*H These things the Lord shewed to me: and behold a hook to draw down the fruit.
Ver. 1. Hook. Heb. "basket of summer fruit." Sept. "bird-cage or net." H. — Israel was ripe for destruction. v. 2. C. vii. 8. C. — Not only those who were near, (4 K. xv. 29.) but the rest also were taken, (4 K. xvii. 6.) as we pull with a hook the fruit which we cannot reach otherwise. W.
*H And the hinges of the temple shall screak in that day, saith the Lord God: many shall die: silence shall be cast in every place.
Ver. 3. Temple, when God comes like a mighty warrior; or when the profane temples shall be pillaged. C. ix. 1. Heb. also, "the canticles of the temple or palace shall be changed into lamentations." — Place. Heb. "a multitude of dead bodies shall be cast in every place. Keep silence." C.
*H Saying: When will the month be over, and we shall sell our wares: and the sabbath, and we shall open the corn: that we may lessen the measure, and increase the sicle, and may convey in deceitful balances,
Ver. 5. Month: the first day was observed as a festival. Num. x. 10. H. — At the expiration of the month usurers demanded their money. Hor. i. sat. 3. Aristoph. Nub. ii. 1. — Corn, to sell after the sabbatical year, when it was dearest. Sabbath also denotes all "festivals." These misers think that there are too many. — Sicle. Having a large measure to buy, and a small one to sell again. Deut. xxv. 13. Prov. xx. 10.
*H That we may possess the needy for money, and the poor for a pair of shoes, and may sell the refuse of the corn?
Ver. 6. Shoes, for almost nothing. Thus they forced the poor to serve, or to sell their effects.
*H The Lord hath sworn against the pride of Jacob: surely I will never forget all their works.
Ver. 7. Jacob, because the rich despise the poor. It may also mean, that he swore by heaven, or the temple, (Lev. xxvi. 19.) or that he would destroy the high places. C.
*H Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein: and rise up altogether as a river, and be cast out, and run down as the river of Egypt?
Ver. 8. Altogether. Sept. "its total ruin shall rise as a river." — Egypt. The whole land shall be visited with misery, as Egypt is by the Nile. H. — The enemy shall retire with the booty. The Nile overflows in summer, and covers Egypt for six weeks, carrying much earth with its impetuous waves. Is. xviii. 2.
*H And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that the sun shall go down at midday, and I will make the earth dark in the day of light:
Ver. 9. Light. Usher (A. 3213.) explains this of an eclipse, at Pentecost. The Fathers generally understand that which accompanied the death of Christ; but it only implies great desolation and terror. Jer. xv. 9. Joel iii. 11. S. Jer. &c. C. — In their greatest prosperity, calamities shall unexpectedly fall upon them. W.
*H And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation: and I will bring up sackcloth upon every back of yours, and baldness upon every head: and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the latter end thereof as a bitter day.
Ver. 10. Baldness, the hair being cut in mourning. Job i. 20. — Son, most afflicted. Zac. xii. 10. Jer. vi. 26. C.
* Footnote * Tobias 2 : 6
Remembering the word which the Lord spoke by Amos the prophet: Your festival days shall be turned into lamentation and mourning.* Footnote * 1_Machabees 1 : 41
Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were brought to nothing.*H Behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will send forth a famine into the land: not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord.
Ver. 11. Lord. During the siege provisions were wanting, but instruction still more so. W. — Israel had banished Amos. They would be left destitute. We find no prophet among the during the captivity, except Tobias. C. xiii. 3. We may apply this to the state of the Jews since the death of Christ. They have no guides. C. — They read incessantly, and do not understand (S. Jer. Mercer.) the Bible, which none will ever penetrate who refuse to receive the key from the Church. H.
*H And they shall move from sea to sea, and from the north to the east: they shall go about seeking the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
Ver. 12. Sea to sea: from west to south, or to the ocean; in whatever part of the world they may be. C.
*H They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say: Thy God, O Dan, liveth: and the way of Bersabee liveth: and they shall fall, and shall rise no more.
Ver. 14. Sin. Sept. "propitiation," which the pagans deemed requisite; (Hor. i. ode 2.) or worship (H.) of Baal, (4 K. xvii. 16. C.) and all the other superstitions. H. — Way. Sept. "thy God," or religion, (Acts ix. 2.) or pilgrimage to Bersabee. C. v. 5. Perhaps the true God was here adored; but it was in a manner which he condemned. C. — In vain do those pretend to honour Him, who follow the traditions of unbelieving men. H.