THE PROPHECY OF AMOS
INTRODUCTION
Amos prophesied in Israel about the same time as Osee, and was called from following the cattle to denounce God’s judgments to the people of Israel and the neighbouring nations, for their repeated crimes, in which they continued with repentance. (Challoner) — The kingdom was then almost free from idolatry, except that of the calves, yet dissolute and flourishing under Jeroboam II. The prophet spoke at Bethel, (chap. vii.) till the idolatrous priest, Amasias, forced him to flee to Thecua, four leagues south of Jerusalem, where he continued to prophesy against the various nations of Damascus, Juda, &c., but particularly against Israel, chap. i., &c. How long he continued is uncertain. St. Jerome and others account his style rustic; but St. Augustine (Doct. iv. 7.) as good a judge, pronounces that it was eloquent, and like that of the other inspired writers, suited to the speakers. (Calmet) — Amos means “one carrying,” or “a people torn away.” (St. Jerome in Joel.) (Haydock) — He deals in metaphors agreeably to his pastoral education, but is profound in sense. (St. Jerome, ep. ad Paulin.) — After denouncing judgments on different nations, he foretells the coming of Christ and abundance of grace. (Worthington)
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Commentary of St Jerome
Prologus
amos propheta, qui sequitur ioelem, et est tertius duodecim prophetarum, non est ipse, quem patrem esaiae prophetae legimus. ille enim scribitur per primam et ultimam nominis sui litteram aleph et sade, et interpretatur fortis, atque robustus, hic uero per ain et samech, et interpretatur populus auulsus; mediae litterae mem et uau utrique communes sunt. apud nos autem qui tantam uocalium litterarum, et s litterae quae apud hebraeos triplex est, differentiam non habemus, et haec et alia nomina uidentur esse communia, quae apud hebraeos elementorum diuersitate, et suis proprietatibus distinguuntur. hic igitur propheta quem nunc habemus in manibus, fuit de oppido thecue, quod sex millibus ad meridianam plagam abest a sancta bethleem, quae mundi genuit saluatorem, et ultra nullus est uiculus, ne agrestes quidem casae et furnorum similes, quas afri appellant mapalia. tanta est eremi uastitas, quae usque ad mare rubrum, persarum que et aethiopum atque indorum terminos dilatatur. et quia humi arido atque arenoso nihil omnino frugum gignitur, cuncta sunt plena pastoribus, ut sterilitatem terrae compensent pecorum multitudine. ex hoc numero pastorum et amos propheta fuit, imperitus sermone, sed non scientia. idem enim, qui per omnes prophetas, in eo spiritus sanctus loquebatur. unde nos ex hebraeo uertimus.