Amos 9:6 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.

It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven - "stories," literally, ascents, i:e., upper chambers, to which the ascent is by steps (Maurer); evidently referring to the words, Psalms 104:3; Psalms 104:13. Grotius explains it, God's royal throne, expressed in language drawn from Solomon's throne, to which the ascent was by steps (cf. 1 Kings 10:18-19).

And hath founded his troop in the earth - namely, all animate creatures which are God's troop, or host (Genesis 2:1), doing His will (Psalms 103:20-21; Joel 2:11). Maurer translates, 'His vault' - i:e. the vaulted sky, which seems to rest on the earth, supported by the horizon. So Pusey, 'His arch'-literally, bands, expressing the firm union of the arch, as our apse is from the Greek, haptoo.

Amos 9:6

6 It is he that buildeth his storiesa in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.