Amos 4:6-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 4:6-13

Here, I. God complains of his people's incorrigibleness under the judgments which he had brought upon them in order to their humiliation and reformation. He had by several tokens intimated to them his displeasure, with this design, that they might by repentance make their peace with him; but it had not that effect. 1. It is five times repeated in these verses, as the burden of the charge, ?Yet have you not returned unto me, saith the Lord; you have been several times corrected, but in vain;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:6

And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities ,.... Meaning a famine, having no food to foul them with, or to stick in them. This was not the famine in Samaria, 2 Kings 6:25 ; for that was only in that city, and for a short time, while besieged; whereas this was in all the cities in Israel; rather therefore it designs the famine predicted by Elisha, which should be upon the land for seven years, 2 Kings 8:1 ; and want of bread in all your places : this is the same... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:7

And also I have withholden the rain from you ,.... As he did for the space of three years successively in the days of Ahab, as predicted by Elijah, 1 Kings 17:1 ; the consequences of which are very bad to men and beast, and bring on a scarcity of food for both, and a famine if long withheld: when there were yet three months to the harvest ; that is, three months before the harvest, as Jarchi; when, as Kimchi observes, there was need of rain: this was the latter rain which was usually... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:8

So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water ,.... Two or three cities, that is, the inhabitants of them, being without water, went up and down in quest of any city or place where they could find water for themselves and cattle to drink: but they were not satisfied ; could not get enough for their present use and much less to carry back with them to supply them for any length of time; such a scarcity there was of it in other parts; see 1 Kings 18:5 ; yet have ye... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:9

I have smitten you with blasting and mildew ,.... "Blasting" is what we commonly call "blights", generally occasioned by an east wind; and so Kimchi interprets the word here used; and the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "a burning wind"; which causes the buds and leaves of trees to shrivel up as if they were burnt with fire. "Mildew" is a kind of clammy dew, which falling upon corn, &c.; corrupts and destroys by its moisture; and is a kind of jaundice to the fruits of the earth; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:10

I have sent among you the pestilence, after the manner of Egypt ,.... Like that which was sent among the firstborn of Egypt, and cut them off in one night; or when in the way of Egypt, as the Targum; either as in the wilderness, when they came out of Egypt, so Jarchi interprets it; see Numbers 16:46 ; or the Lord sent the pestilence as they went in the way to Egypt for help and assistence, or for shelter, for food in time of famine; for they went thither, as Kimchi says, because of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:11

I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah ,.... Either their houses were burnt, or their bodies consumed by fire from heaven, with lightning; not whole cities, but the habitations of some particular persons, or they themselves: and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning ; some escaped such an awful calamity, their houses were not consumed, while others were; and their persons were safe, while others, just by them, were struck dead at once: yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:12

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel ,.... What he would do is not expressly and particularly said; it is commonly understood to be something in a way of judgment, and worse than what he had done, since they had no effect upon them; or these things should be done over again, until an utter end was made of them; or the reference is to Amos 3:11 ; and the following words are usually interpreted, either, ironically, since the Lord was coming forth as an enemy to issue the controversy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 4:6

Cleanness of teeth - Scarcity of bread, as immediately explained. Ye shall have no trouble in cleaning your teeth, for ye shall have nothing to eat. Yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord - This reprehension is repeated live times in this chapter; and in it are strongly implied God's longsuffering, his various modes of fatherly chastisement, the ingratitude of the people, and their obstinate wickedness. The famine mentioned here is supposed to be that which is spoken of 2... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 4:7

When there were yet three months to the harvest - St. Jerome says, from the end of April, when the latter rain falls, until harvest, there are three months, May, June, and July, in which no rain falls in Judea. The rain, therefore, that God had withheld from them, was that which was usual in the spring months, particularly in April. I caused it to rain upon one city - To prove to them that this rain did not come fortuitously or of necessity, God was pleased to make these most evident... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 4:6-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 4:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 4:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 4:7

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