Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 5:12

12 For I know your manifold transgressions , and your mighty sins: they afflict the just , they take a bribe , and they turn aside the poor in the gate , from their right .

Wonder not at the threatned severity, as if 'twere too rigorous; it is but proportioned to your sins.

The Lord whom you provoke, who have threatned you,

clearly, fully, and in all the circumstances of them, what moves you to do so, what pretences of Law you make, all your evasions are vain and foolish.

The increased number of your sins, and the greatness of them too, as the word importeth.

Which mightily wrong, and break the poor and needy.

Besiege, or with hostile minds watch against, and gladly take any occasion to wrong, and grieve the just.

Not absolutely and sinlesly just, but such as are comparatively just, or those whose cause is just, or those that live with regard to all the commands of God, and follow Righteousness: It was the mighty sin of the corrupt Rulers in Samaria and Israel at that day, that they were enemies to all righteousness.

In civil causes bribes carried it, Vid. chap. 2. verse 6. let. p. †. q. r. s. t. here bribes set criminals free, a ransom, as the word Hebr. buyes off the punishment appointed by the Law against Murtherers, Adulterers, &c.

The poor, who appear in their Courts for Justice, they turn them away, or delay to hear, or hear and judge unjustly, and so send them away wrong'd and crying.

These words fully express the Prophets meaning, and are therefore well supply'd in our Version.

Marginal references: 2 [illegible: 2 letters]nsom.