SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:5
Y quebraré la barra de Damasco, y talaré los moradores de Bicat-avén, y los gobernadores de Bet-edén; y el pueblo de Siria será transportado a Kir.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Amos 1:5
Verse 5. The bar of Damascus] The gates, whose long traverse bars, running from wall to wall, were their strength. I will throw it open; and the gates were forced, and the city taken, as above. The plain of Aven-the house of Eden] These are names, says Bochart, of the valley of Damascus. The plain of Aven, or Birkath-Aven, Calmet says, is a city of Syria, at present called Baal-Bek, and by the Greeks Heliopolis; and is situated at the end of that long valley which extends from south to north, between Libanus and Anti-Libanus.
The people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Air] KIR is supposed to be the country of Cyrene in Albania, on the river Cyrus, which empties itself into the Caspian Sea. The fulfilment of this prophecy may be seen in 2 Kings xvi. 1-9.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. I will break also the bar of Damascus , etc.] Or bars, the singular for the plural, by which the gates of the city were barred; and, being broken, the gates would be easily opened, and way made for the enemy to pass into the city and spoil it; or it may signify the whole strength and all the fortifications of it. So the Targum, “I will break the strength of Damascus:” and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven ; or, “of an idol”, as the Vulgate Latin version. It is thought to be some place where idols were worshipped by the Syrians; their gods were the gods of the valleys, which they denied the God of Israel to be, ( 1 Kings 20:23). Mr. Maundrell f31 says, that near Damascus there is a plain still called the valley of Bocat, and which he thinks is the same with this Bicataven, as it is in the Hebrew text; and which lies between Libanus and Antilibanus, near to the city, of Heliopolis and the Septuagint and Arabic versions here call this valley the plain of On, which Theodoret interprets of an idol called On. Father Calmet takes it to be the same with Heliopolis, now called Balbec, or Baalbeck, the valley of Baal; where was a famous temple dedicated to the sun, the magnificent remains whereof are still at this day visible. Balbec is mentioned by the Arabians as the wonder of Syria; and one of their lexicographers says it is three days’ journey from Damascus, where are wonderful foundations, and magnificent vestiges of antiquity, and palaces with marble columns, such as in the whole world are nowhere else to be seen; and such of our European travellers as have visited it are so charmed with what they beheld there, that they are at a loss how to express their admiration. On the southwest of the town, which stands in a “delightful plain” on the west foot of Antilibanus, is a Heathen temple, with the remains of some other edifices, and, among the rest, of a magnificent palace f33 : Some late travellers into these parts tell us, that “upon a rising ground near the northeast extremity of this “plain”, and immediately under Antilibanus, is pleasantly situated the city of Balbec, between Tripoli of Syria, and Damascus, and about sixteen hours distant from each.----This plain of Bocat (they say) might by a little care be made one of the richest and most fertile spots in Syria; for it is more fertile than the celebrated vale of Damascus, and better watered than the rich plains of Esdraelon and Rama. In its present neglected state it produces grain, some good grapes, but very little wood.--It extends in length from Balbec almost to the sea; its direction is from northeast by north, to southwest by south; and its breadth from Libanus to Antilibanus is guessed to be in few places more than twelve miles, or less than six.”
It seems to be the same with Bicatlebanon, or the valley of Lebanon, ( Joshua 11:17); and with that which Strabo calls the hollow plain; the breadth of which to the sea (he says) is twenty five miles, and the length from the sea to the midland is double that: and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden ; that is, the king from his pleasure house; or it may be understood of the name of some place in Syria, where the kings of it used sometimes to be, and had their palace there, called Betheden; and it seems there is still a place near Damascus, on Mount Libanus, called Eden, as the above traveller says; and Calmet takes it to be the same that is here spoken of: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the Lord ; which last clause is added for the certainty of it, and accordingly it was punctually fulfilled; for in the times of Rezin, which was about fifty years after this prophecy of Amos, though Kimchi says but twenty five, Tiglathpileser king of Assyria came up against Damascus, took it, and carried the people captive to Kir, ( 2 Kings 16:9). The Targum and Vulgate Latin version call it Cyrene, which some understand of Cyrene in Egypt; (see Acts 2:10); but this cannot be, since it was in the hands of the king of Assyria; but rather Kir in Media is meant; (see Isaiah 22:6); which was under his dominion; and so Josephus says f37 , that he carried captive the inhabitants of Damascus into Upper Media.
Matthew Henry Commentary
God's judgments in the latter days. (Joel 3:1-8) The extent of thes judgments. (Joel 3:9-17) The blessings the church shall enjoy. (Joe 3:18-21)
Joel 3:1-8 The restoration of the Jews, and the final victory of tru religion over all opposers, appear to be here foretold. The contemp and scorn with which the Jews have often been treated as a people, an the little value set upon them, are noticed. None ever hardened his heart against God or his church, and prospered long.
Joel 3:9-17 Here is a challenge to all the enemies of God's people There is no escaping God's judgments; hardened sinners, in that day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. Most of the prophet foretell the same final victory of the church of God over all tha oppose it. To the wicked it will be a terrible day, but to the righteous it will be a joyful day. What cause have those who possess a interest in Christ, to glory in their Strength and their Redeemer! The acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour to some, wil be a day of remarkable vengeance to others: let every one that is ou of Christ awake, and flee from the wrath to come.
Joel 3:18-21 There shall be abundant Divine influences, and the gospe will spread speedily into the remotest corners of the earth. Thes events are predicted under significant emblems; there is a day coming when every thing amiss shall be amended. The fountain of this plenty is in the house of God, whence the streams take rise. Christ is thi Fountain; his sufferings, merit, and grace, cleanse, refresh, and make fruitful. Gospel grace, flowing from Christ, shall reach to the Gentil world, to the most remote regions, and make them abound in fruits of righteousness; and from the house of the Lord above, from his heavenl temple, flows all the good we daily taste, and hope to enjoy eternally.
Judgments against the Syrians, Philistines, Tyrians, Edomites, an Ammonites.
--GOD employed a shepherd, a herdsman, to reprove and warn the people Those to whom God gives abilities for his services, ought not to be despised for their origin, or their employment. Judgments are denounce against the neighbouring nations, the oppressors of God's people. The number of transgressions does not here mean that exact number, but many: they had filled the measure of their sins, and were ripe for vengeance. The method in dealing with these nations is, in part, the same, yet in each there is something peculiar. In all ages thi bitterness has been shown against the Lord's people. When the Lor reckons with his enemies, how tremendous are his judgments __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ושׁברתי 7665 בריח 1280 דמשׂק 1834 והכרתי 3772 יושׁב 3427 מבקעת 1237 און 206 ותומך 8551 שׁבט 7626 מבית 1004 עדן 5730 וגלו 1540 עם 5971 ארם 758 קירה 7024 אמר 559 יהוה׃ 3068
