Amos 1

8. Ashdod, &c.--Gath alone is not mentioned of the five chief Philistine cities. It had already been subdued by David; and it, as well as Ashdod, was taken by Uzziah ( 2 Chronicles 26:6 ). Gath perhaps had lost its position as one of the five primary cities before Amos uttered this prophecy, whence arose his omission of it. So Zephaniah 2:4 Zephaniah 2:5 . Compare Jeremiah 47:4 , Ezekiel 25:16 . Subsequently to the subjugation of the Philistines by Uzziah, and then by Hezekiah, they were reduced by Psammetichus of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar, the Persians, Alexander, and lastly the Asmoneans.

9. Tyrus . . . delivered up the . . . captivity to Edom--the same charge as against the Philistines ( Amos 1:6 ).
remembered not the brotherly covenant--the league of Hiram of Tyre with David and Solomon, the former supplying cedars for the building of the temple and king's house in return for oil and corn ( 2 Samuel 5:11 , 1 Kings 5:2-6 , 1 Kings 9:11-14 1 Kings 9:27 1 Kings 9:10-22 , 1 Chronicles 14:1 , 2 Chronicles 8:18 , 9:10 ).

10. fire--(Compare Amos 1:4,7'Isaiah 23:1-18'Ezekiel 26:1-28:26'). Many parts of Tyre were burnt by fiery missiles of the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar. Alexander of Macedon subsequently overthrew it.

11. Edom . . . did pursue his brother--( Isaiah 34:5 ). The chief aggravation to Edom's violence against Israel was that they both came from the same parents, Isaac and Rebekah (compare Genesis 25:24-26 , Deuteronomy 23:7 Deuteronomy 23:8 , Obadiah 1:10 Obadiah 1:12 , Malachi 1:2 ).
cast off all pity--literally, "destroy compassions," that is, did suppress all the natural feeling of pity for a brother in distress.
his wrath for ever--As Esau kept up his grudge against Jacob, for having twice supplanted him, namely, as to the birthright and the blessing ( Genesis 27:41 ), so Esau's posterity against Israel ( Numbers 20:14 Numbers 20:21 ). Edom first showed his spite in not letting Israel pass through his borders when coming from the wilderness, but threatening to "come out against him with the sword"; next, when the Syrians attacked Jerusalem under Ahaz (compare 2 Chronicles 28:17 , with 2 Kings 16:5 ); next, when Nebuchadnezzar assailed Jerusalem ( Psalms 137:7 Psalms 137:8 ). In each case Edom chose the day of Israel's calamity for venting his grudge. This is the point of Edom's guilt dwelt on in Obadiah 1:10-13 . God punishes the children, not for the sin of their fathers, but for their own filling up the measure of their fathers' guilt, as children generally follow in the steps of, and even exceed, their fathers' guilt (compare Exodus 20:5 ).

12. Teman--a city of Edom, called from a grandson of Esau ( Genesis 36:11 Genesis 36:15 , Obadiah 1:8 Obadiah 1:9 ); situated five miles from Petra; south of the present Wady Musa. Its people were famed for wisdom ( Jeremiah 49:7 ).
Bozrah--a city of Edom ( Isaiah 63:1 ). Selah or Petra is not mentioned, as it had been overthrown by Amaziah ( 2 Kings 14:7 ).

13. Ammon--The Ammonites under Nahash attacked Jabesh-gilead and refused to accept the offer of the latter to save them, unless the Jabesh-gileadites would put out all their right eyes ( 1 Samuel 11:1 , &c.). Saul rescued Jabesh-gilead. The Ammonites joined the Chaldeans in their invasion of Judea for the sake of plunder.
ripped up . . . women with-child--as Hazael of Syria also did ( 2 Kings 8:12 ; compare Hosea 13:16 ). Ammon's object in this cruel act was to leave Israel without "heir," so as to seize on Israel's inheritance ( Jeremiah 49:1 ).

14. Rabbah--the capital of Ammon: meaning "the Great." Distinct from Rabbah of Moab. Called Philadelphia, afterwards, from Ptolemy Philadelphus.
tempest--that is, with an onset swift, sudden, and resistless as a hurricane.
day of the whirlwind--parallel to "the day of battle"; therefore meaning "the day of the foe's tumultuous assault."

15. their king . . . princes--or else, "their Molech (the idol of Ammon) and his priests" [GROTIUS and Septuagint]. Isaiah 43:28 so uses "princes" for "priests." So "your Molech," Amos 5:26 ; and Jeremiah 49:3 , Margin. English Version, however, is perhaps preferable both here and in Jeremiah 49:3 ;