Amos 9:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 9:1-10

We have here the justice of God passing sentence upon a provoking people; and observe, I. With what solemnity the sentence is passed. The prophet saw in vision the Lord standing upon the altar (Amos 9:1), the altar of burnt-offerings; for the Lord has a sacrifice, and multitudes must fall as victims to his justice. He is removed from the mercy-seat between the cherubim, and stands upon the altar, the judgment-seat, on which the fire of God used to fall, to devour the sacrifices. He stands upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 9:7

Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the Lord ,.... And therefore had no reason to think they should be delivered because they were the children of Israel, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; since they were no more to God than the children of the Ethiopians, having behaved like them; and were become as black as they through sin, and were idolaters like them; and so accustomed to sin, and hardened in it, that they could no more change their course and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 9:7

Children of the Ethiopians - Or Cushites. Cush was the son of Ham, Genesis 10:6 ; and his descendants inhabited a part of Arabia Petraea and Arabia Felix. All this stock was universally despised. See Bochart. The Philistines from Caphtor - The island of Crete, the people of which were the Cherethim. See, 1 Samuel 30:14 ; Ezekiel 25:16 ; Zephaniah 2:5 . The Syrians from Kir? - Perhaps a city of the Medes, Isaiah 22:6 . Aram, from whom Syria had its name, was the son of Shem,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 9:7

Verse 7 The Prophet shows here to the Israelites that their dignity would be no defense to them, as they expected. We have indeed seen in many places how foolish was the boasting of that people. Though they were more bound to God than other nations, they yet heedlessly boasted that they were a holy nation, as if indeed they had something of their own, but as Paul says, they were nothing. God had conferred on them singular benefits; but they were adorned with the plumes of another. Foolish then... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 9:1-10

§ 6 . The fifth vision displays the Lord standing by the altar and commanding the destruction of the temple ( Amos 9:1 ). No one shall escape this judgment, flee whither he will ( Amos 9:2-4 ); for God is Almighty ( Amos 9:5 , Amos 9:6 ). Their election shall not save the guilty Israelites; still they shall not be utterly destroyed ( Amos 9:7-10 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 9:5-10

God as the Administrator of justice. "And the Lord God of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn," etc. These words present God to us as the Administrator of justice. I. THE DOES IT WITH THE GREATEST EASE . The administrators of justice in connection with human government have often to contend with difficulties that baffle and confound them. But the Almighty has no difficulty. "He toucheth the land, and it shall... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 9:7

Israel's election to be God's people should not save them, unless their conduct corresponded with God's choice. If they opened not, they were no better in his eyes than the heathen, their delivery from Egypt had no more significance than the migration of pagan nations. Here is a contrast to Amos 6:1 , etc. The children of Israel were now no dearer than the children of the Ethiopians ( Cushites ) . The Cushites are introduced as being descendants of the wicked Ham, and black in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 9:7

National pride and presumption. It is usual for nations to boast of their history, their position, their great qualities, their good fortune, their invincibility. We know this from our own observation of the nations of modern times. And in this respect all ages seem alike. There were, no doubt, very peculiar grounds for self-confidence and boastthlness on the part of the Jews. Yet such dispositions and habits were again and again censured and condemned by the inspired servants of Jehovah. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 9:7-10

The exalted brought low. "Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father." And yet the blind and infatuate Israel were always saying it. They said it in view of every imminent catastrophe. They said it in abbreviation of all argument. They said it in lieu of fit and seasonable action. They made it an amulet to hang around their neck when they rushed purblind into rebellious action. They ran into it as into an intellectual joss house, where any absurdity was raised to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 9:7

Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto Me, O children of Israel! - Their boast and confidence was that they were children of the patriarch, to whom God made the promises. But they, not following the faith nor doing the deeds of Israel, who was a “prince with God,” or of Abraham, the father of the faithful, had, for “Bene Israel,” children of Israel, become as “Bene Cushiim, children of the Ethiopians,” descendants of Ham, furthest off from the knowledge and grace of God, the... read more

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