John Gill's Exposition on Amos 4:2

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, etc.] That is, by himself, holiness being his nature, and an essential attribute of his; this is done to ascertain the truth of what is after said, and that men may be assured of the certain performance of it. Some render it, “by his holy place”; and interpret it of heaven; so Aben Ezra and Kimchi; which is not likely; (see <400534> Matthew 5:34 <590512>James 5:12). The Targum is, “the Lord God hath sworn by his word in his holiness;” that, lo, the days shall come upon you; speedily, swiftly, and at an unawares: that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fish hooks; the enemy, the king of Assyria, or God by him, would take them out of their own land, as fish out of water, out of their own element, and carry them captive into a strange land, both them and their posterity; and which should be as easily done as fish are taken with the hook, even though they were as the kine of Bashan. The word for fish hooks signifies “thorns”f111, and is by some so rendered; these perhaps being used in angling, before iron hooks were invented. The Targum is, “that people shall take you away on their shields, and your daughters in fishermen’sf112 boats;” (see <241616>Jeremiah 16:16).

Read Amos 4:2 →Read the full chapter →Jamieson, Fausset & Brown →Barnes' Notes →Wesley's Explanatory Notes →Tyndale Open Study Notes →Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge →

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