The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 16

Vers. 11, 12.-The woe against Edorr,. We have here an inspired description cif an ideal hate. It is loaded with every quality, and emphasized by every circumstance, and stained by every act, which could conspire to establish for it a.n "unbeaten record " in the emulation of evil passions. • I. IT RESTS ON A BROTHER. Over and above the brotherhood arising out of their common humanity (Acts xvii. 26; Gen. ix. 5), Israel and Edom were bound by the nearer tie of descent from the twin sons of their common ancestor Isaac. And on the basis of this relation they are spoken of as brothers in a special sense (Deut. xxiii. ·t). To the relation of brotherhood belongs the duty of love (1 John ii. 10), which must be distinctive in proportion as the relation is close (1 Pet. ii. 17). And the breach of this law of love is great in proportion to its normal strength. It is bad t-0 hate an enemy, but it is worse to hate a friend, and worse still to hate a brother. It is against nature, for "no man hateth his own flesh" (Eph. v. 29). It is against our innate tendency to love them that love us. And it is against the popular sentiment which expects us to "love as brethren." Hatred of a brother is the grossest hate there is. II. IT rs AGGRESSIVE. " He pursues his brother with the sword." It is hard for hatred to be still. It is a restless devil in the heart. It wants to inflict injury. It actually inflicts it the first opportunity. If opportunity does not come, it seeks it and makes it. In the presence of the hated one it can no more be quiescent than fire in contact with fuel Edom's hatred of Israel did not fail thus to express its intensity. On every opportunity it broke out into offensive and cruel action (2 Cbron. xxviii. 17'; Ps. cxxxvii. 7; Ezek. xxv. 12). Rapine, outrage, and murder, and the incitement of 1 others to these, are fitting credentials to an ideal hate. III. IT IS MURDEROUS. "Tears in pieces." It inflicts not injury only, bnt deadly lnjur.v. It must have blood. And it not only kills, but murders.. Unable to fight Israel in battle, Edom always played the part of" wrecker," and spoiled tbo dead, and murdered the wounded, after some stronger enemy ha,l defeated them (Ps. cxxxvii. 7). Th,,n it murdered with an excess of truculence and savage cruelty that were natural to "eakness rather than to strength. Hatred is a passion "blood alone can quail." "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer;" a murderer in fact if opportunity offers, in any case a murderer in heart. Let hatred enter your heart, and from the moment it settles you wear the brand of Cain. IV. IT rs PITILESS. " Did cast off all pity." No special occasion or act is mentioned, because the thing was habitual. A traditional and inordinate hate of Israel was fostered till it became a first principle of the Edomite's creed, and was gratified till it ate all bis humanity out. Too weak to be a soldier, he became a. murderous looter, and when the Assyrian or Philistine had vanquished Israel in battle, the Edomite came vulture-like on the scene to butcher the living, and pillage and manr;le the dead (Obad. 10-14). There is a pity proper to the human heart on the platform of mere nature. Of the "flowers of Eden we still inherit" is a ruth that i;hrinks from murder in cold blood. Where the crime is committed, this feeling bas previously been choked out. The power to do this, to harden and deaden his own nature, is one of man's most fatal gifts. He disregards the voice of pity till it becomes dumb. He fights against the movings 0f passion till at last they a.re felt no more, OH, I, 1-15.) THE BOOK O:! AMOS. 15