Amos 5:19

“As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him, etc.] That is, should the day of the Lord come as they desired, they would not be the better for it; it would be only going from one trouble to another, like escaping Scylla, and falling into Charybdis: or as if a man, upon the sight of a lion, and at his yell, should take to his heels, and flee “from the face” of him, as the phrase isf129, and a bear, a less generous, and more cruel and voracious creature, especially when: bereaved of its whelps, should meet him, and seize him: or should: he get clear of them both, or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him; should he get into a house, and so escape…”

“As if a man did flee . . . a lion, and a bear met him--Trying to escape one calamity, he falls into another. This perhaps implies that in Amo 5:18 their ironical desire for the day of the Lord was as if it would be an escape from existing calamities. The coming of the day of the Lord would be good news to us, if true: for we have served God (that is, the golden calves). So do hypocrites flatter themselves as to death and judgment, as if these would be a relief from existing ills of life. The lion may from generosity spare the prostrate, but the bear spares none (compare Job 20:24; Isa 24:18). leaned . . . on the wall--on the side wall of the house, to support himself from falling. Snakes…”

“As if a man, did flee from a lion - The Day of the Lord is a day of terror on every side. Before and behind, without and within, abroad under the roof of heaven, or under the shelter of his own, everywhere is terror and death. The Syrian bear is said to have been more fierce and savage than the lion. For its fierceness and voracity Daniel 7:5, God made it, in Daniel’s vision, a symbol of the empire of the Medes. From both lion and bear there might be escape by flight. When the man had “leaned his hand” trustfully “on the wall” of his own house, “and the serpent bit him,” there was no escape. He had fled from death to death, from peril to destruction. return to 'Top of Page'”

“And a bear - You may escape one, but shall fall in another calamity. Into the house - At home you may hope for safety, but there other kind of mischief shall meet you. Amos 5:21”

“As if: They should go from one evil to another. Amo 9:1, Amo 9:2; Kg1 20:29, Kg1 20:30; Job 20:24, Job 20:25; Isa 24:17, Isa 24:18; Jer 15:2, Jer 15:3; Jer 48:43, Jer 48:44; Act 28:4 Amos 5:20”