Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 6

1 WO to them that are at ease in Zion , and trust in the mountain of Samaria , which are named chief of the nations , to whom the house of Israel came .

This compriseth many and great sorrows, all that God intends against these sinners.

Who live in abundance, eat, drink, sleep, and are secure, that think too morrow shall be as this day, and neither fear nor believe the threatned Judgments of God.

By a Synecdoche put for the Kingdom of the two Tribes, and principally the inhabitants of Ierusalem and Zion, the Ten Tribes were hitherto threatned, now the Prophet warns the Two Tribes.

Wo to them also who rely upon the Strength, Wealth, and Policy of the King, Princes, Cities, and Kingdom of Samaria or Israel.

Which two Cities, Zion and Samaria.

Accounted Chief Cities among the known Cities of that part of the World. Others refer this passage to the Nobles, Wisemen, and great men of each place, men that were heads among their own people.

To which places all Israel had recourse, so the two Tribes went up to Zion, the Ten Tribes went to Samaria, or to whom i. e. to which Nobles and Rulers the People of each Kingdom did go on all occasions for Judgment, Counsel or Refuge.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]; Or, [illegible: 1 word]; Exod. [illegible: 1 span]; Or, [illegible: 1 word]

2 Pass ye unto Calneh , and see : and from thence go ye unto Hemath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border ?

Run over the History of that Great, and antient City, as go to Shilo, Ier. 7.12.

Built by Nimrod, Gen. 10.10. and after a long growth to Power, Wealth and Security, through near 1300 years was at last ruin'd, as is probable in the Civil Wars which ended in the utter ruin of Sardanapalus by Arba[illegible: 1 letter]es, and P[illegible: 1 letter]ul-Belochus, Grandfather to Salmaneser who Captivated Israel, the story of which, fresh in the days of Amos, is thus referr'd unto for warning to Israel.

Consider well what befel that City built on Euphrates, Rich, Delightful, and, as you, full of Sin.

Head of the Syrian Kingdom, lately overthrown by Tiglath-Pilneser, and very fresh instance of Gods just indignation against secure sinners, and a very fit warning to Israel.

The chief City of the Philistines a few years before wasted by the Armes and Cruelty of Hazael, 2 King. 12.17. by these Examples learn to amend your wayes or expect to perish in them.

The reading this passage interrogatively renders it darker than if 'twere read assertively, yet they were better, i. e. greater than these Kingdoms of Israel and Iudah, and their borders, i. e. the bounds of those Kingdomes, greater than these of Israel and Iudah. But if you retain our Version, it will amount to this; are they, i. e. Israel and Iudah, better, more just, thankful and merciful than these Kingdoms that they should hope to escape? or is the border of these two Kingdoms greater that they should hope to stand by power?

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 3.8.

3 Ye that put far away the evil day , and cause the seat of violence to come near .

Wo to you that flatter your selves that the day of darkness and misery foretold is far off, as Ezek. 12.27. which see. These were great ones too, that the Prophet here threatneth, who thus postpon'd the day of Israel and Iudahs Calamities.

Not as if it should be a short calamity, as a day, but it speaks the determinate fixed time, and the haste wherewith the Execution shall be made.

The Throne, or Judgment-Seat which should relieve the oppressed, condemn the wicked, and acquit the Innocent, this is made a seat of violence where unjust Judges condemn the just, and take Bribes.

Thus you draw the judgments of God on your selves, by acting violence against the poor, and contemning the Threats of the Prophets.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 5.18. [illegible: 1 span].; [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 letter]4.2[illegible: 1 letter].

4 That lie upon beds of Ivory , and stretch themselves upon their couches , and eat the lambs out of the flock , and the calves out of the midst of the stall .

The wo is to be added to them that either out of Laziness or Luxury, and to please the flesh lay themselves to rest

on beautiful rich Beds, bought with the gain of Bribes and Oppression.

This somewhat explains the former; they did extremely indulge their Pride and Luxury, and on Beds or Couches laid themselves to Feast, when God called them to mourn and weep.

With excess, as Mat. 24.37, 38. and Luk. 12.19, 20.

The very best in all their Flock, and probably they chose them out first, before they set out Lambs for Sacrifices, or else these Gluttonous Judges and Rulers eat the best Lambs, not of their own, but out of poor oppressed mens Flocks.

Those that were fattest too.

Kept on purpose to make them most delicious and nourishing meat.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 letter]r, abound [illegible: 1 span]

5 That chant to the sound of the viol , and invent to themselves instruments of musick , like David .

Wo to them that in a time of deepest Mourning, do entertain themselves with Songs, and with greatest skill sing to their Musical Instruments as if they had no greater thing to mind.

Or Lute or Guitern, one kind put for every one used in their Feastings at this time of Amos.

Not content with known, old-fashion'd Musick, they find out new Instruments, New Songs and Tunes.

In imitation of David, as they profanely pretend, or else emulating his skill, and preferring their own Feast Songs and Musick, before his Temple Musick and Songs. We may imagine what Songs such ungodly, cruel, voluptuous men would sing, and what Tunes they would set too, on such occasions, viz. loose, profane and impure enough.

Marginal references: Isa. 5.12.; Or, [illegible: 1 word].

6 That drink wine in bowles , and anoint themselves with the chief ointments , but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph .

The Prophet continues the wo still to these Riotous Feasters; the jovial, banquetting, dancing, and singing Judges.

Not in little Vessels, not in moderate glasses, or cups as beseemed sober men, but in great Vessels, called Bowls, and it is likely they drank these filled as full as they could hold too, and in design to drink each other down.

In those hot Countreys this anointing was needful to refresh and strengthen the Limbs and 'twas much used. But here the effeminate use of it, at such a time, and by such men, at Feasts is condemned as a great excess, and provoking sin which God will punish.

Nothing affected with or troubled for the publick calamities of their Countrey, though they were sore ones brought on them by the Syrians, and by their own divisions and civil Wars, both Kingdoms of Iudah and Israel were in a very low afflicted state, but these Rulers and Grandees live, feast, sing and dance, as if no sad occasion called for other Carriage.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 letter]r, in bowls of [illegible: 1 word].; Heb. breach.

7 Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive , and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed .

For this s[illegible: 1 letter]n of unseasonable Feasting added to all former sins; much like that, Isa. 22.14.

Who ruled others, and whose Character you have ver. 1, 2, 3, &c. who put far from them the evil day, &c. these shall certainly be carried Captive.

And as they deserve by their sins, so shall they be carried away the first of any, Gods hand in punishing them shall be as eminent as their hand was in [illegible: 1 letter]in[illegible: 1 letter]ing.

The Feastings of voluptuous ones shall cease.

Vid. ver. 4. let. t.

God will send the Assyrians to take away the Banquet, and to bring in a Bill, a reckoning, for these secure sinners, who shall be removed too as well as their Banquet is, they shall go into Captivity, and there in sorrows dearly pay for all their luxury, inhumanity and security.

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 .

The secure, incredulous and Atheistical among the Judges of Israel, are here spoken to, especially, and the Prophet assures them that God had sworn by himself that they should be punished, and in the manner he had foretold.

God assureth his Prophet, that the Prophet might attest it to his Hearers.

I look with detestation, and remember with loathing,

All that the seed of Iacob accounts a glory and excellency to them, and in which they do put their trust, all their external priviledges and ceremonious Worship.

In which violence is stored up, in which luxury abounds.

[illegible: 1 letter]erusalem, Samaria and all the other Cities.

Both Persons and things, Assyria first shall sweep away all out of Israel and Samaria and Babylonians next shall carry away Iudah, Ierusalem and all in it.

Marginal references: Jer. 51.14. Heb. 6.13, 17.; Heb. the fulness thereof.

9 And it shall come to pass , if there remain ten men in one house , that they shall die .

The thing is decreed, and shall take effect.

Or escape the Enemies Sword, or the Famine of Samaria besieged three years.

Many men for 'tis a certain number exprest, though an uncertain be understood.

Either of Pestilence or by some other stroke of Gods hand, though they escape a while they shall not finally escape, 2 King. 17.5.

10 And a mans uncle shall take him up , and he 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 , Hold thy tongue ; for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.

Or some near Kinsman.

Instead of those Mercenaries who were wont to do this, and were paid for it, but now none of these to be had, the next to the dead must as well as he is able take him up on his shoulders, and carry him, i. e. the last of the Ten, the other nine being dead.

Though the Iews mostly buried yet in some cases they burned the dead bodies as in this of wasting Pestilence when they could not carry them out either for fear of infecting others or for want of help.

All that remain'd. The flesh of the dead being consumed to Ashes; the Bones are reserved to be buried, and laid up in some Sepulchre of their Ancestors.

He that doth this Office for the last of his dead friends shall enquire

Of one he seeth either dwelling near, and by the sides of the house out of which the bones are carried, or else of some that lay undiscerned in the corner of the house where so many died.

Is any one living in this your house, hath any one escaped?

The Man of whom the Uncle, or whoever carried out the bones, enquireth.

Then shall the Enquirer say.

Either murmur not against God, or mourn not, for so sad is the time that the dead are happier than the living, or say nothing lest all be rifled from thee. For such inhumanity was among them that there were those who would dare to rifle infected houses. Or else which suits next words be silent under Gods just displeasure.

Now 'tis too late to seek God who is executing his immutable Decree and Sentence which we were advised to prevent, but did not in season.

Marginal references: chap. 5.13. and 8.3.; Or, they will not, or, have not.

11 For behold the LORD commandeth , and he will smite the great house with breaches , and the little house with clefts .

Consider this well: it seems to be the continued speech of him who took care of the dead, ver. 10.

God provoked by our sins hath sent out thy Enemies: War, Famine and Pestilence all come commission'd of God and when the Arrow is shot 'twill hit and kill.

The Palaces of great men, and their Families,

shall have great breaches made in them, by which they shall be ruin'd.

The Cottages, and lesser dwellings of poor men with their Families.

Shall by lesser stroaks be ruin'd, their Clefts shall be enough to do this. All shall be overthrown, and we must submit to it.

Marginal references: Or, droppings.

12 ¶ Shall horses run upon the rock ? will one plow there with oxen ? for ye have turned judgment into gall , and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock .

Would it not be dangerous to Horse and Rider? if Prophets and Pious men exhort, threaten or advise, they endanger themselves, it does no more good then if you would run your Horse on the slippery Precipices of Rocks. Or all is lost labour on these hardned Sinners.

Your hearts are hard as the Rocks; my Prophets Preaching, my lesser Judgments warning you, all gentler means used are but as a Husbandmans Plowing the Rocks. These shall therefore be torn up by the Roots, your State and Kingdom shall be utterly overthrown.

You Judges, and Governours in the Ten Tribes, and in Iudah too.

Vid. chap. 5. ver. 7. let. g, h, i.

Or poyson, by those Laws they took away life, and forfeited Estate which had the Laws been rightly executed, had saved both.

All that fruit which Equity and Justice would have produced by due application of the Law, hath been wormwood, grief and complaints by your wresting and perverting the Law.

A deadly and pernicious weed, so the course of your Courts have been.

Marginal references: Hos. 10.4. chap. 5.7.

13 Ye which rejoyce in a thing of nought , which say , Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength .

Glorying with a Joy and Satisfaction, with Hope and Confidence.

In your Victories, Alliances, Fortifications and Idols, all which draw you away from God, and from seeking him as he will be found.

Tell the Prophets that reprove you and foretell your downfal, you say to them, notwithstanding all that God threatens, yet

you have rais'd your selves to dominion and Greatness by your Wisdom, Courage and Success, and by the same you will maintain it, and so you put off the day of Evil.

14 But behold , I will raise up against you a nation l, O house of Israel , saith the LORD the God of hosts , and they shall afflict you from the entring [illegible: 1 letter]n of Hemath , unto the river of the wilderness .

Notwithstanding all your boasts and carnal confidences.

Observe and weigh well what is said.

Awaken, call together, strengthen, succeed and prosper in the attempt against you. P[illegible: 1 letter]l hath, and Tiglath Pileser hath or now doth afflict and break you, but Salmaneser shall utterly destroy you, if his strength were not enough of it self, mine arm should strengthen him to bring all your hopes to nought.

Kingdom of the Ten Tribes.

Who doth what he saith, who does command and 'tis done, whom none can resist.

The Assyrians and their Confederates.

Distress you and press you hard on all sides, it shall be a great and an universal oppression of you▪

A City of Syria bordering on the land of Israel, North-east and was an inlet into Syria, from the North of Canaan.

Which is Sichor in the most South-west parts of Canaan towards Egypt. So all your Country, Iudah and all shall be oppressed by that Nation which I will raise and strengthen against you.

Marginal references: Or, valleys.