The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 26

and his father will go in =to the same nonn has a prominent position, and is con- maid j LXX., Elu,..-opelio,,.,-o ..-pb, 'r¾/11 aln-¾,v tinnally repeated, t.o contrast God's faith- ..-a,Bla-1<7111. The Vulgate, which omits "the fulness ana the people's 11I1the.nkfulness. se.me," is oloser to the Hebrew, Et filiu., The Amorite (Josh. xxiv. 8, 18). The re- ao pater ejua ieront ad puel1,am, though presentative of the seven nations or Canaan the Greek doubtless gives the intended who were dispoBSeSSed by the Israelites meaning. This sin. which was tanta- (Gen. xv. 16: Exod. ::uiii. 27: xxxiv. 11). mount to incest, was virtually forbidden The hyperbolical description of this people (Lev. xviii. 8, 15 : xx. 11). Some (as is taken from Numb. xiii 82, eto.; Deut. i. Ewald, Maurer, Gandell) see here an 28. Thus is shown Israel's inability to cope allusion to the organized prostitution in with such an enemy, e.nd their entire de- idol-temples (Hos. iv. 14), but this seems pendence on the help of the Lord. Fruit unnecessary. To profane my holy Name • , . roots. Keil explains that the posterity (Lev. xxii. 32). Buch crimes dishonoured of e. nation is regarded ae its frnit, and the the God who called them his people, so kernel of the nation out of which it springs that to them could be applied what St. as the root, comparing Job xviii. 16; Ezek. Paul says (Rom. ii. 24), "The Ne.me of xvii. 9: Hos. ix. 16. The expression is God is blasphemed among the Gentiles equivalent to our "root and branch" (Mal. through you" (oomp, Lev. x:.x. 8; Ezek. iv. 1). xxxvi. 20, 28). The word lemaan, " in Ver. 10.-The deliverance from Egypt order that," implies that they committed and the guidance through the desert, these sins, not through ignorance, but in- though chronologically first, are mentioned tentionally, to bring discredit upon the lo.et, as the great and culminating example true faith and worship. of the favour and protection of God. First Ver. 8.-The prophet condemns the cruel God prepared the land for Israel, and then luxury which, contrary to the Law, made trained them for pol!lleSsing it. From the the poor debtor's necessities minister to the many allusions in this section, we see how rich man's pleasures. They lay themselves familiar Amos and his hearers were with down upon: Vulgate, accu.bu.erunt. Ewald the history and law of the Pentatench. Led translateA, "they 011st lots upon;" but you forty yelLl's (Dent. ii. 7: viii. 2-4). the Authorized Version is supported by Ver. 11.-Having mentioned two temporol the highest outhorities, and gives the most benefits conferred on Israel, the prophet appropriate meaning. The Septuagint, now names two spiritual favours-the pre- with which the Syriac portly agrees, refers sence of ho! y speakers ancl holy doers. I the clause to the immoro.lities practised in raised up. The prophet and the Nozorite heothen worship, which the perpetmtors were alike miracles of grace. The former desired to screen from observation, To. lµdna ga'l'e heavenly teaching, the latter exhibited ,.;,.,.;;,., 3euµ,6011TES a-xo,vlo,s ..-apa7rE'rllO'!'IJ'rlJ holiness of life. It was the Lord who gove iTolow lx&µ,va .,.oi) 6uu,au-r71plou, "Binding the prophet power and anthori ty to pro- their clothes with cords, they mode them claim his will ; it was the Lord who in- curtains near the altar." This is fo.r from spired the vow of the Nazarite and enabled the intention of the prophet's words. Upon him to corry it out in praclioe. Prophets. olothes laid to pledge; or, taken in pledge. To Israel belonged Samuel (1 Sam. i. 1), The "clothes" (begadim) are the lo.rge Ahijoh of Shiloh (1 Kings xiv, 2, 4), Jehu, outer garments which formed poor men's son of Hanoni (1 Kings xvi. 7), Elijah dress by cloy ond cover by night, and oncl Elisha, Hoseo and Jonah. Young which, if pledged, wore ordered to be men. In tho height of their passion~, returned by nightfoll (Exod. xxii. 26, eto.: lusty o.ncl strong. Nazari.tee. The low con- Deut. xxiv. 12, etc.). These the lrnrd- cerniDg the Nozorites is given in Numb. vi. heortccl usurers kept as their own, ond The speci.cll restrictions by which tlwy rcclinocl luxuriously upon thom ot their bound themselves (viz. abstention from feasts ond carousals in their temples. By strong drink, from the UBo of the rozor, every altar. At the socrificia.l feosts in the o.nd from all ritual defilement) woro the temples at Dan ond Bethel. They drink the outward signs of inward purity nnd devo- wine of the condemned ; Septuagint, olvov tion to Goel. Their very nome implied '" uu1<0,Pan,i,,11. Wine obtained by fines ex- separation from the world and devotion to torted from the oppressed. Bo it is better God. They were, in fact, the religious to tronslute, "of such os have been fined." of the old Low, onalogoUB to the monks In the hoUBe of their god. Tho true God, of Christian timos. The vow was either whom they worshipped there under the temporary or lifelong. Of perpetual Nazu- symbol of the coif. rites we hove ns instances Samson, Snmuel, Ver. 9.-God complains of Israel's in- and John the Baptist. Is it not even thus 1 grotitude for the favour which he had Is ;iiot the existence of prophets oncl No- ahown them. A.nd ;yetI. The pe1sonol pro- zafftes omong you o proof thot you are  26 'l'HE BOOK OF A.MOS. (oH. ll, 1-16.