Amos 4:1-2

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

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

Adam Clarke

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

Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan - Such an address was quite natural from the herdsman of Tekoa. Bashan was famous for the fertility of its soil, and its flocks and herds; and the prophet here represents the iniquitous, opulent, idle, lazy drones, whether men or women, under the idea of fatted bullocks, which were shortly to be led out to the slaughter. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 4:2

He will take you away with hooks - Two modes of fishing are here alluded to: Angling with rod, line, and baited hook. That with the gaff, eel-spear, harpoon, or such like; the first used in catching small fish, by which the common people may be here represented; the second, for catching large fish, such as leave the sea, and come up the rivers to deposit their spawn; or such as are caught in the sea, as sharks, whales, dolphins, and even the hippopotamus, to which the more powerful and... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 1 He who divided the chapters seems not to have well considered the Prophet’s argument: for he pursues here his reproof of the rich, and he had been prophesying against the chief men in the kingdom of Israel. We indeed know how much ferocity there is in the rich, when they become formidable to others by their power. Hence the Prophet here laughs to scorn their arrogance: Hear, he says, this word; as though he said, “I see how it will be; for these great and pompous men will haughtily... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 4:2

Verse 2 Here Amos declares what sort of punishment awaited those fat cattle, who being well fed despised God, and were torpid in their fatness. He therefore says, that the days were nigh, when they should be taken away together with all that they had, and all their posterity, as by a hook of a fisher. But to give more effect to his combination, he says that God had sworn by his sanctuary. (24) The simple word of God ought indeed to have been sufficient: but as we do not easily embrace the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 4:1

The very women are leaders in dissoluteness and oppression. Ye kine of Bashan. Fat and well liking, such as the rich pastures of Bashan produce. Some have supposed that by this term are meant the luxurious nobles of Samaria, who are called "cows" as being effeminate and licentious. This is possible; but such grandees would be called rather "bulls of Bashan," and the "masters" mentioned just below signify more naturally these women's husbands than the kings. Pussy notes that the genders in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 4:1-3

The woes of the women at ease. By a contemptuous and striking figure, the women of Samaria are styled the "kine of Bashan." They were as kine, unmindful of the past, unheeding of the future, their attention limited to the present, and living in it only the life of sense. They were as Bashan's kine, wandering in richest pastures, overfed, indulged, and pampered, and therefore waxed voluptuous and wanton. In explanation of the special reference to them, observe— I. THAT THE WOMEN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 4:1-13

§ 2. Second address. The prophet reproves the voluptuous women of Samaria, and fortells their captivity ( Amos 4:1-3 ); with bitter irony he describes the people's devotion to idolatry ( Amos 4:4 , Amos 4:5 ): he shows how incorrigible they have proved themselves under God's chastisements ( Amos 4:6-11 ); therefore they must expect further punishment, if so be that they will learn to fear the Lord ( Amos 4:12 , Amos 4:13 ). read more

Group of Brands