Amos 1:3-5 NIV

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 1:3

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

John Gill

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

But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael ,.... For so doing; into his family, his sons' sons, one of whom perhaps was Rezin, that Tiglathpileser king of Assyria slew, as Aben Ezra observes. This denotes the judgments of God upon his posterity for his cruel usage of the Israelites; and designs an enemy that should come into his country, and war made in the midst of it, by which it should be depopulated; and this being by the permission and providence of God, and according to his will,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 1:5

I will break also the bar of Damascus ,.... Or bars, the singular for the plural, by which the gates of the city were barred; and, being broken, the gates would be easily opened, and way made for the enemy to pass into the city and spoil it; or it may signify the whole strength and all the fortifications of it. So the Targum, "I will break the strength of Damascus:' and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven ; or, "of an idol", as the Vulgate Latin version. It is thought to be... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:4

Ben-hadad - He was son and successor of Hazael. See the cruelties which they exercised upon the Israelites, 2 Kings 10:32 ; 2 Kings 13:7 , etc., and see especially 2 Kings 8:12 , where these cruelties are predicted. The fire threatened here is the war so successfully carried on against the Syrians by Jeroboam II., in which he took Damascus and Hamath, and reconquered all the ancient possessions of Israel. See 2 Kings 14:25 , 2 Kings 14:26 , 2 Kings 14:28 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:5

The bar of Damascus - The gates, whose long traverse bars, running from wall to wall, were their strength. I will throw it open; and the gates were forced, and the city taken, as above. The plain of Aven - the house of Eden - These are names, says Bochart, of the valley of Damascus. The plain of Aven, or Birkath-Aven, Calmet says, is a city of Syria, at present called Baal-Bek, and by the Greeks Heliopolis; and is situated at the end of that long valley which extends from south to north,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:3

Verse 3 It is singular that Amos said that his words were concerning Israel, and that he should now turn to speak of Damascus and the country of Syria. This seems inconsistent; for why does he not perform the office committed to him? why does he not reprove the Israelites? why does he not threaten them? why does he not show their sins? and why does he speak of the destruction then nigh to the people of Syria? But it is right here to consider what his design was. He shows briefly, in the last... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:4

Verse 4 Now the Prophet subjoins, I will send fire unto the house of Hazael, which will devour the palaces of Ben-hadad. The Prophet speaks still of the kingdom of Syria; for we know that both Ben-hadad and Hazael were kings of Syria. But Jerome is much mistaken, who thinks that Ben-hadad was here put in the second place, as if he had been the successor of Hazael, (19) while sacred history relates that Hazael came to Elisha when Ben-hadad was ill in his bed, (2 Kings 8:9;) and he was sent to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:5

Verse 5 He then adds,I will break in pieces the bar of Damascus The Prophet confirms what he had already said; for Damascus, being strongly fortified, might have seemed unassailable. By bar, the Prophet, mentioning a part for the whole, meant strongholds and everything which could keep out enemies. Nothing, then, shall prevent enemies from taking possession of the city of Damascus. How so? Because the Lord will break in pieces its bars. It is then added, I will cut off, or destroy, the... read more

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 1:5

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 1:5

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