18 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Amos 2 In this chapter the prophet foretells the calamities that should come upon the Moabites for their transgressions, Amos 2:1; and the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem for their iniquities, Amos 2:4; also the judgments of God that should come upon Israel the ten tribes for their sins, which sins are enumerated; their...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Moab,.... Or the Moabites, who descended from the eldest son of Lot, by one of his daughters; and, though related, were great enemies to the Israelites; they sent for Balaam to curse them when on their borders, and greatly oppressed them in the times of the judges: and for four, I will not turn away...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter, I. God, by the prophet, proceeds in a like controversy with Moab as before with other nations, ver. 1-3. II. He shows what quarrel he had with Judah, ver. 4, 5. III. He at length begins his charge against Israel, to which all that goes before is but an introduction. Observe, 1. The sins they are charged with—injustice, oppression,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But I will send a fire upon Moab,.... Either on the whole country, or on some particular city so called, as in all the other prophecies; and there was a city called Moab, now Areopolis, [See comments on Jeremiah 48:4]; though it may be put for the whole country, into which an enemy should be sent to destroy it, even Nebuchadnezzar: and it shall...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof,.... Either from the midst of Moab, the country in general; or from Kerioth in particular, so Kimchi; meaning their principal governor, their king, as Aben Ezra; for kings sometimes have acted as judges, took the bench, and sat and administered justice to their subjects: and I will stay all the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Judah,.... With whom Benjamin must be joined; for the two tribes are meant as distinct from the ten tribes, under the name of Israel, following. The prophet proceeds from the Heathens round about to the people of God themselves, for the ill usage of whom chiefly the above nations are threatened with...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But I will send a fire upon Judah,.... An enemy, Nebuchadnezzar, who should burn, waste, and destroy, all that were in his way: and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem; the chief city of Judah, the royal city, where stood the temple, the palace of the most High, and the palaces of the king and his nobles; these were burnt with fire when it...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Israel,.... The ten tribes rent from the house of David in the times of Rehoboam, and who departed from the true worship of God, and set up calves at Dan and Bethel: and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; the following part of this prophecy is taken up in pointing at the sins...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor,.... Either were greedy after money, the dust of the earth, and even that small portion of it the poor were possessed of; they could not be easy that they should enjoy that little of it they did, but were desirous to get it out of their hands by oppression and injustice: or they were...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And they laid [themselves] down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar,.... That is, the clothes they took in pledge of poor people, which they should have restored before sun setting, Exodus 22:26; these they spread by every altar, of which they had many erected to their idols, and on these as on carpets they slept by them, as was usual with...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them,.... Here the Lord by the prophet reckons up the many favours and blessings he had bestowed upon Israel, which was an aggravation of their sins, and showed them to be guilty of great ingratitude, and a justification of him in his punishment of them he drove out the seven nations of Canaanites from before...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt,.... Where they were bond slaves, and in great affliction and distress, and unable to help themselves; but the Lord wrought deliverance for them, and brought them out of this house of bondage with a high hand and a mighty arm: and led you forty years through the wilderness: going before them in a pillar...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And I raised up of your sons for prophets,.... Such as Moses, Joshua, and the seventy elders, and others; not only to foretell things to come, but to teach and instruct the people in the doctrines and duties of religion, and to warn them of their sins, and the danger of them: and of your young men for Nazarites: as Samson, Samuel, and others;...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink,.... Contrary to their vow and calling, and in contempt of it, and to make them like themselves; they either persuaded them, or forced them to it: and commanded the prophets, saying, prophesy not; hard and heavy things, judgments and denunciations of vengeance, only smooth things; by this authoritative...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Behold, I are pressed under you,.... With the weight of their sins, with which they had made him to serve, and had wearied him; his patience was quite wore out, he could bear them no longer: as a cart is pressed [that is] full of sheaves; as a cart in harvest time, in which the sheaves of corn are carried home; when one sheaf is laid upon another,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift,.... They should be so straitened and cooped up, and be so loaded with pressures, that those, as swift of foot as Asahel, should not be able to make their escape by fleeing: and the strong shall not strengthen his force; should not increase it, or muster it up, and exert it to such a degree, as to...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow,.... That is, at some distance, and can make use of his instruments of war afar off; yet will not think it safe to stand his ground, but will betake himself to his heels as fast as he can to save himself: and [he that is] swift of foot shall not deliver [himself]; this is repeated, lest any should place...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And [he that is] courageous among the mighty,.... Or "strong in his heart" (b); one that is of a great heart, famous for courage and bravery, that excels in it among the mighty; the most valiant soldiers and officers: shall flee away naked in that day: shall throw away his armour, nay, put off his clothes, as being both a hinderance to him in his...