Amos 9:4

4 et si abierint in captivitatem coram inimicis suis ibi mandabo gladio et occidet eos et ponam oculos meos super eos in malum et non in bonum

Amos 9:4 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 9:4

And though they go into captivity before their enemies
Alluding to the manner in which captives are led, being put before their enemies, and so carried in triumph; see ( Lamentations 1:5 ) ; though some think this refers to their going voluntarily into a foreign country, in order to escape danger, as Johanan the son of Kareah with the Jews went into Egypt, ( Jeremiah 43:5-7 ) ; in whom Kimchi instances: thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them;
or them that kill with the sword, as the Targum; so that though they thought by going into another country, or into an enemy's country of their own accord, to escape the sword of the enemy, or to curry favour with them, yet should not escape: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good:
this is the true reason, why, let them be where they will, they cannot be safe, because the eyes of the omniscient God, which are everywhere, in heaven, earth, hell, and the sea, are set upon them, for their ruin and destruction; and there is no fleeing from his presence, or getting out of his sight, or escaping his hand. The Targum is,

``my Word shall be against them.''

Amos 9:4 In-Context

2 si descenderint usque ad infernum inde manus mea educet eos et si ascenderint usque ad caelum inde detraham eos

3 et si absconditi fuerint in vertice Carmeli inde scrutans auferam eos et si celaverint se ab oculis meis in fundo maris ibi mandabo serpenti et mordebit eos

4 et si abierint in captivitatem coram inimicis suis ibi mandabo gladio et occidet eos et ponam oculos meos super eos in malum et non in bonum

5 et Dominus Deus exercituum qui tangit terram et tabescet et lugebunt omnes habitantes in ea et ascendet sicut rivus omnis et defluet sicut fluvius Aegypti

6 qui aedificat in caelo ascensionem suam et fasciculum suum super terram fundavit qui vocat aquas maris et effundit eas super faciem terrae Dominus nomen eius