Bible Commentaries

Hear . . . ye. Masculine

kine = heifers: the women. Compare Psalms 22:22 (masculine), Ezekiel 39:18 (masculine)

mountain = hill country.

oppress. Hebrew. ashak, as in Amos 3:9 (feminine) Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:13. Deuteronomy 24:14). Compare 2 Samuel 12:3, 2 Samuel 12:4.

the poor = exhausted ones. Hebrew. dal (masculine) See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11

the needy = needy ones. Hebrew "ebyan (masculine) See note "poverty" Proverbs 6:11.

say (feminine)

their (masculine)

The Lord GOD. See note on Amos 1:7.

sworn by His holiness. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 22:16).

lo. Figure of speech Asferismos. App-6.

hooks. In the Assyrian monuments we see the captives with literal "hooks" in their noses. Compare 2 Chronicles 33:11. Job 40:24; Job 41:2. Isaiah 37:29. Ezekiel 29:4.

your posterity = the remnant of you. Hebrew. "aharith, as in Ezekiel 23:25. Not posterity.

cow, i.e. woman.

at that which is before her = each woman through the breach [in the wall of Samaria].

before her i.e. without turning to the left or right. Compare Joshua 6:5, Joshua 6:20.

ye shall cast them into the palace. Palace, Hebrew. harmon (see note on Amos 1:4). Here it is haharmonah, which forms the Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6) with "arman (Amos 3:11). The clause is to be interpreted by Amos 3:11, Amos 3:12, end Amos 5:27, and would then road: "ye shall be cast forth toward Ha-Harmon". The place is not known, but it may mean "ye women who are at ease in your palaces" (arman, Amos 3:11, Amos 3:12) will be cast forth into Ha-Harmonak: into exile. The text is not necessarily "corrupt" because we do not happen to know a place of that name.

saith the LORD = is Jehovah's oracle.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Come to Beth-el, &c. Here we have Divine irony, as though it meant "Fill up the measure of your iniquity". Compare Matthew 23:32.

transgress . . . transgression. Hebrew pasha". App-44.

Beth-el . . . Gilgal. Compare Amos 3:14; Amos 5:5. Hosea 4:15; Hosea 9:15; Hosea 12:11.

after three years. The ref is to the Pentateuch (Numbers 28:3. Deuteronomy 14:28), App-92; not to "days", or to modern "Mohammedan pilgrimages".

offer a sacrifices = offer as incense. Hebrew katar. App-43. Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 7:13; Leviticus 23:17). App-92. Compare Psalms 56:12. Jeremiah 17:26; Jeremiah 33:1. Hebrews 13:15.

with leaven. Leavened bread might be eaten by the offerer, but not consumed on the altar (Leviticus 2:11, Leviticus 2:12). Leaven is mentioned five times in Exodus; four in Leviticus; one in Deuteronomy; and not elsewhere. The Mosaic law was well known. App-92. There was no "historic growth" of the Pentateuch.

free offerings. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 22:18, Leviticus 22:21. Deuteronomy 12:6). App-92.

this liketh you = so ye have loved [to have it).

children = sons.

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.

cleanness of teeth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for famine.

yet have ye not. &c. Note the Structure above, showing the Figure fo Speech Amoeboeon (App-6). Compare Isaiah 26:11. Jeremiah 5:3. Haggai 2:12.

have withholden, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:22-24).

piece = portion of land.

it. Ginsburg thinks this should be "I".

I have smitten, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:22). App-92. Compare Haggai 2:17.

the palmerworm = the gnawer. Hebrew. gazam. See note on Joel 1:4.

I have sent, &c. Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:25. Deuteronomy 28:21, Deuteronomy 28:27, Deuteronomy 28:60). App-92.

the pestilence = a pestilence. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the

death resulting from it. Septuagint renders it "death". See note on Amos 6:10.

after the manner, &c. Reference to Pentateuch, (Exodus 9:3, Exodus 9:6; Exodus 12:29. Deuteronomy 28:27). App-92. Compare Psalms 78:50. Isaiah 10:24, Isaiah 10:26.

taken. away, &c. Compare 2 Kings 13:7.

I have made, &c. Compare Joel 2:20.

as God overthrew, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 19:24, Genesis 19:25. Deuteronomy 29:23). App-92. Compare Isaiah 13:19. Jeremiah 49:18. God. Hebrew Elobim. App-4.

ye were as a firebrand, &c. Compare Zechariah 3:2. Jude 1:23.

prepare to meet, &c. i.e. in judgment. Compare Ezekiel 13:5; Ezekiel 22:30. Amos 4:11 and Amos 4:12 are not "out of place" or an "interpolation", but are required by the Structure, "M", below.

Amos 4:1-13 (F2). THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. (THE KINE OF BASHAN.) (Extended Alternation.)

F2 | K |1-. call to Hear.

L | -1. Judgements deserved.

M | 2,3. Threatening.

| K | 4,5. call to Come.

L | 6-11. Judgements inflicted.

M | 12,13. Threatening.

createth. Some modern critics allege that this word (Hebrew. bara, Genesis 1 Amos 1:1) was not used before the time of Jeremiah; but it is used, besides the Pentateuch, in Psalms 51:10; Psalms 89:12, Psalms 89:47; Psalms 102:18; Psalms 104:30; Psalms 148:5. Ecclesiastes 12:1; and in Isaiah frequently.

wind. Hebrew ruach. App-9.

declareth unto man, &c. Compare Psalms 189:2. Daniel 2:28.

man. Hebrew. "adam. App-14.

That maketh, &c. Compare Amos 5:8; Amos 8:9.

and treadeth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:13; Deuteronomy 33:29). App-92. Compare Micah 1:3.

is His name. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:3). App-92. Compare Amos 5:8; Amos 9:6. Isaiah 47:4. Jeremiah 10:16.