Saviour Jesus Christ, and not limited either to Jews or Israelites, but together with them extended to all mankind.

-repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.] That is, God will never repent of His determination of ransoming and redeeming them; He will certainly make it good.

15. he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.] He" either God, or the conqueror represented under the image of the wind. "All pleasant vessels," every article of ornamental furniture, of costly materials and exquisite workmanship.

If sin be not followed by repentance, and a thorough renunciation of all former lusts and evil habits, it will be visited with a destruction, like that of Samaria, which is here foretold, and about four years after was fulfilled, Our Saviour bas made the application on another like occasion, and we ought all to lay it to heart, that " except we repent, we shall all likewise perish."

CHAP. XIV.

Having denounced in the foregoing chapters heavy judgments against Israel for their idolatry and other sins, the Prophet now shews that the only way to prevent or escape the judgments of God is by repentance, to which he earnestly exhorts them.

Verse 2. Take with you words.] That is, a set form of supplication..

- so will we render the calves of our lips.] The sacrifices of our lips, that is praises and thanksgivings.

3. Asshur shall not save us; &c.] The first part of the people's repentance is described as consisting in a reliance solely upon God's protection, and not putting any trust in human strength: and then in renouncing all idolatrous worship. The Israelites had formerly made an alliance with the Assyrians; and they are often upbraided by the Prophets for their courting foreign alliances, and particularly strengthening themselves with horses from Egypt and Assyria.

5. I will be as the dew unto Israel: &c.] I will be as refreshing unto Israel, as dew is to the summer grass: so that he shall grow up in beauty as the lily, and in strength and height as the cedar in Lebanon.

6.-his smell as Lebanon.] The mountain is celebrated for the fragrance of its shrubs.

8.-I have heard him and observed him: &c.] That is, when I shall have heard him praying, and seen his repentance, I will help him: “I am like a green fir tree;" I will be to him like a tall and shady tree; and whatever fruit he yields, it shall be of My giving.

- a great people and a strong; The Prophet speaks of the locusts in such military terms, and represents them like such a formidable army, that it has induced several learned men to think, that they are put by a figure to denote real armies. Another opinion is, that we are to understand the locust, cankerworm, &c. spoken of verse 4 of the preceding chapter, in a literal sense; and that the military terms, which are used, may be applied to them.

3. A fire devoureth before them; &c.] They consume like a general conflagration, burning things up by their touch.

-as the garden of Eden] A proverbial expression for a place of pleasure and fruitfulness, as we commonly use the word Paradise. What the locusts find luxuriant, they leave desolate.

5. Like the noise of chariots &c.] A swarm of locusts makes so loud a noise, when they move, that, it is said, they may be heard six miles off. 6.all faces shall gather blackness. Shall become downcast and melancholy through fear. Compare Jer. viii. 21. Nabun ii. 10.

8. Neither shall one thrust another;] Many writers mention the order of locusts in their flight and march; and their manner of proceeding directly forwards, whatever obstacles were interposed. They seize, not only on the fields, corn, and trees, but also enter cities, houses, and the most private chambers. See verse 9.

10.-the sun and the moon shall be dark, &c.] This may either be understood literally of the locusts darkening the air, as they are described as actually doing; or else it denotes, in a strong figurative manner, devastation spread through a whole country.

12.-turn ye even to me with all your heart,] The sins of the people were the cause, which deserved this dreadful visitation; the way therefore, for the people to avert the threatened judgment, was to forsake their sins, and with true repentance to turn to God.

13. repenteth him of the evil.] That is, will not execute the vengeance He has threatened. See note on Gen. vi. 6.

14. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, &c.] Who knoweth whether your humiliation may not yet prevail with God, and cause Him to withdraw His judgments, and instead thereof to bestow a blessing of plenty upon us; so that there may be both matter and occasion for the sacrifices of our thanksgiving unto the Lord?

16.-let the bridegroom go forth] Let no one make excuse; let the asssembly be universal.

17.-wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?] They beseech God to deliver them, not for any merit of theirs, but for the glory of His own name, lest the heathens should

take occasion to blaspheme His name, as if He were not able to protect His people.

20.-and his stink shall come up, &c.] Many writers speak of the strong and pestilential smell arising from the putrid heaps of locusts, whether driven upon land or cast up from the sea, in which they have perished.

-because he hath done great things.] Or rather, "although he hath done," &c.

23. the former rain, and the latter rain] See the notes at Deut. xxviii. 12; and 1 Sam. xii. 17.

25. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten,] I will repair the damage, which the land has for several years received from the ravages of those devouring insects.

28. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; &c.] "Afterward," or " in the last days," (meaning the time of the Messiah,) see Acts ii. 17. where this text is applied by St. Peter to the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the first believers. "All flesh" comprehends the Gentiles as well as the Jews; which promise we see was punctually fulfilled, Acts. x. 44; xi. 17.

This prophecy has been fulfilled in the Christian Church two ways: first by the extraordinary effects of such a general effusion of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Apostles and primitive Christians were empowered to work miracles, speak with diverse tongues, and foretel future events; and secondly, in the more ordinary gifts of Divine grace, bestowed upon all Christians.

29. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids &c,] Not only, no particular sex or age, but also no particular condition should render persons incapable of receiving the good gifts of God's Spirit" in those days"; that is, under the kingdom of Christ.

30. And I will shew wonders in the heavens &c.]} The Prophet having foretold the general effusion of the Holy Spirit, which was to take place under the Gospel, concludes, this chapter with a striking description of the destruction of Jerusalem, which followed soon after, and punished the Jews for their obstinate rejection of Christ. The Prophet uses terms, which, as well as those of our Saviour that resemble them, have a double meaning, and refer to the dissolution of the world as well as to the destruction of Jerusalem. Compare Matt. xxiv. 29.

32.-whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered:] St. Paul, Rom. x. 13, explains this of such persons as give themselves up to Christ, and profess themselves His disciples; that being the most effectual means of escaping the judgments coming upon the unbelieving Jews, and likewise of being "delivered from the wrath to come."

1

Verse 1.-before the earthquake] This earthquake is referred to Zech. xiv. 5.

2.-The Lord will roar from Zion, &c.] The meaning is, that God will soon spread terrour, like beasts of prey when they roar: in other words, that He will soon display His power in executing judgment.

3.-For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four,] Punishment is threatened on Damascus the capital city of Syria, for the several transgressions, which they had committed, expressed by "three transgressions and four."

they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron] The cruelties exercised by Hazael and Ben-lradad, kings of Syria are here alluded to. See 2 Kings xiii. 3—7.

5. I will break also the bar of Damascus,] I will send an enemy that shall break open the gates of Damascus, though never so strongly barred.

-the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir,] The completion of this prophecy is recorded 2 Kings xvi. 9.

6.-Gaza,] A chief city of the Philistines. The Philistines sold the captives they took from Judah, to the Edomites, the most deadly enemies of the people of God.

8.-Ashdod,―Ashkelon,-Ekron :] These were chief towns of the Philistines.

9.-remembered not the brotherly covenant:] The league of friendship made by Hiram with David and Solomon. See 2 Sam. v. 11; 1 Kings v. 1; ix. 13.

11.-he did pursue his brother with the sword,] The two nations were descended from Jacob and Esau, who were brethren. It is probable that before Amos prophesied, the Edomites had often distressed Judah and Israel in times of calamity. That this was their custom, `see 2 Chron. xxviii. 17. But the words may be spoken prophetically of the conduct which the Edomites would pursue at the taking of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Obad. 11–14; Ezek. xxv. 12; Ps. cxxxvii. 7.

12.-Teman,-Bozrah.] Cities of the Edomites. 14.-Rabbah,] The capital city of the Ammonites, who were conquered by Nebuchad