Amos 9:6

“[It is] he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, etc.] The three elements, according to Aben Ezra, fire, air, and water; the orbs, as Kimchi, one above another; a word near akin to this is rendered “his chambers”, which are the clouds, (<19A403>Psalm 104:3,13); perhaps the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, which are three stories high, may be meant; we read of the third heaven, (<471202>2 Corinthians 12:2); and particularly the throne of God is in the highest heaven; and the “ascents”f239 to it, as it may be rendered. The Targum is, “who causeth to dwell in a high fortress the Shechinah of his glory:” and hath founded his troop in the earth; this Kimchi interprets of the three above…”

“stories--literally, "ascents," that is, upper chambers, to which the ascent is by steps [MAURER]; evidently referring to the words in Psa 104:3, Psa 104:13. GROTIUS explains it, God's royal throne, expressed in language drawn from Solomon's throne, to which the ascent was by steps (compare Kg1 10:18-19). founded his troop--namely, all animate creatures, which are God's troop, or host (Gen 2:1), doing His will (Psa 103:20-21; Joe 2:11). MAURER translates, "His vault," that is, the vaulted sky, which seems to rest on the earth supported by the horizon.”

“He that buildeth His stories - The word commonly means “steps,” nor is there any reason to alter it. We read of “the third heavens 2 Corinthians 12:2, the heavens of heavens Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalms 148:4; that is, heavens to which this heaven is as earth. They are different ways of expressing the vast unseen space which God has created, divided, as we know, through the distance of the fixed stars, into countless portions, of which the lower, or further removed, are but as “steps” to the presence of the Great King, where, “above all heavens” Ephesians 4:10, Christ sitteth at the Right Hand of God. It comes to the same, if we suppose the word to mean “upper chambers.” The…”

“His stories - The celestial orbs one over another, as so many stories in an high and stately palace. And he hath founded his troop in the earth: all the creatures, which are one army, one body; so closely are they connected, and so harmoniously do they all act for the accomplishing of their creator's purposes. Calleth for the waters - Either in judgment to drown, or in mercy to give rain. Amos 9:7”

“buildeth: Psa 104:3, Psa 104:13 stories: or, spheres, Heb. ascensions, Maaloth "upper chambers," which in eastern houses are the principal apartments. Perhaps there is a reference here to the various systems which God has created in illimitable space, transcending each other as the planets do in our system. troop: or, bundle, Gen 2:1 Aguddah probably is the same as the Arabic ijad "an arch, vault," and may here denote the vault of heaven, or atmosphere, which God "hath founded, or established, upon, or over, al the earth," and into which "he calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth." calleth: Amo 5:8; Gen 7:11-19; Jer 5:22 The Lord: Amo 4:13; Exo 3:14,…”