Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 9:4

4 And though they go into captivity before their Enemies , thence will I command the sword and it shall slay them : and I will set my eyes upon them for evil , and not for good .

Those excluded from safety every where else, may perhaps hope that yet the Enemy may spare.

Captives are the slaves, the possession of their conquering Enemies, these make profit of them by selling them to others, or imploying them in labour and service.

This seems to intimate some voluntariness in these people going before the Conquerour, whom they hope hereby to mollifie and sweeten that he may use them well; yet this hope shall fail them too.

The Enemy should either out of cruel humour, and hatred against them, or on any slight occasion and disgust slay them as if they had commission from me so to do, neither propriety in them, nor service by them, nor profit in the Sale of these poor and miserable Captives should be safety to them, they should be accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

I will perpetually watch over them, and then be sure no opportunity will be let slip.

To afflict and punish them,

for their benefit. Thus was the course of God's providence against them from the dayes Amos aimeth at unto this very day, and God hitherto hath, and still doth make good his threat against this idolatrous, cruel, oppressing people.

Marginal references: Deut. 28.65.; Lev. 17.10. Jer. 44.11.