The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 139

intercession we.s rejected; but the words do pendicular (see a very different exple.nntion not necessarily bee.r that sense (see St. Cyril in Knabonbauer, p. 8H, etc.). 'l'he Alex. and Theodore!., in loo.). It 1hall not "wall " is tho kingdom of Israel, once cnro- be. This respite refers to the retreat of the fully built up, solidly constructed, acou- Assyrians under Pul, the usurping mono.roh rately arranged. God had me.de it upright; wl.Jo assumed the name of Tiglatb-Pileser II. how was it now? (2 Kings xv. 17, etc.). Some commentators Ver. 8.-Amoe, what seeat thou 1 A consider ibe judgment to be literally a question asked to give occasion for the ple.gue of looust.a; but this is not probable. explanation of the symbol, NI in Jer. i. 11, 13; uiv. 3. I will set a plumb-line in Y l'rs. 4-6.-§ 2. TM eecond msion, de- the midst of my people Israel As it wns 1in11 i 11g .fire, repf'e,$(/nts a more severe judgment built by rule and measure, so it should be tha11 the preceding one, im,olmng greater destroyed. The line was used not only for ~ but still one whwh IDlU again buil~ng, but also for pulling down (see rrwdified by the prayer, of the righteoU11 2 Kmgs xxi. 18; Isa. xxxiv. 11; Lam. ii. prophet. 8). A.nd this should be done "in the midst" of the people, that all might be Ver. 4.-Called to contend by fire; Seph111- tried individually, and that all might gint, ,,,&J..,cr, T¾W '6IK1111 Iv ,rvp{, "ea.lied acknowledge the justice of the sentence, for judgmeut by fire ; " Vulgate, rocabat which now denounced complete ruin. Pe.sa judicium ad ignem. God ca.lled the people by; so as to spare, or forgive (eh. viii. 2; to try their cause with him by sending fire Prov. xix. 11; Micah vii. 18). The jndg- as a punishment among them (comp. Isa. ment is irremediable, and the prophet inter- lni. 16 ; Ezek. xx:i::viii. 22) ; and in the cedes no more. The final conquest by Yision the fire is represented as so vehement Shalmaneeer is here typified. tl.Jat it devoured the great deep, drank up Ver. 9.-The high places of Iae.e.c. The the very ocean itself (Gen. vii. 11 ; Isa. li. shrines of idolatry all over the land. The 10); or the subterranean fountains and bamoth are the altars erected on high plar.ee springs, as Gen. xl.ix. 25. And did eat np a and now dedicated to idols (1 Kings iii. pa.rt; -r¾w ,,_,pl'6a Kvplov (Septuagint). This 2; 2 Kings x:xiii. 8; lea. xvi. 12: Hos. version ta.kes eth-hachel,eq as the "inheri- L 8). lsaao here and in ver. 16 is used tance" or" portion " of the Lord, i.e. the land as a synonym for Israel, perhaps with some of Israel (Jer. xii. 10); bnt Canaan is no- idea of contrasting tho deeds of the people where called absolutely "the portion;" nor with the blameless life of the patriarch and were the ten tribes specially so desiguated. his gentle piety (Pusey). Septuagint, fJ,,,p.ol Rather, the portion (not a parf) is that part Toii -ylA.w'Tos, with reference to the meaning of the land and people which was marked of the name Isaac, " alto.re of derision," out for judgmenl 'l'he particular calamity whence Jerome'e version, euelsa idoli. The alluded to is the second invasion of Tiglath- sanctuaries of Israel. The idol-temples at Pileser II., when he conquered Gilead and Dan and Bethel (1 Kings xii. 29), at Gilgal the northern part of the kingdom, and (eh. iv. 4), and perhaps in other places, carried some of the people captive to which had been sanctified by anoient .A.ssyrie. (2 Kings xv. 29). patriarchal worship. Septuagint, al -r•.\•-ral Vers. 5, 6.-The intercession is the same -roiJ 'Icrpa~A., "the rites of Israel;" Vulgate, as in ver. 2, except that the prophet says sanctificationes Israel. With the sword. God cease instead of " forgive ; " and in effect the is represented as standing like an armed tide of war was rolled be.ck from Israel, and warrior taking vengeance on the guilty Se.maria itself was spared for the time. family. Jeroboam II. he.d uved Israel from Syria, and was popular owing to his euooesa Vere. 7-9.-§ 8. TM third ~uion, the in war (2 Kingsxiv. 25-28); bnt his dyne.sty plumb-line, repreaent, the l,r,rd himBelf as was overthrown, ancl this overthrow was the cominq to ezamine the oonduct of Israel, and destruction of the Ieraelitish monarchy. The jinal.ly deciding on it, entire ruin. murder of his son Zachariah by Shallum (2 Kings xv. 10) led to those disastrous Yer. 7.-Upon (rather, 0'001') e. wall made commotions which culminated in the con- by a plumb-line. The word translated quest of Samaria by the ABeyriane and the "plumb-line" (anakh) occurs only here. deportation of the people. Septuagint, a'6cl.µ.as: ao the Syrie.c; Vulgate, trulla ca,mentarii; Aquila, -ycl.v11Jrns, "bright- Vere.10-17.-§ 4. Thi, bold prophli"!J, no ening," "Hplendour;" Theodotion, 'Tf/KO· longer conceived in general terms or referring µ.,vov. As the word in other dialects means tin or lead, it ie usually taken here to to di,tant times, but di,tinct and personal, mean the plumb-line whic!J builders use to arouses the animosity of the prie,tly autl1ori- 1111certain that their work is even e.nd per- tie, at Bethel, who accuse Amos bejwe u,,. en. vn. 1-17.] THE BOOK Oi' AMOS. 139