‏ Amos 1:1

THE BOOK

OF THE

PROPHET AMOS

Chronological Notes relative to this Book

-Year from the Creation, according to Archbishop Usher, 3217.

-Year of the Julian Period, 3927.

-Year since the Flood, 1561.

-Year from the foundation of Solomon's temple, 225.

-Year since the division of Solomon's monarchy into the kingdoms

of Israel and Judah, 188.

-Year since the first Olympic games were celebrated in Elis by

the Idaei Dactyli, 667.

-Year since the restoration of the Olympic games at Elis by

Lycurgus, Iphitus, and Cleosthenes, 97.

-Year before the conquest of Coroebus at Olympia, vulgarly

called the first Olympiad, 11.

-Year before the building of Rome, according to the Varronian

computation, 34.

-Year before the birth of Christ, 783.

-Year before the vulgar era of Christ's nativity, 787.

-Cycle of the Sun, 7.

-Cycle of the Moon, 13.

-Twenty-eighth and last year of Caranus, the founder of the

kingdom of Macedon.

-Twenty-third year of Nicander, king of Lacedaemon, of the

family of the Proclidae.

-Twenty-seventh year of Alcamenes, king of Lacedaemon, of the

family of the Eurysthenidae.

-Eleventh year of Ardysus, king of Lydia.

-Eleventh year of Agamestor, perpetual archon of the Athenians.

-Tenth year of Amulius Sylvius, king of the Albans.

-Fifth year of Telestus, monarch of Corinth.

-Sixth year of Sosarmus, king of the Medes, according to some

chronologers.

-Thirty-ninth year of Jeroboam II., king of Israel.

-Twenty-fourth year of Uzziah, king of Judah.

CHAPTER I

This chapter denounces judgments against the nations bordering on Palestine, enemies to the Jews, viz., the Syrians, 1-5;

Philistines, 6-8;

Tyrians, 9, 10;

Edomites, 11, 12;

and Ammonites, 13-15.

The same judgments were predicted by other prophets, and fulfilled, partly by the kings of Assyria, and partly by those of Babylon; though, like many other prophecies, they had their accomplishment by degrees, and at different periods. The prophecy against the Syrians, whose capital was Damascus, was fulfilled by Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria; see 2Ki 16:9.

The prophecy against Gaza of the Philistines was accomplished by Hezekiah, 2Ki 18:8;

by Pharaoh, Jer 47:1;

and by Alexander the Great; see Quintius Curtius, lib. iv.

c. 6. The prophecy against Ashdod was fulfilled by Uzziah,

2Ch 26:6;

and that against Ashkelon by Pharaoh, Jer 47:5.

All Syria was also subdued by Pharaoh-necho; and again by Nebuchadnezzar, who also took Tyre, as did afterwards Alexander. Nebuchadnezzar also subdued the Edomites,

Jer 25:9, 21; 27:3, 6.

Judas Maccabeus routed the remains of them, 1Macc 5:3;

and Hyrcanus brought them under entire subjection. The Ammonites were likewise conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. The earthquake, which the prophet takes for his era, is perhaps referred to in Zec 14:5,

and also in Isa 5:25.

Josephus ascribes it to Uzziah's invasion of the priestly office; see 2Ch 26:16.

NOTES ON CHAP. I

Verse 1. The words of Amos] This person and the father of Isaiah, though named alike in our translation, were as different in their names as in their persons. The father of Isaiah, Amots; the prophet before us, Amos. The first, aleph, mem, vau, tsaddi; the second, ain, mem, vau, samech. For some account of this prophet see the introduction.

Among the herdmen] He seems to have been among the very lowest orders of life, a herdsman, one who tended the flocks of others in the open fields, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit. Of whatever species this was, whether a kind of fig, it is evident that it was wild fruit; and he probably collected it for his own subsistence, or to dispose of either for the service of his employer, or to increase his scanty wages.

Before the earthquake.] Probably the same as that referred to Zec 14:5, if haraash do not mean some popular tumult.

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