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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 7:10-17

One would have expected, 1. That what we met with in the former part of the chapter would awaken the people to repentance, when they saw that they were reprieved in order that they might have space to repent and that they could not obtain a pardon unless the did repent. 2. That it would endear the prophet Amos to them, who had not only shown his good-will to them in praying against the judgments that invaded them, but had prevailed to turn away those judgments, which, if they had had any sense... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 7:17

Therefore thus saith the Lord ,.... For withstanding the prophet of the Lord, and forbidding him to speak in his name against the idolatry of Israel, as well as for his own idolatry: thy wife shall be an harlot in the city : either of Bethel or Samaria; either through force, being ravished by the soldiers upon taking and plundering the city; so Theodoret and others: or rather of choice; either, through poverty, to get bread, or through a vicious inclination, and that in a public manner:... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 7:17

Thy wife shall be a harlot - As this was the word of the Lord, so it was fulfilled; but as we have no farther account of this idolatrous priest, so we cannot tell in what circumstances these threatenings were executed. His wife was to be a public prostitute; she was probably such already privately in the temple, as the wife of an idolatrous priest. His sons and daughters were to fall by the sword. Their inheritance was to be taken by strangers. And himself was to die a captive in a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 7:17

Verse 17 Now follows a denunciation, Therefore thus saith Jehovah This לכן, lacen, therefore, shows that Amaziah suffered punishment, not only because he had corrupted God’s worship, because he had deceived the people by his impostures and because he had made gain by the disguise of religion; but because he had insolently dared to oppose the authority of God, and to turn aside the Prophet from his office, both by hidden crafts and by open violence. Inasmuch then as he had attempted to do this,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 7:10-17

§ 4. This bold prophecy, no longer conceived in general terms or referring to distant times, but distinct and personal, arouses the animosity of the priestly authorities at Bethel, who accuse Amos before the king, and warn him to leave the country without more words, or to fear the worst. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 7:10-17

Machination foiled by fearless candour. Amos had deserved well of Israel. He took a more practical interest in their welfare than any other man from the king down. He saw their sin, and lamented it; their impending ruin. and would have averted it; their one way of escape, and pressed its adoption strenuously. Had they not been as blind as besotted, they would have revered him as a national benefactor. But the reformation he preached meant the abandonment of rooted habits and the harassing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 7:10-17

The conventional and the genuine priests of a people. "Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam King of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words," etc. In these words we have types of two classes of priests who are ever found amongst the people. I. THE CONVENTIONAL PRIEST OF A PEOPLE . Amaziah was the recognized, authorized, conventional priest of Bethel—the chief priest of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 7:17

With this denunciation compare that of Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 20:3 , etc.) against Pashur. As husband, as father, as citizen, Amamah shall suffer grievously. Shall be an harlot in the city. Not play the harlot willingly, but suffer open violence when the city is taken (comp. Isaiah 13:16 ; Lamentations 5:11 ). And thy daughters. This would be abnormal cruelty, as the Assyrians usually spared the women of conquered towns. Shall be divided by line. Amaziah's own land was to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 7:17

A polluted land. If in Amos we have an example of a faithful prophet, in Amaziah we have an example of an unfaithful priest. One servant of the Lord seems in this narrative to be set against another; but, in fact, the priest was a nominal servant, whilst the prophet was sincere and devoted. The fate predicted for Amaziah was indeed terrible; but we discern in its appointment, not the malice of a human foe, but the justice of a Divine Ruler. Among the circumstances which enhanced the horror... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 7:17

Thy wife shall be a harlot - These were, and still are, among the horrors of war. His own sentence comes last, when he had seen the rest, unable to hinder it. Against his and her own will, she should suffer this. Jerome: “Great is the grief, and incredible the disgrace, when the husband, in the midst of the city and in the presence of all, cannot hinder the wrong done to his wife , for the husband had rather hear that his wife had been slain, than defiled.” What he adds “thy daughters” (as well... read more

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