Amos 2:12 - Exposition

Ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink. Far from profiting by their example, or acknowledging the grace of God displayed in their holy lives, ye tried to get rid of their testimony by seducing or forcing them to break their vow. Prophesy not. Israel was impatient of the continued efforts of the prophets to warn and to win; and, unmindful of the fact that the man of God had a message which he was bound to deliver (comp. Jeremiah 20:9 ; 1 Corinthians 9:16 ), this ungrateful nation systematically tried to silence the voices which were a standing rebuke to them. Thus Amos himself was treated ( Amos 7:10 , etc.).

, Ewald, Pusey, Gandell, for "flight" render "place of flight, refuge," as Job 11:20 ; Psalms 142:5 ; Septuagint, φυγή : Vulgate, fuga . Shall not strengthen his force. The strong man shall not be able to collect or put forth his strength to any good purpose (comp. Proverbs 24:5 ; Nahum 2:1 ). Neither shall … himself. Some of the Greek manuscripts omit this clause. Deliver himself occurs three times—a kind of solemn refrain.