John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. But seek not Bethel , etc.] Do not go to Bethel, the place where one of Jeroboam’s calves was set up and worshipped, to consult the oracle, idols, and priests there; or to perform religious worship, which will be your ruin, if not prevented by another course of living: nor enter into Gilgal ; another place of idolatry, where idols were set up and worshipped (see Gill on “ Amos 4:4”); and pass not to Beersheba ; a place in the further part of the land of Israel; it formerly belonged to Judah, but was now in the hands of the ten tribes, and where idolatrous worship was practised; (see Amos 8:14); it having been a place where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had dwelt, and worshipped the true God: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity ; that is, the inhabitants of it; they will not be able with their idols and idol worship to save themselves, and therefore go not thither. There is an elegant play on words here f122 , as there is also in the next words: and Bethel shall come to nought ; which also was called Bethaven, the house of vanity, or of an idol which is nothing in the world; and therefore, because of the idolatry in it, should come to nothing, be utterly destroyed, and the inhabitants of it. So the Targum, “they, that are in Gilgal, and worship calves in Bethel.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - The convincing, awakening word must be heard and heeded, as well a words of comfort and peace; for whether we hear or forbear, the word of God shall take effect. The Lord still proclaims mercy to men, but the often expect deliverance from such self-invented forms as make their condemnation sure. While they refuse to come to Christ and to see mercy in and by him, that they may live, the fire of Divine wrat breaks forth upon them. Men may make an idol of the world, but wil find it cannot protect.
Original Hebrew ואל408 תדרשׁו1875 בית אל1008 והגלגל1537 לא3808 תבאו935 ובאר שׁבע884 לא3808 תעברו5674 כי3588 הגלגל1537 גלה1540 יגלה1540 ובית אל1008 יהיה1961 לאון׃205
