CRITICAL NOTES.]
Amos 1:9-10. Tyrus] The crime here is sale of prisoners, like the preceding, to Edom; a violation of the covenant of David and Solomon with the king of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:1; 1 Kings 9:11).
THE JUDGMENT ON TYRE.—Amos 1:9-10
The third people spoken against are the inhabitants of Tyre.
I. The ground of the judgment. Like other nations they were guilty of many sins.
1. They trafficked in human souls. If they did not carry away, “they delivered up the whole captivity” to the mortal enemy of the Jews. They sold their captives to Grecians far away (Joel 3:3), and cared not for the hardships of those who fled to them for shelter.
2. They violated the sacred covenant. “And remembered not the brotherly covenant.” David and Solomon entered into a friendly alliance with the king of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:15). Hiram supplied Solomon with timber and carpenters in return for oil and corn; recognized David as chosen of God, and was “ever a lover of David” (1 Kings 5:1). The covenant no doubt recognized God as the true God, and guaranteed religious privileges, undisturbed peace and safety. No king of Israel or Judah had ever made war with Phœnicia. Yet they forgot this friendly feeling, and remembered not the brotherly covenant. They sinned in helping Edom in their vile trade; in forgetting their solemn obligation, and in disregarding God for the sake of mercantile gain. A costlier object than man does not exist. He who seeks to enrich himself by the possession and traffic of his fellow-creatures will be branded as a pest to humanity.
God gave us over beast, fish, fowl,
Dominion absolute; that right we hold
By his donation; but man over man
He made not lord, such title to himself
Reserving—human left for human free.
II. The nature of the punishment. “I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.” Many parts of Tyre were burnt by fiery missiles of the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar. He took it after a thirteen eos’ siege. Alexander of Macedon subsequently overthrew it. “Note,” says one, “that though the crime charged may have been immediately due to the greed of the merchants of Tyre, acting in their private capacity, the whole community is held responsible for their deeds. It is the duty of every State to restrain and punish the unjust aggressions of its citizens on other communities, and if it fails to do so, it must abide the consequences.”
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 1
Amos 1:9. Brotherly covenant. Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work (Sir. 11:20). Remember thy covenants, and bear no malice to thy neighbour (Sir. 28:7).