Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 1:11

11 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, For three transgressions of Edom , and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof : because he did pursue his brother with the sword , and did cast off all pity , and his anger did tear perpetually , and kept his wrath for ever .

See verse 3. let. a.

Vid. verse 6. let. e.

See verse 3. let. c.

Watch for, and laid hold on every occasion to oppress I[illegible: 1 letter]rael.

Iacob and his Posterity here are meant, as i[illegible: 1 letter] Esau and his Posterity; Esau personally considered was an enemy to the person of Iacob, and vow'd his ruin, forced him to [illegible: 1 letter]ly into Padan-Aram, and on his return thence frighted Ia[illegible: 2 letters]b too by coming out with four hundred men armed; the Posterity of Esau behaved themselves no whit more friendly.

Either joyning with the enemies, as Psal. 83.6, 7, 8. and 137.7. or setting a war on foot on their own account, as 2 Chron. 28.17. against them.

Common humanity was by Edom cast off, when Iacobs posterity needed it, as appears by their denyal of passage, and selling to them necessaries for their relief in Travelling by their Country, Numb. 20.14. to 21. nay, they arm'd against Israel, verse 20. Common pity would have forborn strangers travelling by our Coasts, how much more Brethren? The inhumanity of the Edomites appeared yet farther in this, that they were Chapmen to buy all the Captive Israelites, and to sell them to the Heathen for slaves, which is certainly the height of inhumanity;

Which is exprest by fierceness, and with vehemency,

as a ravenous, hungry and fierce Lyon tears the prey, so the word.

Though sometime this anger did intermit for want of opportunity, yet on every occasion it revived, and shewed it self again.

Least the fire of his wrath should extinguish, Edom did record, treasure up, and reserved the seeds of his displeasure, as men rake up fire in ashes to blow it up into a flame, such was Edom's wrath, a wrath that exceeded all bounds, as the word imports, and never ceast.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]; [illegible: 1 paragraph]