Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 1:5

5 I will break also the bar of Damascus , and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven , and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden : and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir , saith the LORD .

The mighty God, as verse 4. let. h.

Weaken and shake into pieces.

Literally the bar with which the City Gates were shut, and both fastened and strengthned, Iudge 16.3. Neh. 7.3. and Psal. 107.16. Metaphorically it contains all the Munitions, Fortresses and Strength of a place or people; so here.

Vid. verse 3. let. b. It is put here as before for the whole Kingdom, of which 'twas the Metropolis.

By the judgments of War, Pestilence, Famine, or diseases, all commissioned to do this.

For inhabitants, the Singular used for the Plural▪ and may possibly denote the universal excision, and destruction of the Syrians, who shall perish as one man, see the like use of the single number, Exodus 8.6. Ieremiah 8.7.

It is possible this may refer to some peculiar manner which the Syrians observed in their choosing the Valley or Campagne for the place of Worship to their Idols; Israel cho[illegible: 1 letter]e high places, the Syrians chose Valleys 'tis likely, and therefore though beaten in the hills where they thought the Gods which Israel worshipt were strongest, yet are confident that in the Valleys where Syrians Worshipt their Gods, The Syrians would find their Gods the stronger, 1 King. 20.23. for this reason the Valley or Plain hath its name the Plain of Aven, of iniquity and vanity, because in it they Worshipped vain Gods, and their Religion was highest Idolatry, or it may be that Bikath-Aven was the name of some City of Syria well known then, but whose memory is perisht with it a great while ago.

A description of the King of Syria, whose Royal Dignity shall be no security to him.

Some Royal Seat, where the Kings of Sy [illegible: 2 letters]a did think good to build them a house or Palace, for pleasure and delights, and therefore gave it this name Beth-Eden, or the house of Pleasure; all their pleasant seats, the Kings Summer-houses shall be laid waste.

The main body of the subjects and people of Syria; this explains Damascus, verse 3. let. b. and in this verse.

C[illegible: 1 letter]rene of Egypt say some, but without any probability in this place, there was also Kir of Moab, Isa. 15.1 but this not Kir in the Text, this was Kir of Media, Isa. 22.6. now under the Assyrian yoke, and thither did Tiglath Pil[illegible: 1 letter]eser carry the conquered Syrians, 2 Kings 16.9. and placed them Captives in that barren Mountainous Countrey, about fifty years after it was foretold by Amos.

This gives us an assurance tha[illegible: 1 letter] all here threatned should at last be executed.

Marginal references: Or, Bikath-aven.; Or, Beth-eden.