Amos 9:2

“Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them, etc.] That is, they that endeavour to make their escape from their enemies, though they seek for places of the greatest secrecy and privacy; not hell, the place of the damned; nor the grave, the repository of the dead; neither of which they chose to he in, but rather sought to escape them; but the deepest and darkest caverns, the utmost recesses of the earth, the very centre of it; which, could they get into, would not secure them from the power and providence of God, and from their enemies in pursuit of them, by his permission: though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down; the summit of the highest mountains, and…”

“Though they dig into hell--though they hide ever so deeply in the earth (Psa 139:8). though they climb up to heaven--though they ascend the greatest heights (Job 20:6-7; Jer 51:53; Oba 1:4).”

“Height or depth are alike open to the Omnipresent God. The grave is not so awful as God. The sinner would gladly “dig through” into hell, bury himself, the living among the dead, if so he could escape the sight of God. But thence, God says, “My hand shall take them,” to place them in His presence, to receive their sentence. Or if, like the rebel angels, they could “place” their “throne amid the stars Isaiah 14:12-14 of God thence will I bring them down,” humbling, judging, condemning. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Hell - The center of the earth, or the depth of hell. Amos 9:3”

“9:2-4 God is inescapable (cp. Ps 139:7-12). When people trust, believe, and obey God, his inescapability is a great blessing. But because Israel rejected God’s revelation, his presence would mean judgment, not comfort. 9:2 to the place of the dead (literally to Sheol): In the Old Testament, Sheol is a place beneath the earth where the dead have their abode.”

“Though: All these energetic expressions were intended to shew the utter impossibility of escape. dig: Job 26:6; Psa 139:7-10; Isa 2:19 climb: Job 20:6; Isa 14:13-16; Jer 49:16, Jer 51:53; Eze 28:13-16; Oba 1:4; Luk 10:18 Amos 9:3”

“The thought is still further expanded in Amo 9:2-6. Amo 9:2. "If they break through into hell, my hand will take them thence; and if they climb up to heaven, thence will I fetch them down. Amo 9:3. And if they hide themselves upon the top of Carmel, I will trace them, and fetch them thence; and if they conceal themselves from before mine eyes in the bottom of the sea, thence do I command the serpent, and it biteth them. Amo 9:4. And if they go into captivity before their enemies, I will command the sword thence, and it slayeth them; and I direct my eye upon them for evil, and not for good." The imperfects, with אם, are to be taken as futures. They do not assume what is impossible as merely…”