CHAP. V. V. 1-3. The prophet bemoans 'the state of Israel, as dead and irrecoverably 'lost.... Those cities or kingdoms are called ' virgins , who were never conquered. ( Is . 23:12. '37:22.)... "She is forsaken," ... like an infant 'that is exposed, or fallen upon the ground, 'and hath none to take it up. Lowth .-God would forsake the people; and there would be
20. 22:8. 2 Chr. 24:20-22.25: 16. 36:16. Prov. 9:7,8. Is. 29: 21. Jer. 20:7-10. John 7:7. 15:19,22-24. Rev. 11:10.
e Jer. 17:16,17. John 3:20. 8: 45-47.
f 4:1. Is. 5:7,8. 59:13,14. Mic. 2:2. 3:1-3. Jam. 2:6. Rev. 11:8-10.
g Deut. 28:30,38,39. Is. 65:21, 22. Mic, 6:15. Zeph. 1:13. Hag. 1:6.
part. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 14,15. Is. 55:6,7. Jer . 29:11-14. Zeph . 2:1-3. Matt . 6:33,34. 7:7 -11.) The original runs thus, "Beth-el shall 'become Aven." Beth - el signifies "the house 'of God:" when the place was defiled by idola'try, it was named by way of reproach Beth ' aven , that is, the house of vanity , or idolatry; ( Hos . 4:15.) and it is here called so in another 'sense, viz . as vanity is the same with a thing
none able to raise them from their ruined con-'of nought, or of no continuance.... The idol
dition, or to prevent their being carried away into captivity by the Assyrians. They would soon be so diminished and enfeebled, by intestine convulsions and foreign invasions, that their cities would not be able to furnish more than a tenth part of their former number of soldiers; and so they would be utterly unable to resist the power of the Assyrian invaders. ( Marg . Ref .)
V. 4-6. Notwithstanding all these denunciations, the Israelites would have nothing to blame for their ruin, except their own obstinate impenitence in rebellion. Still the Lord assured them, that if they would seek him, they should live and be preserved from their enemies; that is, if they sought his his favor and protection, by repentance, faith, and prayer, and by returning heartily to his worship and service. And any individuals, who thus sought him, would save their souls alive; and might be rescued from the general ruin of the nation.
But they must not imagine, that going to worship the calves at Beth-el, or Gilgal, or Beersheba, (which last, probably, was in the hands of the kings of Israel at that time,) would avail them any thing. ( Note , 4:4,5.) All the worship and sacrifices presented in those places were an abomination; and they must protest against them, and seek the Lord according to his word.
For Beth-el and Gilgal, and their inhabitants, idols, priests, and worshippers, would speedily fall into the hands of the enemies; and none of them would be able to avert, or to quench, the fire of God's indignation, which was about to devour the whole house of Joseph, or the kingdom of Israel, of which Ephraim and Manasseh formed a principal
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'you worship will not be able to deliver you, but will itself be involved in the common ca'lamity.' Lowth .
V.7-9. The rulers and magistrates of Israel were here particularly addressed: their iniquity rendered their judicial proceedings a source of oppression and misery; and they had left off all regard ard to justice, as well as to religion, throughout the land. land. ( Marg . Ref . f . t, u. Notes , 10-13. 10—13. 6:12-1 6:12-14, ν. 12. Is . 10:1-4. Ez . 22:27,28. Hos . 10:4. Hab . 1:2-4.
Zeph . 3:1-4.) Thus they they provoked that glorious God, whose favor they should have sought: even Him, who had created the stars in their constellations, constellati which were supposed to have a great tinfluence inf on the seasons, for rain or drought, for plenty or scarcity. For he could as easily raise men from the depth of misery to felicity, or cast them down from the summit of prosperity into distress and despair, as he changes the darkness of the night into the light of the morning, or the brightness of the day into the gloom of the evening. ( Marg . Ref . x-z.- Notes , 4:12, 13.
Ex . 10:21-23. Job 9:4-13.) He was able again to pour the waters of the ocean upon the earth, and cause a second deluge, if he saw good; for he is the eternal, self-existent, and all-sufficient JEHOVAH. He could even give strength to a few plundered and dispirited captives, to vanquish the mightiest conquerors, or to take the most strongly fortified cities. What then had his enemies to expect, but inevitable destruction? ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . a -c.- Notes , Gen. 7:10-12. 1 Sam . 2:4-8. 1 Kings 20:1-30. Jer. 37:6-10, v. 10. Luke 1:46 -55, υυ . 51,52.)
Wormwood. (7) 'Or, into hemlock , as the word
newn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; may be that the Lord God of hosts will be
ye have planted * pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
12 For I know your i manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: k they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right .
13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
[Practical Observations.]
gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
16 Therefore "the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.
17 And bin all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the
LORD.
18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? e the day of the Lord is darkness, and not
14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. 15 Hate the evil, and love the good, light. and establish judgment in the gate: * it
s Num. 16:3. Is. 48:1,2. Jer. 7: 3,4. Mic. 3:11.
t Ps. 36:4. 37:27. 97:10. 119: 104. 139:21,22. Rom. 7:15,16, 22. 8:7. 12:9. 1 Thes. 5:21,22. 3 John 11.
u 10,24. 6:12. 2 Chr. 19:6-11. Ps. 82:2-4. Jer. 7:5-7. x Ex. 32:30. Kings 20.31. Joel 2:14. Jon. 3:9.
2 Sam. 16:12. 1 2 Kings 19:4.
'the law, which was designed to protect ' Laannah , is translated, 6:12. Ye that pervert
'cence, and under color of it exercise the great'est oppression.' Lowth. The seven stars , &c. (8) The Hebrew names are Kima and Kesil . ( Job 9:9. 38:31.)
V. 10-13. The idolatrous, or infidel, and iniquitous rulers of Israel would not regard the prophet's exhortations; he therefore next spake to others concerning them. They hated the prophets, who rebuked the wickedness of the people in the most public parts of the city, and did not spare the corrupt inagistrates that per
19 As fif a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
20 Shall not the day of the LORD be
y 6. 2 Kings 13:7. 14:26,27. 15:29. Jer. 31:7. Mic. 2:12. 5 : 3,7,8.
1:15. Zech. 9:8.
d Is. 5:19. 28:15-22. Jer. 17: 15. Ez. 12:22,27. Mal. 3:1,2. 2 Pet. 3:4.
e Is. 5:30. 9:19. 24:11,12. Jer. 30:7. Joel 1:15. 2:1,2,10,31. Zeph. 1:15. Mal. 4:1. 2. Pet. 3:10.
f 9:1,2. 1 Kings 20:29,30. Job 20:24,25. Is. 24:17,18. Jer. 15: 2,3. 48:43,44. Acts 28:4.
course to their or indulging their pas not evil." ( Note , 4-6.) Instead of having resions and avarice, they should seek the good knowledge, salvation, and ways of the Lord. ( Marg . Ref . q-s.- Notes , Is . 1:16-20. 48:1,2. Jer. 7:3-7. Mic. 3:8-12, v. 11.) Then indeed they might hope for the gracious presence of God with them; which they now presumptuously expected, because of their external relation to him. But they could not heartily shun the evil and seek the good, except they hated the one and loved the other: so that a change of their inward disposition was absolutely re
verted justice in their courts: nay, they abhor-quisite, in order to a reformation of their out
red every one who spake uprightly, whether as an honest witness that came before them, or a magistrate who objected to their perversion of equity. They would not be reproved, because they hated to be reformed. ( Marg . Ref . d, e.- Notes , 1 Kings 18:17. 21:20. 22:8. Prov . 9:7-9. Is . 29:20,21. Mic . 3:1-4. John 3: 19-21.) They continually trampled down the poor, and robbed them of the burdens of wheat, which they had gleaned, bought, or carned, for the support of their families; and left them to starve, whilst they were framing splendid palaces and pleasant vineyards for themselves. But the Lord would not suffer them to enjoy their ill-gotten estates: for he knew their manifold and atrocious crimes, their impiety, bribery, and extortion, and would take vengeance on them. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . f, g. -Notes , 4:1-3. Is . 5:7—10. Jer . 22:13—19. Mic . 2:810. 6:10-15. Jam. 5:1-6.) But the times were
ward conduct. ( Marg . Ref . t.- Notes , Ps . 36:3, 4. Rom . 7:15—17,22-25. 8:5–9. 12:9-13, ν . 9.) This would lead them to establish judgment in the gate, by righteous laws and decisions; and then perhaps the Lord might be gracious to the enfeebled remnant of the nation, and recover it to its former prosperity. ( Marg . Ref . u, x.- Notes , 7-13. Job 29:12-17. Joel 2:1214. Jon . 3:3-9, v . 9.)-This, probably, was written between the first ravages of the Assyrians, and their more complete success.
V. 16, 17. As the Lord foreknew that these exhortations would be generally disregarded, he assured the people that the approaching calamities would fill both the streets of the cities, the high-ways, and the pleasant vineyards, the usual scenes of joy and festivity, with bitter lamentations: whilst the husbandmen, driven from their work, would join the skilful hireling mourners in bewailing the pub
so perilous and iniquitous, that prudent per-lic calamities. For the Lord was about to
sons, except evidently called to it, would choose to keep silence, even from complaining, lest they should excite the indignation of their cruel oppressors. ( Marg . Ref . o, p.- Note , Hos . 4:
4,5.)
pass through the land, as he had done through Egypt when he destroyed the first-born.'Those, whose trade and practice is to make 'common lamentation, shall now mourn in 'earnest without hire.' Bp . Hall . ( Marg . Ref .
V. 14, 15. The prophet did not however -Notes , 8:4-10, v. 10. Εx . 12:11-14, ν. think, that it behoved him to be silent; but he 12. Is . 16:8-11. 32:9-14. Jer. 9:10,11,17still exhorted the people to "seek good, and || 19.;
& darkness and not light? even very dark, waters, and righteousness as a mighty and no brightness in it?
21 I hate, I despise your feast-days, and I will not * smell in your solemn assemblies.
22 Though ye k offer me burnt-offerings and your meat-offerings, I will not accept them : neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.
23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
But let judgment run down as
g Job 3:4-6, 10:21,22. Is. 13: 10. Ez. 34:12. Nah. 1:8. Matt. 22:13. Jude 13. Rev. 16:10. h Prov. 15:8. 21:27. 28:9. Is. 1: 11-15. 66:3. Jer. 6:20. 7:21 -23. Hos. 8:13. Matt. 23:14. 1 Gen. 8:21. Lev. 26:31. Eph. 5:2. Phil. 4:18.
* Or, smell your holy days.
V. 18-20.
k Ps. 50:8-13. Mic. 6,6,7.
Or, thank -offerings. 4:4,5. Lev. 7:12-15. Ps. 50:14,23. 107:21,22. 116:17.
16:5. 8:3,10.
m 7,14,15, Job 29:12-17. Prov. 21:3. Hos. 6:6. Mic. 6:8. Mark 12:32-34.
† Heb. roll.
The prophets often spake of "the day of the LORD," and many of the people expressed a desire of its arrival; either scornfully deriding his message, or presumptuously expecting the interposition of God in their favor. But their scorn or presumption would ensure woe to them: "the day of the LORD" would be to them a season of the utmost distress and despondency, without any mixture of joy and prosperity. One calamity would succeed to another: so that those who escaped the first would be destroyed by the second or the third: as if a man, having fled from a lion, should be met by a bear; or having got into a house fatigued and alarmed, and leaning against a wall to recover himself, should there be stung to death by a serpent. ( Marg . Ref. Notes, 9:1-4. 1 Kings 20:29,30. Is . 5:18,19. Jer . 17:15-18, v. 15. Ez . 7:2-5. Hos. 13:5-8, r. 8. Joel 2:1-3. Mal . 3:1-4. Acts 28:3-6. 2 Pet . 3: 1-4.)
V. 21-24. The Israelites were encouraged in presumption, by the observance of religious solemnities. Perhaps, in the temples belonging to the ten tribes, they copied the manner of keeping the solemn feasts, and presenting the sacrifices; and even the music and psalmody, in use at the temple of Jerusalem. But the whole was so corrupted with idolatry, superstition, hypocrisy, and iniquity, that God utterly abhorred and rejected it with disdain. Some, however, think that Judah also was included in this rebuke, and on very probable grounds.
Instead of relying on these external and hypocritical services, they would do far better to reform the courts of justice; that judgment and equity might thence be diffused, like streams of waters, throughout the land. Thus a hopeful beginning might be made, of reformation in morals and religion, without which no sacrifices could please God.--'Let 'justice have its free course, so that the mean'est persons may have the benefit of it.' Lowth . (Marg. and Marg . Ref .--Notes, 7--9, v. 7,10-13. 6:3-8. 8:1--3, v . 3. 1 Sam . 15:22. Ps . 50:7-21. Prov . 15:8,9. 21:27. Is . 1:10–20. 66:3,4.
Jer. 6:18-20.7:21--23. Hos . 6:6. Mark 12:28--34.)
V. 25--27. The generation of Israel, to whom the prophet spake, copied and exceeded the crimes of their fore-fathers, even from the time of their leaving Egypt. For almost forty years, during their continuance in the wilderness, the prescribed sacrifices to the Lord were greatly neglected or interrupted: and yet with great toil and expense, they carried along with
stream.
25 Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
26 But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.
them shrines or models of the tabernacles, in which their idols had been worshipped, with images in them, as learned men suppose. ( Marg .
Ref . m.-- Notes , Ez . 20:7-9,13-15.)-Moloch is a name familiar to the student of scripture: but nothing satisfactory can be known of "Chiun," or "the star of their god, which they made to themselves;" perhaps some of the planets or constellations were worshipped under this name, and the image of it might be decorated or distinguished by the figure of a star. ( Acts 7:42,43.) Some remains of this idolatry, probably, existed in the time of Amos.--Ye shall be removed further from your 'own country, than when Hazael king of Syria 'carried away so many Israelites captives to 'Damascus. (1:4.) ...
The king of Assyria car'ried the ten tribes captives, as far as Media, (2 ' Kings 17:6.) ... at a much greater distance 'than Babylon.... ( Acts 7:43.) ... The captivity 'of the ten tribes would be far worse than that 'of the two remaining, and with less hopes of returning to their own country.' Lowth . ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . o-q.- Notes , Lev . 18:21. 20:2-5.2 Kings 23:5,11.
Acts 7:37-43, υυ . 42, 43. 19:23--31, υυ . 24,26.)---The ten tribes might indeed be especially addressed; but it is evident, that all the descendants of those Israelites who came out of Egypt, were concerned in the expostulation and the prediction.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-13.
Pious minds will often be constrained to lament over the corruptions and calamities of the visible church: for if those, who profess to worship the one living and true God, provoke him to forsake them, they have none to raise them up from their fallen state.
But the true church, though often distressed and apparently diminished, still maintains its ground, and will again be replenished.--While "the Judge standeth at the door," ready to execute vengeance on evil-doers, he still proclaims mercy to those who will accept of it in his way: but men often expect deliverance, by those idolatrous or superstitious forms, which ensure and enhance their condemnation: and so long as they refuse "to seek the LORD," and to come to him by Jesus Christ, that "they may live;" the fire of divine indignation breaks forth upon them, and none of their devices or teachers can quench it.--No man can too much regard, or reasonably disregard the wrath or favor of God, who orders all things in heaven and earth
|| be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?
3 Ye, that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come
near;
4 That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
5 That chant m to the sound of the viol,
h Is. 10:9-11. 36:18,19. 37:12, 13. Ez. 31:2,3. Nah. 3:8.
i 5:18. 9:10. Ec. 8:11. Is. 47:7. 56:12. Ez. 12:22,27. Matt. 24: 48. 1 Thes. 5:3. 2 Pet. 3:4. Rev. 18:7,
k 12. 5:12. Ps. 94:20.
Or, habitation .
1 Is. 5:11,12. 22:13. Luke 16:
19. Rom. 13:13,14. Jam. 5:5. Or, abound with superfluities. 1 Sam. 25:36-38. Ps. 73:7. Luke 12:19,20.
|| Or, quaver. m Gen. 31:27.
Job 21:11,12,
Ec. 2:8. Is. 5:12. 1 Pet. 4:3. Rev. 18:22.
as he pleases. He destroys countries by drought or fire, by deluges or hostile invaders, in an irresistible manner. He can envelope men in natural or spiritual darkness, or involve them in terror and despair; or he can give light, joy, and prosperity, as he sees good: and while oppressors "turn judginent into wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth;" they forget that "the LORD can strengthen the spoiled against the strong," and execute vengeance on them, by the hands of the poor outcasts whom they despise. But hardened oppressors can seldom be induced to fear the wrath, or seek the favor of God: "they hate the light," and those faithful preachers, who speak not good of them, but evil, and who rebuke their crimes as openly as they commit them. Intent on enriching and indulging themselves, they trample on the poor, and iniquitously, as well as unmercifully, de-profession of being God's people; thus they
temporal judgments, none of them can avoid everlasting destruction. God abhors even the most pompous services of the proud, impenitent, and hypocritical; and is offended at their very songs of praise. But, it is grievous to reflect how his word has been disregarded, even by his worshippers, in every age of the church; and how much more labor, expense, and self-denial have been exercised by idolaters and the devotees of superstition, than have been observable among those, who professed to adhere to the scriptural and spiritual worship of our God.
prive them of their hard-earned pittance, that themselves may riot in sensuality and magnificence. But the Lord notices with abhorrence all their "afflicting of the just," and all their bribery, peculation, and perversion of law and equity; and he will soon terminate their prosperity and oppression together. It is, however, generally prudent for men, if they can do it consistently with their duty, to keep silence in such evil times, and to leave the matter with the Lord; lest improper intermeddling should render a bad condition still worse.
V. 14-27.
The ministers of Christ must speak, whatever they venture or suffer: they must continue to call on men to "seek the good and not the evil, that the LORD God of Hosts may be with them." And as we must learn "to hate the evil and love the good," if we would acceptably serve God on earth or be fit for heaven; it behores us earnestly to plead his promises, and to beseech him to "create in us a clean heart and to renew a right spirit within us: and then all piety and righteousness, and every relative duty, will readily and constantly be attended on. -The Lord is ever ready to be gracious to the souls that seek him; and we may hope for his returning favor to the remnant of diminished churches, when they seek him in humility and sincerity.
But mourning and lamentation must come on all who neglect him, even in those places where joy and gladness did most abound: and it is a vain presumption, for the impenitent and unbelieving to hope for favor "in the day of the LORD;" which will be to them "darkness and not light,
NOTES.