matical, Ka.,.,,,avn .,-ij, <t>u11-ijr ,ral 111 liaµ,a<T1tf, sidered the holiest part of the altar (see "The children of hrnel who dwell in Exod. xxvii. 2; xxix. 12: Lev. xvi. 18). &mMin in the presence of the tribe and in The instruments of idolatry or impure wor- Damascus." ship should shnro the destruotion of the Ver. 13. - Hear ye; Septua_gint, 't.p,is idolaters. lutooo-a.-,, "Hein, 0 ye priests." The address Ver. 15.-The winter house. The luxuri- ia to the heathen, already Bllmmoued (ver. ous habits of kinge and priuoes had led them 9) to witness the sins of Israel, and now to have different houses for the vnrioue ea.lied to witness her punishment. In the seo.sons of the year, faoiug north or south honse; better, agaimt tluJ 1wuae of Jacob, as the case might be (oomp. Judg. iii. 20; the tribes of Israel (ver. 1). God of hosts. Jer. xxxvi. 22). Septuagint, .-b11 011<011 .-b11 God of the powers of heaven and earth, and "'•pfw.-,po11, " the turreted house," which therefore able to execute his threats. Sep- Jerome explains, Domum pin11atam, eo quod tuagint, b nav.-01<pcl.-.,p, "the Almighty." ostiola habeat per fenestras, et quaBi pinna,, Ver. H.-That in the day, etc. This ad magnitudinem frigoris depellendam. verse iB rightly joined to the preceding, as Houses of ivory; panelled or inlnid with it particularizes the threats which the ivory, suoh e.s Ahe.b had (I Kinge xxii. 39). heathen are 1mmmoned t.o testify. Visit Solomon's throne was thus decorated {l upon; equivalent to "punish" (Zeph. i. 8). Kings x. 18; oomp. Ps. xiv. 8). (For the Alte.rs of Bethel. We read of one altar Assyrian practice of veneering in ivory, see being set up by Jeroboam I. (l Kiuge xii. Rawlinson, • Ancient Monarchies,' i. 463; 29, 33), but doubtless others he.d been comp. also Homer, 'Od.,' iv. 73; Virgil, added in the course of time. The denun- 'lEneid,' vi. 895.) The great honsea; better, ciation of 1 Kinge xiii. 2, 3 is here repeated. many 1wuses; Septuagint, ,.-.po, of,co1 wol\11.ol, The horns of the alt&r. These were certain "many other houses." Not only palaces, projections at the four angles of the altar, but many private houses, she.II be destroyed perha.ps in the form of e.n ox's horn, on (comp. lee.. v. 9, where the ee.me words are which the blood of the sin offering we.a used). smeared, e.nd whioh therefore were con-
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1, 2.-ne jud,gment of apostates a foregone conclusion, This chapter, like eh. v. and vi., opens with a call to attention. God is going to speak, antl his voice is worth listening to. He is going to speak a word, moreover, the issues of which are capital To attend to his communication is as vitally important as dutiful. L GoD, WHO RAD ONLY SPOKEN ABOUT THE HEATHEN, SPEAKS TO ISRAEL. Syria and Edom and Tyre may never have heard of the doom to which they were going down. Their first intimation of the tempest of Divine wrath was likely the falling of the first drops. Their chance of repentance and escape was in this way minimized. Left in ignorance of the danger of advance, there was little likelihood of their turning back of their own accord. But Israel hears from inspired lips that never lied the guilt of her 6in, and its inevitable end. This putting of "prophecy between his secret and its execution" is a special favour on God's side, and a corresponding advantage on her side, whilst, like all advantage, it involves a proportionate responsibility. II. Go»'s SPECIAL REGABD FOR lsBA.EL BAD EXPRESSED ITSELF IN PECULIAR FAVOURS. 1. Be had constituted them a fami7y by themselves. Other nations in their rise had been left to clrcumstances and the play of natural affinities. Israel had been called ont of the peoples, constituted a nation by itself, furnished with a national organization and _policy, and set consciously to work out an exalted destiny. This was fitted to awake a lofty national aspiration, and give direction and dignity to the national life. The choosing of God's people out of the world is the beginning of his favours. 2. He had brought them out of Egypt. This was an act of Divine power, an instance of Divine championship, an expression of Divine distinguishing favour, and a beginning of Divine help, which contained in it the promise of more to come. Conversion, following on dection (Acts xiii. 48), is another privilege of God's people, and another spur to grateful service. 3. He had taken them into intimale personal relations. "Known," etc. '!'his is "practically equivalent to electin~, including both the motive and result of election" (Keil). God took special notice of them, set thorn in a graciou11 relation to himself, acknowledged them to be his people, and brought to bear on then'.& the infiuencel! that are ever coming forth on those in covenant with him, OB, m, 1-15,] THE BOOK OF AMOS.