John Gill's Exposition on Amos 7:4

A historical reference excerpt for this verse.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.

Thus hath the Lord showed unto me, etc.] Another vision after this manner: and, behold, the Lord God called to contend by fire; gave out that he would have a controversy with his people Israel, and proclaimed the time when he would try the cause with them, and that by fire: or he called his family, as Jarchi; that is, his angels, as Kimchi, to cause fire to descend upon Israel, as upon Sodom and Gomorrah; so other Rabbins Kimchi mentions: or, as he interprets it, the scorching heat of the sun, like fire that restrained the rain, dried up the plants, and lessened the waters of the river, and so brought on a general drought, and in consequence famine: or rather a foreign army, involving them in war, burning their cities and towns; (see Amos 1:4,7,10,12,14); and it devoured the great deep; it seemed, as if it did; as the fire from heaven, in Elijah’s time, licked up the water in the trench, (<111838>1 Kings 18:38); so this, coming at God’s command, seemed to dry up the whole ocean; by which may be meant the multitude of people, nations, and kingdoms, subdued by the Assyrians; (see <661715>Revelation 17:15); and did eat up a part; a part of a field, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; of the king’s field, (<300701>Amos 7:1); as Kimchi; showing, as he observes, that the reigning king was a bad king, and that this was for his sin: or rather a part of the land of Israel; and so refers, as is generally thought, to Tiglathpileser’s invasion of the land, who carried captive a part of it, (<121529>2 Kings 15:29).

Read Amos 7:4 →Read the full chapter →Jamieson, Fausset & Brown →Barnes' Notes →Wesley's Explanatory Notes →Tyndale Open Study Notes →Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge →Keil & Delitzsch →

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