John Trapp on Amos 9:1

CHAP. IX.

Verſe 1. I ſaw the Lord] This Seer, Chap. 7.12. ſaw the Lord in a viſion; for otherwiſe God is too ſubtile for ſinew or ſight to ſeize upon him. We cannot look upon the body of the Sun, neither can we ſee at all without the beams of it: ſo here,

ſtanding upon the Altar] Or, firmly ſet ſc: to do execution upon that Altar, ſc: that idolatrous Altar at Bethel fore-mentioned, and formerly threatned by another Prophet, 1 Kin. 13.1.2. The Rabbines ſay, God was ſeen ſtanding upon that Altar, as ready to ſacrifice and ſlay the men of that age, whoſe idolatries and other impieties he could no longer bear with. And hence it is haply, that he is brought in ſtanding; like as Act. 7.55. Jeſus at Stevens death was ſeen ſtanding at the right hand of God, where he is uſually ſaid to ſit. Stat ut vindex, ſedet ut judex.

And he ſaid] ſc: to the Angel that ſtood by, Zeck. 3.7. or to the enemy commiſſionated by him, or to ſome other creature, for they are all his ſervants, Pſal. 119.91. neither can he want a weapon to tame his rebels with.

ſmite the lintel of the door, that the poſts may ſhake] Smite with a courage, as Ezeck. 9. Angels give no light blowes. Behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hoſts ſhall lop the bough with terrour: and the high ones of ſtature ſhall be hewen down, and the haughty ſhall be humbled: Eſa. 10.33, 34. And he ſhal cut down the thickeſt of the forreſts with iron, and Lebanon ſhal fal by a Mighty one: that is, by an Angel ſhall he ſmite to the ground that mighty army which was like a thick wood, ſee Eſai. 37.36. Pſal. 78.25. and 89.6. So at our Saviours Reſurrection, an Angel, in deſpite of the ſouldiers ſet to watch, rolled away the grave-ſtone, and ſat upon it. And as a mighty man, when he ſitteth down, ſhaketh the bench under him, ſo did He ſhake the earth: and for fear of him the Keepers did ſhake, and became as dead men, Mat. 28.2, 4. Down with this Idol-Temple, down with it, ſaith God here, even to the ground.

and cut them in the head, al of them] cleave them down the middle, ſo that every poſt may be ſure to fall, being divided from the top to the bottom: and let this act be a ſigne to them all of what I intend to do to their perſons; as many of them as by this gate have entred into this Idol-Temple and Altar. A deep cut in the head is dangerous and deadly, Gen. 3.15. Pſal. 68.22.

and I wil ſlay the laſt of them] I, by mine agents and inſtruments, as afore: for it is but one hand and many executioners, that God ſlayes men with. Job could diſcern Gods arrowes in Satans hand, and Gods hand on the armes of the Sabaean robbers. The ſword is bathed in heaven, before it is embrewed in mens blood, Iſai. 34.5. The Lord killeth and maketh alive, ſaith holy Hannah, 1 Sam. 2.6.

He that fleeth of them ſhall not flee away.] See chap. 2.14. with the Note, and ſay, Behold the ſeverity of God. Rom. 11.12.