Vers. 6-8.-The woe against Philistia. Gaza was one of the capitals of Philistia, and is put for the country as a whole. Its wealth and strength and special activity against Israel fitted it to be the representative of all the other capitals which are afterwards (ver. 8) enumerated as sharing its punishment. The outrage charged against Gaza is probably that recorded in 2 Cbron. xxi. 16 and Joel iii, 6, and which occurred in the time of Jehoram. The crime denounced was- L THE CROWNING ACT OF A LONG BEBIEB. Israel and Philistia were hereditary foes. In the history of their feud were many bloody acts, which culminated in this wholesale deportation. In the judgment provoked by it, however, these acts would all be punished. So the murders of the prophets, throughout a series of ages, remained unavenged till they culminated in the death of Christ, and then it and they were all avenged together (Luke xi. 49-51). Thus vicarious is much of human suffering. God visits the iniquities of the fathers upon the children generally (Exod. xx. 6), and specially on those like- minded with the fathers (Matt. xxiii. 34-36). The sufferings of each age are largely an inheritance from the ages before. IL A..,;, AOT OF WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION. " Because they carried away captives in full number." This cruelty was gratuitous, as many captivos could have given their captors no offeuce; and it was senseless as well, for many would be utterly worthless as slaves. It indicated deep and indiscriminating hate of the entire people, and a fixed purpose to root out and utterly exterminate them. Such hatred, directed doubtless against Israel in their character as the people of God, is specially criminal, and calls for special punishment (see Matt. L 40, 41). Ill. AJ!1. AOT OF AGGRAVATED OBUELTY. Not satisfied with the suffering they could infiict themselves, they called in the help of Israel's bitterest foe. They sold the people to the Edomites, and so became responsible for the intolerable cruelties to which they were handed over. We are in God's sight as guilty of' the crime we procure as af the crime we commit. The Church's medireval device of condemning heretics, and banding them over to the civil power to be executed, Will! as vain as the washing of Pilate's bands. 'l'he blood shed at our instigation, and with our connivance or through our indifference, is blood that will be required of us in the great day (Ezek, iii. 18-20). JV. A :nJNISHMENT IN WHIOH THE CAPITAL CITIES ARE SPEOIALLY PROMINENT. Of the five capitals of Pbilistia, four are mentioned br ?a.me, and the fifth is inclu~ed under the word "remnant." Capitals are centres of opm10n, and are largely responsible for the moulding of the national sentiment. They are centres of power, and take the lead in determining the national policy. They were in this case centres of commerce, and so took a prominent part in the work of bartering Israel. to the Edomites. ~o~cover Ga~a, the one singled out and emphasized, was through its character and pos1t10n the chief sinner iu tLis business, and so is the chief sufferer. They were also the seats of as many difforent idols-.A.sbdod of Dagon, Asb.kelon of Derceto, Ekron of Baalzebub, and Gaza (JH, I, 1-15.] THE BOOK OF AMOS. 13
of Mnrua-and therefore centres of national sin (see Pusey). Add to this that they were the national depots and strongholds, and therefore the places which it would most weaken the nation to destroy. V. A PUNISHMENT TO BE FRAMED AFTER THB ll'ABHION OF THE CRIME. "The remnant of the Philistines shall perish." As they had spared none, so none of them would be spared. This is God's way often. That it may be adequate, and all may be 11ble to recognize it, punishment often comes in the likeness of the crime. The rule, H Whoso sheddetb man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed," embodies the principle