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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 5:4-15

This is a message from God to the house of Israel, in which, I. They are told of their faults, that they might see what occasion there was for them to repent and reform, and that, when they were called to return, they might not need to ask, Wherein shall we return? 1. God tells them, in general (Amos 5:12), ?I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins; and you shall be made to know them too.? In our penitent reflections upon our sins we must consider, as God does in his judicial... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 5:10

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate ,.... Openly and publicly in the courts of judicature: wicked judges hated the prophets of the Lord, such as Amos, who faithfully reproved them for the perversion of justice, even when they were upon the bench: or the people were so corrupt and degenerate, that they hated those faithful judges who reproved them for their vices in the open courts of justice, when they came before them, The former sense seems best, and more agreeable to the context: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 5:11

Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor ,.... This seems to be spoken to the princes, judges, and civil magistrates, as Kimchi observes; who oppressed the poor and needy, and crushed them to the ground, trampled upon them, stripped them of the little substance they had, and left them destitute; exercising a cruel and tyrannical power over them, they having none to stand by them, and deliver them: and ye take from him burdens of wheat ; which perhaps he had been gleaning... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 5:12

For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins ,.... Their sins were numerous, and of the first magnitude, attended with very heavy aggravations; and these with all their circumstances were well known to the omniscient God, and therefore he determined to punish them as he had threatened. Some of their transgressions are pointed out, as follow: they afflict the just ; who are so both in a moral and evangelic sense; not comparatively only, but really; and particularly whose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 5:13

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence at that time ,.... Not the prophets of the Lord, whose business it was at all times to reprove, and not hold their peace, let the consequence be what it would; though the Targum calls them teachers; but private persons, whose wisdom it would be to say nothing; since reproof would do no good to these persons, and they would bring a great deal of hatred ill will, and trouble upon themselves as well as would hear the name of God blasphemed, which would... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 5:10

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate - They cannot bear an upright magistrate, and will not have righteous laws executed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 5:11

Your treading is upon the poor - You tread them under your feet; they form the road on which ye walk; and yet it was by oppressing and impoverishing them that ye gained your riches. Ye take from him burdens of wheat - Ye will have his bread for doing him justice. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 5:12

I know your manifold transgressions - I have marked the multitude of your smaller crimes, as well as your mighty offenses. Among their greater offenses were, Their afflicting the righteous. Taking bribes to blind their eyes in judgment. And, 3. Refusing to hear the poor, who had no money to give them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 5:13

The prudent shall keep silence - A wise man will consider that it is useless to complain. He can have no justice without bribes; and he has no money to give: consequently, in such an evil time, it is best to keep silence. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 5:10

Verse 10 It is probable that in this verse also, the judges are reproved by the Prophet, though what is here said may be extended to the whole people: but as nearly the whole discourse is leveled against the judges, I readily subscribe to the opinion, that the Prophet now accuses the judges on this account, — because they could not bear to be reproved for the great license they allowed themselves, but, on the contrary, abhorred all those who reproved them. What then he says as to the reprover... read more

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