Amos 1:1-3

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

Here is, I. The general character of this prophecy. It consists of the words which the prophet saw. Are words to be seen? Yes, God's words are; the apostles speak of the word of life, which they had not only heard, but which they had seen with their eyes, which they had looked upon, and which their hands had handled (1 John 1:1), such a real substantial thing is the word of God. The prophet saw these words, that is, 1. They were revealed to him in a vision, as John is said to see the voice... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 1:3-15

What the Lord says here may be explained by what he says Jer. 12:14; Thus said the Lord, against all my evil neighbours that touch the inheritance of my people Israel, Behold, I will pluck them out. Damascus was a near neighbour to Israel on the north, Tyre and Gaza on the west, Edom on the south, Ammon and (in the next chapter) Moab on the east; and all of them had been, one time, one way, or other, pricking briers and grieving thorns to Israel, evil neighbours to them; and, because God... read more

John Gill

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

The words of Amos ,.... Not which he spoke of or for himself, but from the Lord; all the prophecies, visions, and revelations made unto him, are intended: who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa ; which was not in the tribe of Asher, as Kimchi; nor of Zebulun, as Pseudo-Epiphanius F9 De Vita Prophet. c. 12. ; but in the tribe of Judah, 2 Chronicles 11:5 . It lay to the south, and was six miles from Bethlehem. Mr. Maundrell F11 Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 88. says it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 1:2

And he said ,.... That is, the Prophet Amos, before described; he, being under divine inspiration, said as follows: the Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem ; not from Samaria, nor from Dan and Bethel, but from Zion and Jerusalem, where the temple of the Lord stood; and out of the holy of holies in it, where was the seat of the divine Majesty; and his voice being compared to the roaring of a lion, denotes his wrath and vengeance; and is expressive of some terrible... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 1:3

Thus saith the Lord ,.... Lest it should be thought that the words that Amos spoke were his own, and he spake them of himself, this and the following prophecies are prefaced in this manner; and he begins with the nations near to the people of Israel and Judah, who had greatly afflicted them, and for that reason would be punished; which is foretold, to let Israel see that those judgments on them did not come by chance; and lest they should promise themselves impunity from the prosperity of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:1

The words of Amos - This person and the father of Isaiah, though named alike in our translation, were as different in their names as in their persons. The father of Isaiah, אמוץ Amots ; the prophet before us, עמוס Amos . The first, aleph , mem , vau , tsaddi ; the second, ain , mem , vau , samech . For some account of this prophet see the introduction. Among the herdmen - He seems to have been among the very lowest orders of life, a herdsman, one who tended the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:2

The Lord will roar from Zion - It is a pity that our translators had not followed the hemistich form of the Hebrew: - Jehovah from Zion shall roar, And from Jerusalem shall give forth his voice; And the pleasant dwellings of the shepherds shall mourn, And the top of mount Carmel shall wither. Carmel was a very fruitful mountain in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:56 ; Isaiah 35:2 . This introduction was natural in the mouth of a herdsman who was familiar with the roaring of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:3

For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four - These expressions of three and four, so often repeated in this chapter, mean repetition, abundance, and any thing that goes towards excess. Very, very exceedingly; and so it was used among the ancient Greek and Latin poets. See the passionate exclamation of Ulysses, in the storm, Odyss., lib. v., ver. 306: - Τρις μακαρες Δαναοι και τετρακις, οἱ τοτ ' ολοντο<-144 Τροιῃ εν ευρειῃ, χαριν Ατρειδῃσι φεροντες. "Thrice happy... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:1

Verse 1 Amos boasts not here, in speaking of his own words, that he adduced anything as from himself, but avows himself to be only the minister of God; for he immediately adds that he received them by a vision. God himself raised up the Prophets and employed their labor; And, at the same time, guided them by his Spirit, that they might not announce anything but what had been received from him, but faithfully deliver what had proceeded from him alone. These two things then, well agree together,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:2

Verse 2 He employs here the same words which we explained yesterday in the Lecture on Joel; but for another purpose. By saying, ‘Jehovah from Zion shall roar,’ Joel intended to set forth the power of God, who had been for a time silent, as though he was not able to repel his enemies. As God was then despised by the ungodly, Joel declares that he had power, by which he could instantly break down and destroy all his enemies and defend his Church and chosen people. But now Amos, as he addresses... read more

Group of Brands