Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 9:1

1 I Saw the LORD standing upon the altar , and he said , Smite the lintel of the door , that the posts may shake : and cut them in the head all of them: and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away , and he that escapeth of them, shall not be delivered .

As before chap. 7.1, 4, 7. and cap. 8.1. so here the Prophet hath a fifth vision,

The great, glorious, just and holy God in some visible tokens of his Majesty;

either ready to execute sentence, or ready to depart, Ezek. 9.3. and 10.1, 4. indeed here he will do both, execute his own sentence, and depart from this people.

Of Burnt-Offering before the Temple at Ierusalem; here the scene is laid, this Altar and Temple Israel had forsaken, and set up others against it; and here God in his jealousie appears prepared to take vengeance; possibly it may intimate his future departure from Iudah too. There Ezekiel chap. 9. ver. 2. saw the slaughter-men stand.

Commanded.

Or the chapiter, knop, ornament, that was upon the lintel of the door, which is supposed to be of the Gate of the Temple or possibly door of the Gate that led into the Priests Courts, and though the Party that smites be not named, 'tis likely 'twas an Angel, or possibly the Prophet seemed to do it, for this is to do in vision.

Which were the strength and beauty of the Gate.

Wound deep.

The people which were visionally represented as standing in the Court of the Temple,

That it may more fully signifie the destroying of the chief of the heads of this sinful people.

Spare not one of these.

God will slay by the Enemies Sword, the meanest of them, or the last, i. e. the posterity of them.

Or get out of danger

for present out of Battel or besieged City,

shall yet at last fall into the Enemies hand, or by his Sword.

Marginal references: Or, chapiter, [illegible: 1 word].; Or, wound, them.; chap. 2.14.