Amos 5:18-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 5:19

Amos explains the dangers of this judgment day by illustrations drawn from pastoral life, equivalent to the rushing from Charybdis into Scylla. Every place is full of danger—the open country, the shelter of the house. Jerome applies the passage to the fate of the kingdom in general: "Fugientibus vobis a facie Nabuchodonosor leonis occurrent Medi, Persae, demum Antiochus Epiphanes, qui moretur in templo et vos instar colubri mordeat, nequaquam foris in Babylone, sed intra terminos terrae... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 5:19

Selfishness in terror. "As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him." The Israelites rested their hope of deliverance from every kind of foreign danger upon their outward connection with the covenant made with their forefathers; hence many put their trust in the days spoken of in the context, when Jehovah would judge all the heathen, expecting that he would then in all probability raise Israel to might... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 5:18

Woe unto you that desire - for yourselves.The Day of the Lord - There were “mockers in those days” 2 Peter 3:3-4; Jude 1:18, as there are now, and as there shall be in the last. And as the “scoffers in the last days” 2 Peter 3:3-4; Jude 1:18 shall say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” so these said, “let Him make speed and hasten His work, that we way see it, and let the council of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it” Isaiah 5:19. Jeremiah complained; “they say... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 5:19

As if a man, did flee from a lion - The Day of the Lord is a day of terror on every side. Before and behind, without and within, abroad under the roof of heaven, or under the shelter of his own, everywhere is terror and death. The Syrian bear is said to have been more fierce and savage than the lion. For its fierceness and voracity Daniel 7:5, God made it, in Daniel’s vision, a symbol of the empire of the Medes. From both lion and bear there might be escape by flight. When the man had “leaned... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 5:18-20

Amos 5:18-20. Wo unto you that desire the day of the Lord Scoffingly, not believing any such day will come: for this seems to be spoken of some among them, who, in mockery, expressed a desire of seeing those things which the prophet predicted brought to pass. Or, it may respect those who, notwithstanding all the prophet had said, still expected God would appear in their favour, not to their destruction: see Isaiah 5:19. To what end is it for you? To what purpose should you desire to see... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Amos 5:16-27

The day of the Lord (5:16-27)God’s terrible judgment will result in grief and mourning throughout the nation, in city and country areas alike (16-17). This intervention of God in judgment is commonly called the day of the Lord. Israelites thought that this day would be one of victory and rejoicing for them because their enemies would be destroyed. Amos tells them that when God acts in judgment, he will act against all the wicked, and Israel will be the first to suffer. There will be no way of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Amos 5:18

Woe. The first woe. See the Structure above. the day of the LORD. See notes on Isaiah 2:12 ; Isaiah 13:6 . Joel 2:1 darkness, and not light. Note the Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ) for emphasis. Compare Jeremiah 30:7 . Joel 2:2 .Zephaniah 1:15 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Amos 5:19

man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 . a lion . Hebrew the face of a lion. A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ) reads "the mouth of a lion". a bear. The Syrian bear is fiercer than a lion (Daniel 7:5 . Compare 2 Kings 2:24 .Lamentations 3:10; Lamentations 3:10 ). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Amos 5:18

"Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah! It is darkness and not light."THE DAY OF THE LORDThis, and through Amos 5:20, presents a remarkable view of the Day of the Lord, that is, the Day of Judgment, first as it would be in the case of Israel when God judged and destroyed her for her sins, and secondly, as it will be at the end of time for the great majority of the rebellious race of mankind. This has been cited as the very earliest reference to... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Amos 5:19

"As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?"The word "or" in the above could likewise be translated "and," according to McKeating, thus making all of the actions consecutive, thus:"Running from a lion, he meets a bear. In even greater panic, he reaches the shelter of his house. A snake strikes him from a... read more

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