I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.
None can escape the coming judgment in any hiding place: for God is omnipresent and irresistible (Amos 9:1-6). As a kingdom, the ten tribes of Israel shall perish, as if it never was in covenant with Him; but as individuals the house of Jacob shall not utterly perish: nay, not one of the least of righteous shall fall, but only all the sinners (Amos 9:7-10). Restoration of the Jews finally to their own land, after the re-establishment of the fallen tabernacle of David; consequent conversion of all the pagan (Amos 9:11-15).
I saw the Lord standing upon the altar - namely, in the idolatrous temple at Bethel, the calves of which were spoken of in the verse just preceding-namely, Amos 8:14. Here they would flee for protection from the Assyrians, and would perish in the ruins, with the vain object of their trust (Henderson). Yahweh stands here to direct the destruction of it, them, and the idolatrous nation. He demands many victims on the altar but they are to be human victims. Calvin and Fairbairn, etc., make it in the temple at Jerusalem. Judgment was to descend both on Israel and Judah. As the services of both alike ought to have been offered on the Jerusalem temple-altar, it is there that Yahweh ideally stands, as if the whole people were assembled there, their abominations lying unpardoned there, and crying for vengeance, though in fact committed elsewhere (cf. Ezekiel 8:1-18). This view harmonizes with the similarity of the vision in Amos to that in Isaiah 7:1-25, at Jerusalem: also with the end of this chapter (Amos 9:11-15), which applies both to Judah and Israel: "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David" - namely, at Jerusalem. His attitude, standing, implies fixity of purpose.
And he said, Smite the lintel of the door - rather, the sphere-like capital of the column (Maurer).
That the posts may shake - rather, the thresholds, as in Isaiah 6:4, margin, "The posts (thresholds) of the door moved at the voice of Him that cried." The temple is to be smitten below as well as above, to ensure utter destruction; or, being struck above, it reeled to its base. The command of God was given to the angel of the Lord.
And cut them in the head - namely, with the broken fragments of the capitals and columns (cf. Psalms 68:21; Habakkuk 3:13).
And I will slay the last of them with the sword - their posterity (Henderson). The survivors (Maurer). Yahweh's directions are addressed to His angels, ministers of judgment (cf. Ezekiel 9:1, "Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man, with his destroying weapon in his hand"). He that fleeth of them shall not flee away - he who fancies himself safe, and out of reach of the enemy, shall be taken (Amos 2:14, "The flight shall perish from the swift").
He that escapeth of them shall not be delivered - (Amos 2:14, "Neither shall the mighty deliver himself").