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Matthew Henry

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 4:7

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

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 4:7

Verse 7 I have said that another kind of punishment is here recorded by the Prophet; it is not, however, wholly different: for whence comes the want we have noticed, except through drought? For when God intends to deprive men of support, he shuts up heaven and makes it iron, so that it hears not the earth, according to what we have noticed elsewhere. Yet these words of the Prophet are not superfluous; for God would have the punishment he inflicts on men to be more attentively considered. When... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 4:6-11

National calamities are Divine chastisements. Graphic and morally impressive is the catalogue of Divine judgments which the inspired prophet here draws up and puts upon record for the admonition of future ages. I. OF WHAT THESE CALAMITIES CONSIST . They are thus enumerated in the several verses. 1 . Famine. 2 . Drought. 3 . Blight. 4 . Pestilence. 5 . War. 6 . Destruction. Alas! from the beginnings of human history such have been the sad and weary... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 4:6-11

God's government of the world a chastising government. "And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places" etc. In these verses the Almighty describes the various corrective measures which he had employed for effecting a moral reformation in the character of the Israelites. At the end of each chastising measure which he describes, he marks their obstinate impenitence with the expression, "Yet have ye not returned unto me." As if he had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 4:6-13

Judgment the Divine retort to human sin. This is the sad history of God's vain contendings with an incorrigible nation. In Amos 3:1-15 . is an account of the mercies by which he at first had tried to draw them. All that had failed utterly. They met privilege with inappreciation, friendship with rebuff, and favour with incredible disregard. Then he had changed his tactics. They would not be drawn, perhaps they might be driven. The experiment was worth the making, and the record of it is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 4:7

The second punishment is drought, as predicted (Le 26:19, etc.; Deuteronomy 28:23 ). When there were yet three months to the harvest, and when rain was most necessary to swell the grain. The season meant is in February and March, when what was called "the latter rain" fell. In the south of Palestine the harvest commenced at the end of April, but in the northern parts it was some weeks later, so that it might be said in round numbers that it took place three months after the latter rain. I... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 4:7

And I, I too have withholden the rain - Jerome, dwelling in Palestine, says, that “this rain, when “three months yet remained until harvest,” was the “latter rain,” of the very greatest necessity for the fields of Palestine and the thirsty ground, lest, when the blade is swelling into the crop, and gendering the wheat, it should dry up through lack of moisture. The time intended is the spring, at the end of April, whence, to the wheat-harvest, there remain three months, May, June, July.” “God... read more

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