John Trapp on Amos 4:2

Verſe 2. The Lord God hath ſworn by his holineſſe,] He hath ſworn for more aſſurance, Heb. 6.16, 17, 18. it being hard to perſwade ſecure ſinners of the certainty and infallibility of the threatnings: which yet will as ſurely befall them without repentance, as the coat is on their back, or the heart in their bodies. And, by his holineſſe, he hath ſworn; that is, by himſelf, (as having none greater to ſwear by) confer Gen. 22.16. Jer. 51.14. Eſay 45.23. and 62.8. where God ſwears by his right hand, and by the arm of his ſtrength, Exod. 17.16. He is brought in laying his hand upon his throne; and ſwearing to root out Amalek. And ſo ſome in this place think, that by Gods Holineſſe, is meant heaven,Mercer. the habitation of his holineſſe, and of his glory. But Druſius diſlikes that,Eſay 63.15. becauſe ſwearing by heaven is condemned by Chriſt, Mat. 5. If God be holineſſe it ſelf, let him be ſanctified in righteouſneſſe, Eſay 5.16. and let men ſwear (when called to it, and not till then; the Hebrew word here uſed is paſſive, and ſignifieth to be ſworn, Neſhbang. rather then to ſwear) in truth, in judgement, and in righteouſneſſe, Jer. 4.2.

Behold the dayes come,] certò & citò, ſurely and ſuddenly: even thoſe diſmall dayes of blackneſſe and darkneſſe, of greateſt calamities. See chap. 5.18, 20. And let this prediction be to you as the knuckles of a mans hand, to write you your deſtiny; or as a prophet to read it unto you.

That he will take you away] i. e. Ye ſhall be taken away, and hurried into another countrey: like as Eſay 8.4. He ſhall take away the ſpoyl of Samaria, i. e. It ſhall be ſurely taken away, ſo Luke 12.20. They do reqire thy ſoul, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. that is, it ſhall be required of thee.

with hooks,] Heb. with thornes, which were wont to be uſed in fiſhing, till ironhooks were more frequent. See Job 40.21. Ezek. 29.4. and 19.4. They brought him with hooks, that is, with chains, nto the land of Egypt. Thoſe that were overcome, were wont to be linked and langold together; and ſo led captive by their Conquerours.

and your poſterity with fiſh-hooks.] Heb. that which is laſt of you; your children, and nephews, as Dan. 11.4. it is foretold of Alexander the Great, that none of his race ſhall ſucceed him, but ſtrangers. See enemies compared to fiſhers, Jer. 16.16. Habak. 1.16. and note, that hereby is intimated, that theſe inſolent Dames ſhall be no more like fat kine, that abide in their paſtures: but as fiſhes hanging on the hook, that are eaſily pulled up, and quickly carried away with little labour, but much delight to the fiſher. See a like compariſon from ſwimming, (Eſay 25.11.) the motion wherein is eaſie and not ſtrong: to ſhew, that God can ſubdue his ſtouteſt adverſaries, with greateſt facility.