now, 1. Moab's fourth transgression, as theirs who were before set to the bar, was cruelty. The instance given refers not to the people of God, but to a heathen like themselves: The king of Moab burnt the bones of the king of Edom into lime. We find there was war between the Edomites and the Moabites, in which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 2:8

And they laid themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar ,.... That is, the clothes they took in pledge of poor people, which they should have restored before sun setting, Exodus 22:26 ; these they spread by every altar, of which they had many erected to their idols, and on these as on carpets they slept by them, as was usual with the Gentiles; who not only in common used to lie and sleep on garments, or carpets, or skins spread on the floor F19 Vid. Gloss in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 2:6-8

For three transgressions of Israel, etc. - To be satisfied of the exceeding delinquency of this people, we have only to open the historical and prophetic books in any part; for the whole history of the Israelites is one tissue of transgression against God. Their crimes are enumerated under the following heads: - Their judges were mercenary and corrupt. They took bribes to condemn the righteous; and even for articles of clothing, such as a pair of shoes, they condemned the poor man, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 2:8

Verse 8 Here the Prophet again inveighs against the people’s avariciousness, and addresses his discourse especially to the chief men; for what he mentions could not have been done by the common people, as the lower and humbler classes could not make feasts by means of spoils gained by judicial proceedings. The Prophet then condemns here, no doubt, the luxury and rapacity of men in high stations. They lie down, he says, on pledged clothes nigh every altar. God had forbidden, in his law, to take... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 2:6-8

The woe against Israel. This is the last woe and the greatest. "The thunder cloud of God's judgments having passed over all the nations round about, and even discharged the fire from heaven on Judah and Jerusalem, settles at last on Israel" (Pusey). Just as God's honour suffered specially by their sin, so does his heart suffer specially in their punishment. And so, whilst compendious justice may be meted out to heathen nations, the destruction of the chosen people cannot be denounced... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 2:6-8

A nation's crimes. The ministry of Amos was mainly to the northern kingdom. With this passage commences the long impeachment and warning which the prophet was inspired to address to Israel. The previous denunciations are pungent, but brief; now Amos puts forth all his strength of invective, reproach, and expostulation. I. UNGODLINESS IS AT THE ROOT OF A NATION 'S MORAL DEBASEMENT . Israel did not, indeed, abjure religion; but Israel abjured God. "The house of their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 2:6-16

3. Summons and general denunciation of Israel for injustice, cruelty, incest, luxury, and idolatry. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 2:8

The prophet condemns the cruel luxury which, contrary to the Law, made the poor debtor's necessities minister to the rich man's pleasures. They lay themselves down upon; Vulgate, accubuerunt. Ewald translates, "they cast lots upon;" but the Authorized Version is supported by the highest authorities, and gives the most appropriate meaning. The Septuagint, with which the Syriac partly agrees, refers the clause to the immoralities practised in heathen worship, which the perpetrators desired... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 2:8

They lay themselves down - They condensed sin. By a sort of economy in the toil of sinning, they blended many sins in one; idolatry, sensuality, cruelty, and, in all, the express breach of God’s commandments. The “clothes” here are doubtless the same as the “raiment” in the law, the large enfolding cloak, which by day was wrapped over the long loose shirt , the poor man’s only dress besides, and by night was his only bedding Exodus 22:26-27. God had expressly commanded, “If the man be poor,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 2:8

Amos 2:8. They lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge The Jews as well as the Romans used to lie along at their meals on couches, as appears by this verse, compared with Amos 6:4: a custom which was continued in after times as is evident by divers passages in the gospels, read in the original, which speak, not of persons sitting, but lying down, or reclining, at meat. As the prophet here speaks of their laying themselves down by every altar, it is manifest he refers to the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 2:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 2:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 2:6-8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 2:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 2:6-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 2:6-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 2:6-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 2:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 2:8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 2:8

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