Exposition of Amos 4-9, Part 4 · Section 7
VERSE 9.
And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the Sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid wast; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
WEE have in this Verse a fuller explication of the Vision of the Plumb-line, and what it typified, viz. a total subversion both of the Ecclesiastical and Civil state of Israel.
They were wont to boast much of their fore-fathers: when our Saviour talked with the Woman of Samaria, she presently tells him, Our Fathers worshipt in this Mountain, John 4.20. so here, our fore-fathers worshipt in Bethel, Beersheba, Gilgal, &c. and therefore they conclude that they must needs please God by following their examples. Thus they flattered themselves as the Papists doe at this day, preferring the fallible Fathers before the infallible Word of God. But the Prophet plainly tells them, that the high places of Isaac (where they committed their Idolatry) should be desolate. By Isaac here is meant the house of Israel, who were descended from Isaac and Iacob. So Vers. 16. the Septuagint, the Syriac, and the Arabick Versions, make the word Isaac an Appellation, and not a proper name,Arae risûs, vel fana ridicula. they render it, Laughter, or Joy; the High places of Laughter, or the ridiculous High places, and the Altars of Derision (for what is more ridiculous than for men to worship a Stock, or a Stone which themselves have carved?) shall be desolate. But this is a ridiculous version of this text, for though there be a change of one Letter in the name of Isaac, Bamot Isaac, i. e. excelsa Isaaci, it is not excelsa Idoli, as the Vulg.Scin instead of Tsade, yet the Learned in that Language observe, that these Letters are used promiscuously, the one for the other, and it is the same Isaac here spoken of, which is mentioned, Gen. 17.19. & Psal. 105.9.
By high places here, are meant Temples and Altars, erected on Mountains and Hills for the honour of their Idols, Amos 4. ult. What these High places were, see Mr. Greenhil on Ezek. 6.3. p. 4, 5.Though God had confined them by a strict command to worship at Ierusalem, yet they must have somewhat of their owne inventing, they must be sacrificing on their owne high Hills, high Altars, and high Places, though they dye for it.
These are called the High-places of Isaac, say some;
1 Because as Abraham was ready to offer Isaac in Sacrifice at Gods command; so these offered their Sons and Daughters (in imitation of Abraham) to Moloch, and Baal, but there is no ground for this in the text.
2 They garnisht their Idolatry with the names and examples of Isaac and Iacob, because in their times they had set up secret Altars, and offered Sacrifices there to the God of Heaven. Thus did Isaac at Beersheba, Gen. 26.25. and Iacob at Bethel, Gen. 35.7.
And the Sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid wast.
That is, the Idolatrous Temples, Altars, and Groves in Dan and Bethel, and other Cities, consecrated to the golden Calves shall be destroyed by the Ass…rian.
Mi…deshe, sanctuaria.These places are called Sanctuaries, and Holy places (not that they are so indeed) but the Scripture speaks according to mens opinions of them, as here it calls these Idols Temples, Sanctuaries, when indeed they were dens of Devils, and great provocations of Gods wrath against this people.
And I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the Sword.
This Ieroboam was not Ieroboam the Son of Nebat which made Israel to sin, the first Author of Schism and Idolatry in the Kingdome of Israel; but this is Ieroboam the second, one of the same name, and of the same religion, a chip of the old block, he was Son of Ioash, Nephew to Iehu, and Father to Zachariah; in his dayes the Kingdom flourisht, they recovered many Cities, and inlarged their borders, but they abusing these Mercies, God threatens to destroy both the Kingdome and the Kings posterity; as he did when Zachariah the Son of Ieroboam was slaine openly in the sight of the people, by Shallum (after he had reigned six moneths) who translated the Kingdome to his owne family, 2 King. 15.10. and this put an end to Iehu's Stock, according to the threatning, 2 King. 10.30. Two vaine props this People rested on. 1. In their external, Idolatrous services, 2. In the power of their Kings. Both these the Lord tells them should faile them; for their Sanctuaries should be laid wast, and the house of the King cut off, and this made way for their utter ruine by the Assyrian.
Q. But why doth the Lord threaten the house of Jeroboam rather than any other family?
A. Because the Leaders of People (especially if they be wicked) lead them into Sin with themselves, and so have the Peoples sins to answer for, as well as their owne. The twenty Kings of Israel were all of them Idolaters, and drew the people into Idolatry with them, and therefore the Lord threatens to begin with the house of Ieroboam first; both Princes, Priests, and People had sinned together, and now the Lord tells them they shall perish together. So Samuel told the people, that if they persevered in their wickedness, both they and their King should perish, 1 Sam. 12. ult.
OBSERVATIONS.
1 Corruptions in the Church usually ruine the State.
For Church and Common-wealth are like the Vine and the Elme, or like those twins which are said to weep and laugh together; so long as purity in religion is preserved, the State prospers, and hath peace, 2 Chron. 17.5, 10. Isa. 60.12, 13, 18. God will preserve that people which preserves his truth, Revel. 2.10. but he will depart from those that depart from the purity of his wayes; and when God departs, peace, plenty, comfort, glory, &c. all goes with him, and all misery comes in like a floud, Deut. 31.17. Ier. 6.8. Hos. 9.12.
2 God will destroy Idolatrous places.
The Sanctuaries and high places of Idolators shall be ruined; if Magistrates will not destroy them,See more in Mr. Greenhil, Ezek. 6.3. Obs. 2. God will, Levit. 26.30. Deut. 12.23. Ezek. 6.3. Amos 4. ult. & 5.5
3 Sin, (especially the Sin of Idolatry) ruines great men as well as others.
God is no respecter of persons, but if great men be great offenders, they must look for great punishment. God is terrible not only to inferiour wicked men, but even to the Kings of the earth; if Ieroboam will worship golden Calves, those Calves shall be his ruine. Idolatry is a God-provoking, and a Land-destroying sin, Psal. 106.39 Amos 2.4, 5.
4 Gods Ministers must denounce Iudgements against great men when they sin, Magnum hoc …st zeli Prophetici argumentum, quod Ieroboam regem, potentiâ r…gni & victoriis illustrem, Amos diserte nominat. Gualter.as well as against inferiour persons.
Yea, rather against them, because by their example they doe more hurt. This makes Amos as it were threaten the house of the King. Thus Elijah reproves Ahab, Nathan, David, and Iohn Baptist Herod. [See more in my Com. on Psal. 82.2. Obs. 1. p. 96, 97.
5 God transferres Kingdoms from one family to another, as pleaseth him.
He pulls down one and sets up another in the Throne, and none may say to him, what dost thou? After the division of the Kingdom of Israel from Iudah, they had twenty Kings of ten several Stocks, whereof one destroyed another. Ieroboams Stock was cut off by Baasha, and Baashaes by Zimri, and Tibni by Omri, and Omries by Iehu, and Iehu's by Shallum, and Shallum's by Menahems, and Menahems by Pekah, and Pekah's by Hoshea. All these Kings were Idolaters, and the most of them cruel Tyrants, and Persecutors; and therefore God cut them off, that they did not live out half their dayes.