Amos 9:1 - Exposition

I saw the Lord. It is now no longer a mere emblem that the prophet sees, but actual destruction. He beholds the majesty of God, as Isaiah 6:1 ; Ezekiel 10:1 . Upon (or, by) the altar; i.e. the altar of burnt offering at Jerusalem, Where, it is supposed, the whole nation, Israelites and Judaeans, are assembled for worship. It is natural, at first sight, to suppose that the sanctuary of the northern kingdom is the scene of this vision, as the destruction of idolatry is here emblemized; but more probably Bethel is not meant, for there were more altars than one there ( Amos 3:14 ), and one cannot imagine the Lord standing by the symbol of the calf worship. Smite . The command is mysteriously addressed to the destroying angel (comp. Exodus 12:13 ; 2 Samuel 24:15 , etc.; 2 Kings 19:35 ). The lintel of the door; τὸ ἱλαστήριον ; cardinem (Vulgate); better, the chapiter ( Zephaniah 2:14 ); i.e. the capital of the columns. The word kaphtor is used in Exodus 25:31 , etc; for the knop or ornament on the golden candlesticks; here the idea is that the temple receives a blow on the top of the pillars which support it sufficient to cause its overthrow. The LXX . rendering arises from a confusion of two Hebrew words somewhat similar. The posts; the thresholds ; i.e. the base. The knop and the threshold imply the total destruction from summit to base. Cut them in the head, all of them; rather, break them [ the capital and the thresholds ] to pieces upon the head of all. Let the falling building cover them with its ruins. The Vulgate renders, avaritia enim in capite omnium, confounding two words. Jerome had the same Hebrew reading, as he translates, quaetus eorum, avaritia , as if giving the reason for the punishment. The overthrown temple presents a forcible picture of the destruction of the theocracy. The last of them ( Amos 4:2 ); the remnant ; any who escape the fall of the temple. He that fleeth, etc. All hope of escape shall be cut off.