Amos 5:14-15

14, 15. In spite of the apparent hopelessness, the prophet renews his appeal, declaring that, if the exhortation is heeded, Jehovah may yet be gracious to a remnant of Joseph.

Seek good Practically the same as “seek Jehovah” (Amos 5:6; compare Amos 5:4). Jehovah is found by him who is anxious about doing good (Isaiah 1:16-17; Micah 6:8).

Not evil As they were doing (Amos 5:12).

Live See on Amos 5:4.

And so If you seek good.

Jehovah, the God of hosts See on Amos 3:13.

With you To bless and protect.

As ye have spoken See general remarks on Amos 3:1; Amos 4:3 (p. 207; compare Amos 5:18; Micah 3:11). The exhortation is repeated and explained in even stronger terms in Amos 5:15. A complete transformation is needed.

Hate the evil Not uprightness (Amos 5:10).

Love the good The morally good instead of an elaborate ceremonial (Amos 5:5; Amos 4:5), or actual wrongdoing (Amos 3:10).

Establish judgment [“justice”] Enthrone it, instead of trampling it upon the ground (Amos 5:7). This phase of right doing demanded special emphasis in the days of Amos.

In the gate The place of judgment (Amos 5:10), where it was most persistently outraged (Amos 5:12). If the warning is heeded Jehovah may yet save from utter annihilation.

Joseph See on Amos 5:6.

Remnant The prophet undoubtedly has in mind the remnant mentioned frequently in the prophetic writings, of whose future glorification speaks Amos 9:11-15. All the prophets are convinced of the certainty of judgment; and all believe that out of it will be saved a penitent, faithful few, the holy seed (Isaiah 6:13), which will grow into a new nation of God. Some writers suppose, though without warrant, that the use of the term implies that Israel had already been reduced, at the time of such use, to a remnant, that is, a fragment of its former prestige and power (see general remarks on Hosea 2:14-23, and Introduction, pp. 35ff.).

The prophet continues in Amos 5:16-17 as if the people had declared their determination to persist in rebellion, and he proceeds to announce once more the imminent doom.

Therefore Because of their corruption and unwillingness to heed the warning. Again weight is given to the announcement by the accumulation of divine titles (Amos 3:13).

Wailing… mourning For the slain (see on Joel 1:13). This wailing will be heard everywhere, in city and country.

Streets Better, R.V., “the broad ways”; literally, wide places, that is, in the open squares in the cities, especially near the gates (Nehemiah 8:1), where the people were accustomed to gather.

Highways Literally, as R.V., “streets,” of cities and villages.

Alas! alas! Hebrew, Ho! ho! probably the usual cry of lamentation.

They shall call The subject is indefinite (he) shall be called (G.-K., 144f.).

Husbandman Who is at work in the fields. He is called to mourn for some loved one. Evidently the judgment is expected to fall suddenly.

And such as are skillful of lamentation to wailing Literally, and wailing unto those who are skillful of lamentation. In either case the verb “they shall call” must be supplied. The English translators are probably correct in suspecting the accidental transposition of two words. The skillful of lamentation are the professional mourners, ordinarily women, hired, whenever a death occurs, to sing songs of mourning (Jeremiah 9:17; Matthew 9:23). The word lamentation used here is a more general term than that in Amos 5:1.

Vineyards Where joy and gladness are ordinarily looked for (Judges 9:27; Isaiah 16:10). The whole land will become a land of mourners. Why this lamentation?

Pass through In judgment (compare Exodus 12:12).