Amos 4:1-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 4:1-5

It is here foretold, in the name of God, that oppressors shall be humbled and idolaters shall be hardened. I. That proud oppressors shall be humbled for their oppressions: for he that does wrong shall receive according to the wrong that he has done. Now observe, 1. How their sin is described, Amos 4:1. They are compared to the kine of Bashan, which were a breed of cattle very large and strong, especially if, though bred there, they were fed upon the mountain of Samaria, where the pastures were... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 4:6-13

Here, I. God complains of his people's incorrigibleness under the judgments which he had brought upon them in order to their humiliation and reformation. He had by several tokens intimated to them his displeasure, with this design, that they might by repentance make their peace with him; but it had not that effect. 1. It is five times repeated in these verses, as the burden of the charge, ?Yet have you not returned unto me, saith the Lord; you have been several times corrected, but in vain;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:1

Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan ,.... Or "cows of Bashan" F14 פרות הבשן "vaccae Basan", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Vatablus, Drusius, Mercerus, Grotius, Cocceius. ; a country beyond Jordan, inhabited by the tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, very fruitful of pasturage, and where abundance of fat cattle were brought up; to whom persons of distinction, and of the first rank, are here compared. Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:2

The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness ,.... That is, by himself, holiness being his nature, and an essential attribute of his; this is done to ascertain the truth of what is after said, and that men may be assured of the certain performance of it. Some render it, "by his holy place"; and interpret it of heaven; so Aben Ezra and Kimchi; which is not likely; see Matthew 5:34 . The Targum is, "the Lord God hath sworn by his word in his holiness;' that, lo, the days shall come upon you ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:3

And ye shall go out at the breaches ,.... Not at the gates of the city, as they had used to do at pleasure; but at the breaches of the walls of it, made by the enemy, in order to make their escape, if possible; they who had broke down the fences of law and justice, and injured the poor and needy, shall now have the walls of their city broken down and they themselves exposed to the most imminent danger, and glad to get out of them to save their lives: every cow at that which is before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:4

Come to Bethel and transgress ,.... and what follows, are ironic and sarcastic speeches, not giving liberty to sin, but in this way reproving for it: Bethel was one of the places where the calves were placed and worshipped: and here they are bid to go thither, and go on with and continue in their idolatrous worship, by which they transgressed the law of God, and mark what would be the issue of it. The sense is the same with Ecclesiastes 11:9 ; see Ezekiel 20:29 ; at Gilgal multiply... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:5

And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven ,.... Which some observe was contrary to the law, which forbids all leaven in a meat offering; or "burning" it in any offering, Leviticus 2:11 ; which the word F20 קטר "incendendo", Munster, Tigurine version; "incendito incensum", Vatablus. here used suggests was done by these idolaters, as well as eaten by them, their priests not liking to eat unleavened bread; but; though it was forbidden in the meat offering, was allowed, yea,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:6

And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities ,.... Meaning a famine, having no food to foul them with, or to stick in them. This was not the famine in Samaria, 2 Kings 6:25 ; for that was only in that city, and for a short time, while besieged; whereas this was in all the cities in Israel; rather therefore it designs the famine predicted by Elisha, which should be upon the land for seven years, 2 Kings 8:1 ; and want of bread in all your places : this is the same... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:7

And also I have withholden the rain from you ,.... As he did for the space of three years successively in the days of Ahab, as predicted by Elijah, 1 Kings 17:1 ; the consequences of which are very bad to men and beast, and bring on a scarcity of food for both, and a famine if long withheld: when there were yet three months to the harvest ; that is, three months before the harvest, as Jarchi; when, as Kimchi observes, there was need of rain: this was the latter rain which was usually... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:8

So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water ,.... Two or three cities, that is, the inhabitants of them, being without water, went up and down in quest of any city or place where they could find water for themselves and cattle to drink: but they were not satisfied ; could not get enough for their present use and much less to carry back with them to supply them for any length of time; such a scarcity there was of it in other parts; see 1 Kings 18:5 ; yet have ye... read more

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