Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 1:2

2 And he said, the LORD will roar from Zion , and utter his voice from Jerusalem : and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn , and the top of Carmel shall wither .

Amos.

The Almighty and Eternal whom you of the Ten Tribes have forsaken, and thereby have provok'd to displeasure.

The Prophet alluding to what was dreadful, dangerous, and most rowsing to Shepherds, the roaring of an hungry Lion that comes out of his Den for prey, doth express the danger of Israel, and wou[illegible: 1 letter]d awaken them to a sense of it that they might prevent it by Repentance before the Lord tears them in pieces as a Lion tears his prey.

Either the Temple in opposition to Ieroboams Idolatrous [illegible: 1 letter]happels. Or intimating their defection and sin in leaving Sion for Dan and Bethel.

This explains and confirms the former Metaphorical expression of Gods wrath.

The City God had chosen where he dwelt, the seat of Gods instituted Worship in the matters of Religion, and the Royal Seat of the Kingdom as God had setled it, from which in both respects the Ten Tribes had revolted. This whole Paragraph you have Ioel 3.16. which see; and Ier. 25.30.

Where the Shepherds found convenient past[illegible: 1 letter] rage they pitcht their Tents, or built them Cottages, and dwelt therein, that they might attend the care of their Flocks for which they also made Folds. And this was the delight and wealth of these men; now by allusion to these Amos expresseth all the Wealth, Greatness, and Delightfulness of the Kingdom of Israel. Princes are in the Greek Dialect Shepherds of the People, People are the Flock; Towns and Cities are the habitations of both, and so the Scripture, Ier. 2.8. and 3.15. Ezek. 34.2, 7, 8, 9. Nah. 3.18. useth the expression; which see.

Be made desolate and reduced to a sad, mournful and lamentable state, in which men shall see nothing but matter of sadness and tears.

There were two places of this name, and though distant from each other, yet both very fruitful, and much used by Shepherds, the one was in the Northern parts of Canaan whither Elijah resorted, the other in Iudah the Southern parts of Canaan, now this was nearer Tekoa, better known to Amos, and therefore some think this to be here intended, but the other was in Israel which is here threatned, and therefore fitter to be the Emblem of the Ten Tribes, and meant here say others; which ever you choose 'tis no hard thing to accommodate it to the Prophets purpose of Carmel, Vid. Nah. 1.4.

Either blasted, or else dried up with drought, and turn'd into barrenness. So the whole Kingdoms of the people threatned, and of the Ten Tribes, though as fruitful and pleasant as Carmel should be made horrid and desolate as a dry and barren wilderness. Vid. Ioel 1.12. and 17.