Verse 7
7. He is a merchant [“trafficker”] Literally, Canaan, without “he is”; hence margin of R.V., “As for Canaan, the… ,” is preferable. Addressed to the degenerate Israel. Because of the commercial habits of the Canaanites, including the Phoenicians, Canaan became a synonym of merchant (Job 41:6; Proverbs 31:24; compare Zephaniah 1:11; Ezekiel 17:4), just as Chaldean, at a later period, became a synonym of astrologer. “Instead of seeking high gifts from heaven, like its progenitor, Israel strives after money and goods, like the huckstering nation of the Canaanites.” Israel adopted also the fraudulent ways of the Canaanites (compare Odyssey, 14: 290, 291).
Balances of deceit Balances with which deceit is practiced. They “doctored” the scales in order to take advantage of the buyer (Amos 8:5).
Oppress Better, with margin, R.V., “defraud.” It is significant that the prophet condemns as strongly the people’s attitude toward one another (compare Hosea 4:1) as he condemns that toward Jehovah.
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