CHAP. VI. V. 1. The wealthy and haughty inhabitants, both of Jerusalem and Samaria, seem to be here addressed. They confided in their fortifications and external advantages, or carelessly indulged themselves, and were heedless about consequences, though destruction impended over them. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . a, b.- Notes , Job 21:7-16.
Is . 32:9-14, υυ . 9-11.)-Some, however, understand the passage differently.-'The word ... rendered "are 'at ease," signifies also to be insolent ; in which 'sense the words may fitly belong to the ton 'tribes, who despised Zion and the temple, "which God chose out of all the tribes of Is'rael, to place his name there." ... Zion, or Je'rusalem, and Samaria are the chief seats of 'the two kingdoms, whither is the greatest re'sort of the whole nation....
The Chaldee in'terprets it, 'who gives name to their children, "according to the names of the chief of the 'heathen, to whom the house of Israel apply 'themselves for protection.' Thus in the later 'times, some of the Jews took the names of 'Alexander, Antipater, Agrippa, and the like, 'to compliment some great men among the 'Greeks or Romans of those names.' Lowth. Chief of the nations.] "First-fruits." ( Marg . -Note , Jam . 1:16-18, v . 18.)
V.2. To shew the people, what little ground they had for their confidence and carnal security, the prophet calls on them to consider some of the neighboring cities, which had once been flourishing, but probably were then in ruins. Had these cities been more favored, than the kingdoms of Judah and Israel? Or had they been more prosperous? Or was their border larger? That is, did they more deserve the indignation of God, for their ingratitude? or had they more to tempt the avarice of invaders? ( Marg . Ref . )-' Calneh ; a city in the
even very dark, and no brightness in it:" for 'region of Babylon; and, as it seems, lately though ungodly men, persisting in impenitence 'subdued by the Assyrians. ... Gath : Uzziah, in and unbelief, may escape the most complicated || 'whose reign Amos prophesied, took this city VOL. IV. [769
and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David;
6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments; P but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
7 Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.
8 The Lord God hath sworn by himself, saith the Lord the God of hosts, I abhor " the excellency of Jacob, * and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
8,12-14. 7:1,2,8-10. Is. 21:4. Dan. 5:4-6. Nah. 1:10.
s 4:2. Jer. 51:14. Heb. 6:13 -17.
t Lev. 26:11. Ps. 78:59. Zech. 11:8.
u 8:7. P9. 47:4. Ez. 24:21. x 3:11. Lam. 2:5.
y Mic. 1:6-9.
Heb. the fulness thereof. Ps.
50:12.
'Better, greater. Why then do ye worship 'their gods? And why are you not grateful to 'JEHOVAH?" Bp . Newcombe . The prophet, however, seems to have meant their presumption, rather than their ingratitude. Hamath the great .] (2 Kings 17:24,30. 19:13. Is . 10:9.) Not Hamath, afterwards mentioned. (14)
presumption,
9 And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
10 And a man's uncle shall take him up, and hea that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, b Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
11 For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with
clefts.
12 Shall horses run upon the rock? will
z 5:3. 1 Sam. 2:33. Esth. 5:11. 9:10. Job 1:2,19. 20:28. Ps. 109:13. Is. 14:21.
a 8:3. 1 Sam. 31:12. 2 Kings 23:16. Jer. 16:6.
b 5:13. Num. 17:12,13. 2 Kings 6:33. Ez. 24:21-23.
c Jer. 44:26. Ez. 20:39.
Or, they will not make, or, have not made.
d 3:6,7. 9:1,9. Ps. 105:16,31,34. Is. 10:5,6. 13:3. 46:10,11. Ez. 29:18-20. Nah. 1:14.
e 8. 3:15. 2 Kings 25:9. Hos. 13:16. Zech. 14:2. Luke 19: 44.
|| Or, droppings. Ec. 10:18. f Is. 48:4. Jer. 5:3. 6:29,30. Zech. 7:11,12.
palaces, which were builded and maintained by oppression: and he would therefore give them up with all the rich furniture, and jewels, and treasures, with which they were replenished, to be plundered and desolated by the Assyrians and Chaldeans. ( Marg . and Marg. Ref . q-r.t-y.- Notes , 5:21-24. Ps. 47: 4. Ez . 24:19-24.)-The word rendered excel lency , often means pride , or arrogance , which God especially abhors. These verses' (4-6.) 'are an elegant elegant description of the ill uses men 'too often inake of a plentiful fortune; that it 'shuts out all serious considerations, makes 'them void of compassion towards those that 'are in misery; and to
God they
V.3-8. The persons here addressed either thought that no evil would come upon them, or they considered it as very distant: and they supposed that there was no necessity at the present for repentance or reformation. As as sured of prosperity and impunity, they "called for the seat of violence," and openly committed iniquity and oppression, under color of law and justice. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . i, k.Notes, 12-14.5:10-13,18-20.
Ps . 94:20,21.) At the same time, they lay down to sleep on beds richly ornamented with ivory, and reclined to feast upon magnificent couches; selecting the best of the lambs and calves for their luxurious and intemperate meals; regaling themselves with songs; inventing instruments of music for their carnal pleasure, as David had done for the honor of God and the service of the sanctuary; and drinking wine, not from small cups, but out of bowls, and to excess; and anointing themselves with the most costly ointments and perfumes. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . 1-0.- Notes , 5:21-24.
Is . 5:11-17, vv . 11, 12. 22:8-14, vv. 12,13. Luke 12:15-21, v. 20. 16:19-25. Jam . 5:1-6, vv . 4,5.) Thus they stupified their consciences, and rendered their hearts callous: so that they disregarded the miseries of their oppressed brethren, and the calamities occasioned to the people, in other parts of the land, by famine, pestilence, and hostile invasions; and those which the prophets foretold were about to come upon them. But these selfish, luxurious persons would be the first who would go iuto captivity; they would be torn away from their luxurious banquets, to penury, slavery, or death.
For the Lord solemnly sware by himself, (or, "by his soul,") that "he abhorred all the excellency of Jacob," or all those things on which the descendants of that patriarch valued themselves; whether they were riches, or strength, or out
and to regard nothing but the The
'present gratification gratification of of their their senses. 'words allude to the afflicted state of Joseph, 'when he was sold by his brethren.' Lowth . ( Marg . Ref . p.-Notes, Gen. 37:19–30. 42:21, 22.)
V. 9-11. Previous to that final desolation of the city, the ravages of famine and pesti- lence would be so great, that in many instan- ces none would survive of the most numerous families. Their relations would be constrain- ed to burn the bodies, (which was not custom- ary in Israel,) or bury the bones of the dead, with very little assistance, and in silence and astonishment.
They would scarcely venture to express their griefs to their nearest neigh- bors and fellow sufferers: and they would de- spair of pity or help from God; whom they would suppose to have utterly rejected them, and to be ready to add to their punishment if they presumed to mention his name: thus they would pine away under these calamities, in terror, enmity, and despair. This obscure 'verse (10) seems to describe the effects of fam- 'ine and pestilence, during the siege of Sama- 'ria.
The carcass shall be burnt, and the bones 'shall be removed, with no ceremony of funeral 'rites, and not without the assistance of the near- 'est kinsmen. Solitude shall reign in the house: 'and if one is left, he must be silent and retir- 'ed, lest he be plundered of his scanty provis- 'ions.' Bp . Newcombe . For, at the Lord's com- mand, both their stately palaces, and the more humble habitations, would be desolated with
ward privileges, or their empty profession of proportionable distress, and all ranks involved being God's people; especially their splendid || in one common ruin. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref
Kings 6:32,33.)
V. 12-14. It was as perilous even to endeavor the reformation of the people, as it would be to ride a race on the top of a craggy rock, where both horses and horsemen would be in great danger of being killed; and as vain, as to plow there with oxen, when no impression could be made or increase expected.--Is it possible, that horses should run upon the 'steep and craggy cliffs? ... So impossible is it 'that ye Israelites should continue to prosper, 'while ye remain thus sinful. Bp . Hall .
The ancients did not shoe their horses.--The administration of public justice, and even their religious observances, had proved as nauseous as gall, and as poisonous as hemlock; instead of being a source, or an example, of equity and piety. ( Marg . Ref . f, g.- Notes , 5:7-9, v. 7. Ps . 94:1-7,20,21.
Is . 10:1--4.) Yet they continued to rejoice in their idols, their wealth, fortifications, or successes, which were things of no value: and they boasted of being able to provide for their own defence; which was as absurd, as if an animal should suppose, that it had assumed, or could assume, "horns by its own strength." These boasts perhaps were occasioned by the successes of Jeroboam. (Notes, 2 Kings 14:23-28.) The Lord would therefore raise up against them the Assyrians, who would oppress Israel, as afterwards the Chaldeans would waste Judah: the whole land from one end to the other should be laid desolate.
The mention of "the river of the wilderness," the border of the promised land on the south-west, shews that Judah, as well as Israel, was intended. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . h--1.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. Careless sinners in every situation are in constant danger of destruction: but those "who are at ease in Zion," and possess seared consciences and vain confidence, under the means of grace, are in the most perilous state; and no pre-eminence in rank or station in the church, no distinction of sect or party, will secure those who are destitute of the sanctify ing grace of God. Nay, every other advantage, in this case, will increase pride, rebellion, and condemnation.-Ungodly men are prone to put off the evil day: they presume that they shall
to prophesy at Bethel, 10-13. Amos shews how God had called him to prophesy, and predicts the ruin of Amaziah and his family, 14-17.
HUS hath the Lord GoD shewed. unto me; and, behold, he formed grass-hoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.
2 And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord God, forgive, I beseech thee: t by whom shall Jacob arise? e for he is small.
3 The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.
a 4,7. 8:1. Jer. 1:11-16. 24:1. Ez. 11:25. Zech. 1:20.
b 4:9. Ex. 10:12-16. Is. 33:4. Joel 1:4. 2:25. Nah. 3:15-17. * Or, green worms.
c Ex. 10:15. Rev. 9:4. d 5. Ex. 32:11,12. 34:9. Num. 14:17-19. Jer. 14:7,20,21. Dan. 9:19. Jam. 5:15,16.
↑ Or, who of (or, for) Jacob shall stand? Is. 51:19. Ez. 9: 8. 11:13.
e Ps. 12:1. 44:22-26. Is. 37:4. Jer. 42:2.
f 6. Deut. 32:36. 1 Chr. 21:15. Ps. 106:45. Hos. 11:8. Joel 2:14. Jon. 3:10.
live many years, and that they shall escape with impunity; or at least, that there is no danger as yet, nor any need of repentance, self-denial, and prayer. Many of them seek to amass wealth by crimes, and spend it in every kind of self-indulgence, and continued pleasure and dissipation; whilst their ingenuity is employed in inventing new methods of gratification, to dissipate reflection, to silence conscience, and harden their hearts.
No wonder then, that they become insensible to the miseries of the poor, or to the persecutions and afflictions of the church; and that they spend that on their lusts, by which God should have been honored, and his people relieved: for they are continually neglecting , and even wilfully murdering , their own souls ! The just and holy God must abhor the excellency, and hate both the palaces and temples, of such professed Christians.
Their carnal ease and riotous banquets will soon be removed: and how dreadful will it be, when luxury and excess shall end in hopeless and endless misery. ( Note , Luke 16:24-26.) Even on earth sinners may be so loaded with afflictions, or driven to desperation, that sullen silence and astonishment may seize upon them; and every thought of God, or of Christ, or prayer, may increase their agony, and every temper of hell may be experienced and manifested.
Men should therefore take warning not to stifle their convictions, or harden their hearts; and not to discourage the labors of ministers for their good: for if God give them up to obduracy, all efforts to bring them to repentance will be unavailing. Nothing tends more to this judicial obduracy than premeditated injustice; or confidence in our own wisdom, righteousness, and strength, in opposition to the word of God and from enmity to it: and "those, who thus walk in pride, the LORD knoweth how to abase" or to destroy.
NOTES.