---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "TITLE. The words of Amos. But the words of Jehovah by Amos. See Amos 1:3 .  Amos = Burden.  herdmen = shepherds. Hebrew.  nokdim ; so called from a pecul"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/amos/1"
---

**TITLE. The words of Amos.** But the words of Jehovah by Amos. See [Amos 1:3](../../../kjv/amos/1/3) .
**Amos** = Burden.
**herdmen** = shepherds. Hebrew. *nokdim* ; so called from a peculiar breed of stunted sheep (with fine wool). Mesha was called a *noked* , rendered "sheepmaster"([2 Kings 3:4](../../../kjv/2-kings/3/4) ). See App-54 . Occurs only in these two places. But Amos was also a herdman, as is clear from [Amos 7:14](../../../kjv/amos/7/14) ; where *boker* is from *bakar,* an ox, and hence is connected with ploughing ([1 Kings 19:19](../../../kjv/1-kings/19/19) , [1 Kings 19:21](../../../kjv/1-kings/19/21) , &c.) See note on [Amos 7:14](../../../kjv/amos/7/14) .
**Tekoa.** Now *Khan Telkua* , five miles south of Bethlehem, and ten from Jerusalem. Compare [2 Samuel 14:2](../../../kjv/2-samuel/14/2) . [2 Chronicles 20:20](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/20/20) .
**which** = which [words].
**saw** = saw [in a vision]. Compare [Numbers 24:4](../../../kjv/numbers/24/4) , [Numbers 24:16](../../../kjv/numbers/24/16) . [Isaiah 30:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/10) . [Ezekiel 12:27](../../../kjv/ezekiel/12/27) .
**Israel.** This gives us the subject of the book. in the days. Compare [Hosea 1:1](../../../kjv/hosea/1/1) .
**Jeroboam.** See [Amos 7:10](../../../kjv/amos/7/10) .
**two years before the earthquake:** i.e. before the one well known and remembered. Compare [Zechariah 14:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/5) .
**the earthquake.** Figure of speech *Hyster* . App-6 .

**he said.** Thus writing the words down.
**The LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah* . App-4 . This title is not the usual one in this book.
**roar** = roar as a. lion, or thunder. It is always, when predicated of the Lord, connected with the end of Gentile dominion. Compare [Jeremiah 25:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/30) , [Joel 3:16](../../../kjv/joel/3/16) .
**utter** = give out.
**habitations** = pastures.
**shepherds.** Not the same word as in [Amos 1:1](../../../kjv/amos/1/1) , but the usual word ( *raah* = tenders).
**top of Carmel.** Mount Carmel in the north, thus embracing the whole land; now *Jebel Kurmul* ; not Carmel in Judah (south of Hebron); now el Kurmul. Compare [1 Samuel 25:2](../../../kjv/1-samuel/25/2) .[Isaiah 33:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/33/9) .
**wither** = be dried up.

**Thus saith the LORD.** Jehovah's words: not the words of Amos. . The prophetic formula. See App-82 . See the twelve with Jehovah, in verses: [Amos 3:6](../../../kjv/amos/3/6) , [Amos 3:9](../../../kjv/amos/3/9) , [Amos 3:11](../../../kjv/amos/3/11) , [Amos 3:13](../../../kjv/amos/3/13) ; [Amos 2:1](../../../kjv/amos/2/1) , [Amos 2:4](../../../kjv/amos/2/4) , [Amos 2:6](../../../kjv/amos/2/6) ; [Amos 8:12](../../../kjv/amos/8/12) ; [Amos 5:4](../../../kjv/amos/5/4) ; [Amos 5:16](../../../kjv/amos/5/16) ; [Amos 7:17](../../../kjv/amos/7/17) ; and the two with Adonai Jehovah in [Amos 3:11](../../../kjv/amos/3/11) ; [Amos 5:3](../../../kjv/amos/5/3) .
**three . . . four.** Hebrew idiom to express several, or many ([Job 33:29](../../../kjv/job/33/29) , margin) Compare [Proverbs 30:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/15) , [Proverbs 30:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/18) , [Proverbs 30:21](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/21) , [Proverbs 30:29](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/29) .
**transgressions.** Hebrew pasha. App-44 .
**turn away =** turn it back, or avert it. the punishment thereof. There is no Ellipsis to be supplied, and no separate Hebrew word for "thereof". The Hebrew is *lo' ashibennu* , I will not cause it to turn back: i.e. I will not avert it.
**The pronoun "it" is masculine,** agreeing with and referring to earthquake ([Amos 1:1](../../../kjv/amos/1/1) ), and means that Jehovah would not avert it. So in all the eight occurrences (verses: [Amos 3:6](../../../kjv/amos/3/6) , [Amos 3:9](../../../kjv/amos/3/9) , [Amos 3:11](../../../kjv/amos/3/11) , [Amos 3:13](../../../kjv/amos/3/13) ; [Amos 2:1](../../../kjv/amos/2/1) , [Amos 2:4](../../../kjv/amos/2/4) , [Amos 2:6](../../../kjv/amos/2/6) ).
**thrashed Gilead.** Compare Joe 8:14 . The very term used in [2 Kings 13:7](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/7) .
**With** = [as it were] with. Figure of speech Hypocatastasis. App-6 .

**I will send a fire.** Compare [Amos 1:7](../../../kjv/amos/1/7) , [Amos 1:10](../../../kjv/amos/1/10) , [Amos 1:12](../../../kjv/amos/1/12) ; [Amos 2:2](../../../kjv/amos/2/2) , [Amos 2:5](../../../kjv/amos/2/5) . Refer to [Jeremiah 17:27](../../../kjv/jeremiah/17/27) ; [Jeremiah 49:27](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/27) ; [Jeremiah 50:32](../../../kjv/jeremiah/50/32) .[Hosea 8:14](../../../kjv/hosea/8/14) .
**Hazael.** Compare [2 Kings 8:12](../../../kjv/2-kings/8/12) ; [2 Kings 10:32](../../../kjv/2-kings/10/32) , as; Amo 18:3 .
**palaces:** or fortresses. Hebrew. *'armon* . Occurs (in plural) twelve times in Amos (see App-10 ): [Amos 1:4](../../../kjv/amos/1/4) , [Amos 1:7](../../../kjv/amos/1/7) , [Amos 1:10](../../../kjv/amos/1/10) , [Amos 1:12](../../../kjv/amos/1/12) , [Amos 1:14](../../../kjv/amos/1/14) ; [Amos 2:2](../../../kjv/amos/2/2) , [Amos 2:5](../../../kjv/amos/2/5) ; [Amos 3:9](../../../kjv/amos/3/9) , [Amos 3:10](../../../kjv/amos/3/10) , [Amos 3:11](../../../kjv/amos/3/11) ; [Amos 6:8](../../../kjv/amos/6/8) ; seven times with the verb "devour" (Hebrew. *akal)* .
**Ben-hadad.** An official title of the Syrian kings = son of Hadad i.e. the sun-god. The Ben-hadad of [2 Kings 13:3](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/3) ; not of [2 Kings 8:7-15](../../../kjv/2-kings/8/7-15) .

**the bar.** Note the Figure of speech *Metalepsis* ( App-6 ), by which "bar" is put by Figure of speech *Metalepsis* , App-6 , for the gates, and then the gates put for defence of the city. Compare [Deuteronomy 3:5](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/3/5) . [1 Kings 4:13](../../../kjv/1-kings/4/13) .[Jeremiah 51:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/30) . [Lamentations 2:9](../../../kjv/lamentations/2/9) .
**the inhabitant:** or, him that is seated: i.e. the ruler, corresponding with the next line.
**Avon.** Same a Beth-aven, east of Beth-el, belonging to Benjamin. Compare [Hosea 4:15](../../../kjv/hosea/4/15) ; [Hosea 5:8](../../../kjv/hosea/5/8) ; [Hosea 10:5](../../../kjv/hosea/10/5) , [Hosea 10:8](../../../kjv/hosea/10/8) .
**the house of Eden** = Beth-eden.
**Kir.** So in [Amos 9:7](../../../kjv/amos/9/7) , [2 Kings 16:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/16/9) . [Isaiah 22:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/6) .

**Gaza.** Now Ghuzzeh, in- Philistia.
**the whole captivity** = a wholesale captivity.
**captivity** = captives. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for a whole body of captives. See [Jeremiah 13:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/13/19) . Compare [Jeremiah 47:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/47/1) . 2Ch 21:16 , [2 Chronicles 21:17](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/17) ; [2 Chronicles 28:17](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/28/17) .

**wall.** Put by Figure of speech *Synecdoche* (of Part), App-6 , for the whole city.

**Ashdod.** Afterward called by the Greeks, "Azotus". Now Esclud, in the plain of Philistia, thirty-five miles north of Gaza.
**Ashkelon.** Now 'Askalan, on the coast of Philistia.
**Ekron.** Afterward, Greek, "Accaron" (1 Macc. 10.89), Now 'Akir, six miles west of Gezer. For "Gezer "see note on [1 Kings 9:15-17](../../../kjv/1-kings/9/15-17) .
**saith** = hath said.
**the Lord GOD** . Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 . This Divine title occurs twenty-one times (7 x 3. See App-10 ) in this book ([Amos 1:8](../../../kjv/amos/1/8) , [Amos 1:3](../../../kjv/amos/1/3) , [Amos 1:7](../../../kjv/amos/1/7) , [Amos 1:8](../../../kjv/amos/1/8) , [Amos 1:11](../../../kjv/amos/1/11) , [Amos 1:13](../../../kjv/amos/1/13) ; [Amos 4:2](../../../kjv/amos/4/2) , [Amos 4:5](../../../kjv/amos/4/5) ; [Amos 5:3](../../../kjv/amos/5/3) ; [Amos 6:8](../../../kjv/amos/6/8) ; [Amos 7:1-6](../../../kjv/amos/7/1-6) ; [Amos 8:1](../../../kjv/amos/8/1) , [Amos 8:3](../../../kjv/amos/8/3) , [Amos 8:9](../../../kjv/amos/8/9) , [Amos 8:11](../../../kjv/amos/8/11) ; [Amos 9:5](../../../kjv/amos/9/5) , [Amos 9:8](../../../kjv/amos/9/8) ). For "thus hath said Adonai Jehovah" See [Amos 3:11](../../../kjv/amos/3/11) .

**Tyrus.** Now *es Sur* . See notes on [Isaiah 23](../../../kjv/isaiah/23) .[Jeremiah 25:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/22) ; [Jeremiah 47:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/47/4) . Also Eze 26-28. [Joel 3:4](../../../kjv/joel/3/4) , [Joel 3:5](../../../kjv/joel/3/5) .
**the brotherly covenant** = a covenant of brethren. Compare [2 Samuel 5:11](../../../kjv/2-samuel/5/11) . [1 Kings 5:1](../../../kjv/1-kings/5/1) ; [1 Kings 9:11-14](../../../kjv/1-kings/9/11-14) .

**Edom.** Compare [Isaiah 21:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/21/11) ; Amo 34:5 .[Jeremiah 49:8](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/8) , &c. [Ezekiel 25:12-14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/25/12-14) ; [Ezekiel 35:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/35/2) .[Joel 3:19](../../../kjv/joel/3/19) ; [Obadiah 1:1](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/1) .[Malachi 1:4](../../../kjv/malachi/1/4) .
**because, &c** . Reference to Pentateuch ([Genesis 27:41](../../../kjv/genesis/27/41) . Compare [Deuteronomy 23:7](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/23/7) ). App-92 . Compare [Malachi 1:2](../../../kjv/malachi/1/2) .
**his brother** . Reference to Pentateuch ([Genesis 25:24-26](../../../kjv/genesis/25/24-26) ).
**tear perpetually** : or, tear [his prey] perpetually. Ginsburg thinks = kept his grudge. Compare [2 Chronicles 28:17](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/28/17) .
**he** . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version omits "he".

**Teman** . Compare [Jeremiah 49:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/7) . [Obadiah 1:9](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/9) . I-lab. [Amos 3:3](../../../kjv/amos/3/3) . Elipbaz was a Ternanite ([Job 2:11](../../../kjv/job/2/11) , &c.)
**Bozrah.** Now *el Buseirah* , south-east of the Dead Sea.

**children** = sons.
**Ammon.** Compare [1 Samuel 11:1](../../../kjv/1-samuel/11/1) .
**ripped up** , &c. Foretold in [Hosea 13:16](../../../kjv/hosea/13/16) . 2Ki 8:12 ; [2 Kings 8:15](../../../kjv/2-kings/8/15) , [2 Kings 8:16](../../../kjv/2-kings/8/16) .
**that they might,** &c. Compare [Jeremiah 49:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/1) :14 **Rabbah.** Now 'Amman (on the highlands of Gilead), "the city of waters", twenty-five miles north of the Dead Sea. Compare [2 Samuel 11:1](../../../kjv/2-samuel/11/1) , and [2 Samuel 12:26](../../../kjv/2-samuel/12/26) , [2 Samuel 12:27](../../../kjv/2-samuel/12/27) . [Jeremiah 49:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/2) . Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 3:10](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/3/10) , [Deuteronomy 3:11](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/3/11) ). App-92 .
**shouting** = a great war-cry.
**the day of battle:** i.e. the day of their foe's tumultuous assault.

**he.** Ginsburg thinks it = his priests, with Septuagint.

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