at he would raise up above them from a lower condition, a nation
whom they yet feared not: for so the _Hebrew_ word [Hebrew: mqm] signifies
when applied to men, as in _Amos_ v. 2. 1 _Sam._ xii. 11. _Psal._ cxiii. 7.
_Jer._ x. 20. l. 32. _Hab._ i. 6. _Zech._ xi. 16. As _Amos_ names not the
_Assyrians_; at the writing of this prophecy they made no great figure in
the world, but were to be raised up against _Israel_, and by consequence
rose up in the days of _Pul_ and his successors: for after _Jeroboam_ had
conquered _Damascus_ and _Hamath_, his successor _Menahem_ destroyed
_Tiphsah_ with its territories upon _Euphrates_, because they opened not to
him: and therefore _Israel_ continued in its greatness 'till _Pul_,
probably grown formidable by some victories, caused _Menahem_ to buy his
peace. _Pul_ therefore Reigning presently after the prophesy of _Amos_, and
being the first upon record who began to fulfill it, may be justly reckoned
the first conqueror and founder of this Empire. For _God stirred up the
spirit of _Pul_, and the spirit of _Tiglath-pileser_ King of _Assyria__, 1
_Chron._ v. 20.

The same Prophet _Amos_, in prophesying against _Israel_, threatned them in
this manner, with what had lately befallen other Kingdoms: _Pass ye_, [346]
saith he, _unto _Calneh_ and see, and from thence go ye to _Hamath_ the
great, then go down to _Gath_ of the _Philistims_. Be they better than
these Kingdoms?_ These Kingdoms were not yet conquered by the _Assyrians_,
except that of _Calneh_ or _Chalonitis_ upon _Tigris_, between _Babylon_
and _Nineveh_. _Gath_ was newly vanquished [347] by _Uzziah_ King of
_Judah_, and _Hamath_ [348] by _Jeroboam_ King of _Israel_: and while the
Prophet, in threatning _Israel_ with the _Assyrians_, instances in
desolations made by other nations, and mentions no other conquest of the
_Assyrians_ than that of _Chalonitis_ near _Nineveh_; it argues that the
King of _Nineveh_ was now beginning his conquests, and had not yet made any
great progress in that vast career of victories, which we read of a few
years after.

For about seven years after the captivity of the ten Tribes, when
_Sennacherib_ warred in _Syria_, which was in the 16th Olympiad, he [349]
sent this message to the King of _Judah_: _Behold, thou hast heard that the
Kings of _Assyria_ have done to all Lands by destroying them utterly, and
shalt thou be delivered? Have the Gods of the nations delivered them which
the Gods of my fathers h