Amos 2:14-16

14-16. The swiftest and best-equipped warriors cannot escape.

Therefore R.V., better, “and.”

Flight Rather the place of flight or of refuge.

Shall perish Better, R.V. margin, “shall fail.”

Swift He would be expected to be the first to reach a place of safety; but when the divine blow fails the qualities ordinarily of the greatest advantage will profit nothing.

Shall not strengthen his force The strong man will be so terrified that he cannot collect his strength or make use of it.

Mighty The warrior, whose bravery might be expected to save him, cannot save his life ( margin).

Handleth the bow The armed man.

Shall he stand Stop in his flight (Nahum 2:8). The swiftness of man (2 Samuel 1:23; 2 Samuel 2:18) or of horse shall avail nothing.

Courageous Literally, the strong in his heart (Psalms 27:14; Psalms 31:24).

Naked He will throw away everything that might hinder his flight weapons, armor, and superfluous clothing.

In that day The day of judgment.

Saith Jehovah As in Amos 2:11.

The judgments announced in chapters 1, 2 are expected by the prophet to take the form of foreign invasions and war. In no case does he call the executioner by name; but it is beyond doubt that throughout he is thinking of the Assyrians, who, beginning with the reign of Ashur-nasir-pal (885-860 B.C.), became an ever-increasing menace to all the nations enumerated. Why Amos does not call them by name is not quite clear. It may be because in his days the Assyrian power was on the decline it revived under Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 B.C.) and therefore the mention of their name would have added no force to his message, but, on the contrary, might have weakened it. It is worthy of note, however, that neither Isaiah nor Jeremiah mention the national enemies by name in their earlier discourses. Wellhausen is undoubtedly right when he calls Amos “the leader of the prophetic choir of the Assyrian period.”