Amos 9:2-4

2 Though they dig down to the depths below, from there my hand will take them. Though they climb up to the heavens above, from there I will bring them down.
3 Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, there I will hunt them down and seize them. Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.
4 Though they are driven into exile by their enemies, there I will command the sword to slay them. “I will keep my eye on them for harm and not for good.”

Amos 9:2-4 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 9

This chapter contains the fifth and last vision the prophet saw; which represents the certain desolation of the land, city, and temple, and the slaughter of all sorts of persons, high and low, none should escape it, Am 9:1; be they where they would, they should be found out, whether in hell or heaven, on the tops of the highest mountains, or in the bottom of the sea, or in a foreign land, since the eyes of the Lord were upon them for evil, Am 9:2-4; nor could they hope to escape, when they considered his greatness and his power, and what he could do, and had done; and how they had behaved towards him, even though they were the people he had brought out of Egypt, Am 9:5-7; but though the sinful kingdom should be destroyed, yet not utterly, a remnant should be saved, Am 9:8-10; and the chapter is concluded with gracious promises of raising up the tabernacle of David fallen down, and of the return of the people of Israel to their own land; and of their settlement and continuance in it, never more to depart from it, Am 9:11-15.

Cross References 13

  • 1. S Job 7:9; S Ezekiel 26:20; Psalms 139:8
  • 2. Jeremiah 51:53
  • 3. Obadiah 1:4
  • 4. Amos 1:2
  • 5. Psalms 139:8-10
  • 6. Psalms 68:22
  • 7. Isaiah 27:1
  • 8. Jeremiah 16:16-17
  • 9. S Genesis 49:17; S Job 11:20
  • 10. S Leviticus 26:33; S Ezekiel 5:12
  • 11. S Jeremiah 21:10
  • 12. Jeremiah 39:16; S Ezekiel 15:7
  • 13. S Jeremiah 44:11
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