Am 1:1-15. GOD'S JUDGMENTS ON SYRIA, PHILISTIA, TYRE, EDOM, AND AMMON.
1. The words of Amos--that is, Amos' oracular
communications. A heading found only in
Jer 1:1.
among the herdmen--rather, "shepherds"; both owning and tending
sheep; from an Arabic root, "to mark with pricks," namely, to select
the best among a species of sheep and goats
ill-shapen and short-footed (as others explain the name from an
Arabic root), but distinguished by their wool
[MAURER]. God chooses
"the weak things of the world to confound the mighty," and makes a
humble shepherd reprove the arrogance of Israel and her king arising
from prosperity (compare
1Sa 17:40).
which he saw--in supernatural vision
(Isa 1:1).
two years before the earthquake--mentioned in
Zec 14:5.
The earthquake occurred in Uzziah's reign, at the time of his being
stricken with leprosy for usurping the priest's functions [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 9:10.4]. This clause must
have been inserted by Ezra and the compilers of the Jewish canon.
JFB.
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