Amo 1:13-15 | JFB | STEP | 13. Ammon-- The Ammonites under Nahash attacked Jabesh-gilead and refused to accept the offer of the latter to save them, unless the Jabesh-gileadites would put out all their right eyes ( , &c.). Saul rescued Jabesh-gilead. The Ammonites joined the Chaldeans in their invasion of Judea for the sake of plunder. ripped up ... women with-child-- as Hazael of Syria also did ( ; compare ). Ammon's object in this cruel act was to leave Israel without "heir," so as to seize on Israel's inheritance ( ).

‏ Amos 1:13-15

13. Ammon--The Ammonites under Nahash attacked Jabesh-gilead and refused to accept the offer of the latter to save them, unless the Jabesh-gileadites would put out all their right eyes (1Sa 11:1, &c.). Saul rescued Jabesh-gilead. The Ammonites joined the Chaldeans in their invasion of Judea for the sake of plunder.

ripped up ... women with-child--as Hazael of Syria also did (2Ki 8:12; compare Ho 13:16). Ammon's object in this cruel act was to leave Israel without "heir," so as to seize on Israel's inheritance (Jr 49:1).

14. Rabbah--the capital of Ammon: meaning "the Great." Distinct from Rabbah of Moab. Called Philadelphia, afterwards, from Ptolemy Philadelphus.

tempest--that is, with an onset swift, sudden, and resistless as a hurricane.

day of the whirlwind--parallel to "the day of battle"; therefore meaning "the day of the foe's tumultuous assault."

15. their king ... princes--or else, "their Molech (the idol of Ammon) and his priests" [Grotius and Septuagint]. Is 43:28 so uses "princes" for "priests." So Am 5:26, "your Molech"; and Jr 49:3, Margin. English Version, however, is perhaps preferable both here and in Jr 49:3; see on Jr 49:3.