Amos 2:9-12

9-12. What contrast between the actual conduct of the people and the conduct that might be expected of them in view of Jehovah’s loving care for them throughout their entire history! He brought them out of Egypt and led them in the wilderness (Amos 2:10); he destroyed the Amorites (Amos 2:9); he raised up religious teachers (Amos 2:11-12). In the present Hebrew text the chronological order of events is not observed; chronologically the verses should be arranged Amos 2:10 - Amos 2:9, - Amos 2:11, - Amos 2:12, and this Harper thinks to have been the original order.

Yet destroyed I The contrast is brought out more emphatically in the Hebrew, “But I (on my part), I destroyed.”

Amorite In Amos 2:10 Palestine is called “the land of the Amorite,” an expression found also in early Babylonian inscriptions. In the Old Testament Amorite is used (1) as synonymous with Canaanite, to designate the inhabitants of the whole of Palestine (Joshua 24:8; Joshua 24:15; Joshua 24:18; Deuteronomy 1:7; Deuteronomy 1:19, etc.); (2) to designate the peoples ruled by Sihon and Og, east of the Jordan (Numbers 21:21-25). As Amos 2:10 makes plain, here the reference is to the inhabitants of the entire land.

Cedars Among the Hebrews the “type of loftiness and grandeur” (Isaiah 2:13; compare Isaiah 1:30-31).

Oaks The type of strength and endurance (Isaiah 2:13; compare Isaiah 1:30-31; Zechariah 11:2). For the belief that the inhabitants of Palestine were of giant stature see Deuteronomy 1:28; Numbers 13:32-33.

Fruit… roots The highest and the lowest parts, equivalent to root and branch completely. A similar expression is read on the sarcophagus of Eshmunazar (see on Amos 2:1; compare Hosea 9:16; Isaiah 5:24).

Also I The pronoun is again emphatic.

Brought you up Up, because of the mountainous character of Palestine as compared with Egypt.

From the land of Egypt The Exodus from Egypt was the supreme manifestation of Jehovah’s love and power in Hebrew history; hence it is frequently made the basis of prophetic appeals (Amos 3:1; Hosea 12:9; Hosea 13:4, etc.).

Forty years through the wilderness Lovingly and tenderly he cared for them and supplied their wants (Amos 5:25; Deuteronomy 2:7; Deuteronomy 8:2; Deuteronomy 29:5); his ultimate purpose being to bring them into the promised land.

Jehovah raised up among them religious and moral teachers, which was a special mark of divine favor, enjoyed by Israel exclusively.

Prophets,… Nazarites [“Nazirites”] Two classes of religious teachers and workers; the former taught principally, though not exclusively, by word of mouth, the latter by example. Both played important parts. From the beginning of Hebrew history to its close no serious crisis arose without God raising up a prophet to lead the people through it. The Nazirites ( separated, or, consecrated) tried to stem by example the tide of worldliness and self-indulgence, which threatened to sweep away the simplicity of ancient Hebrew life. (See articles “Prophecy and Prophets” and “Nazirites,” in Hastings’s Dictionary of the Bible.) The law regulating the conduct of Nazirites is found in Numbers 6:1-21 (compare Jeremiah 35:0).

Is it not even thus An appeal to confirm or deny the preceding statements. Denial was impossible.

Saith Jehovah This particular expression is very common in prophetic writings; it is a solemn asseverative interjection (see on Joel 2:12); and by calling attention to the fact that the prophet is delivering the word of Jehovah it sets a seal of truthfulness upon the message.

The Israelites failed to appreciate the divine goodness; not only did they refuse to listen, they even sought to silence the prophets and compel the Nazirites to become unfaithful to their vows; by these acts they insulted Jehovah himself.

Gave… wine to drink One of the principal obligations of the Nazirites was to abstain from intoxicating drinks (Numbers 6:3).

Prophesy not Such prohibitions are not infrequent (1 Kings 13:4; 1 Kings 18:4; 1Ki 19:2 ; 1 Kings 22:8; 1 Kings 22:26-27; 2 Kings 1:9 ff; 2 Kings 6:31); for the time of Amos and later see Amos 7:13; Amos 7:16; Hosea 9:8; Isaiah 30:10-11; Micah 2:6; Jeremiah 20:7-10.