Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 8:4

4 Hear this , O ye that swallow up the needy , even to make the poor of the land to fail .

Though the Prophet had several times told them what were the sins for which God would thus punish Israel, yet on a repeated threat he repeateth the rehearsal of the sins which draw down these judgments on their▪ heads, so here, attend, and consider it

greedily and cruelly devour, that do like the greater fish swallow up the lesser fry: In this one word the Prophet includeth all the methods of their cruel oppression, wasting the poor;

Such as were objects of your mercy, had you been just and honest, as well as rich and great.

Either to root them out, or to enslave them while their necessities force them to sell themselves for bread.