Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 6:2

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.