Amos Chapter 7
From The Open Bible Project
7:1 Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: and behold, he formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and behold, it was the latter growth after the king's harvest.
- (a) To devour the land: and he alludes to the invading of the enemies.
- (b) After the public commandment for mowing was given: or as some read, when the kings sheep were shorn.
7:2 It happened that, when they made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, "Lord Yahweh, forgive, I beg you! How could Jacob stand? For he is small."
7:3 Yahweh relented concerning this. "It shall not be," says Yahweh.
- (c) That is, stopped this plague at my prayer.
7:4 Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me and behold, the Lord Yahweh called for judgment by fire; and it dried up the great deep, and would have devoured the land.
- (d) Meaning, that God’s indignation was inflamed against the stubbornness of this people.
7:5 Then I said, "Lord Yahweh, stop, I beg you! How could Jacob stand? For he is small."
7:6 Yahweh relented concerning this. "This also shall not be," says the Lord Yahweh.
7:7 Thus he showed me and behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.
- (e) Signifying that this would be the last measuring of the people, and that he would defer his judgment no longer.
7:8 Yahweh said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel. I will not again pass by them any more.
7:9 The high places of Isaac will be desolate, the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."
7:10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.
- (f) That is, when Amos had prophesied that the king would be destroyed: for the wicked priest more for hatred he had for the Prophet than for love toward the king, thought this accusation sufficient to condemn him. However, only what the Prophet said could take place.
7:11 For Amos says, 'Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.'"
7:12 Amaziah also said to Amos, "You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
- (g) When this instrument of Satan was not able to accomplish his purpose by the king, he tried by another practice, that was, to scare the Prophet, that he might depart, and not reprove their idolatry there openly, and so hinder his profit.
7:13 but don't prophesy again any more at Bethel; for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a royal house!"
7:14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs;
- (h) Thus he shows by his extraordinary calling, that God had given him a charge, which he must necessarily execute.
7:15 and Yahweh took me from following the flock, and Yahweh said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
7:16 Now therefore listen to the word of Yahweh: 'You say, Don't prophesy against Israel, and don't preach against the house of Isaac.'
7:17 Therefore thus says Yahweh: 'Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line; and you yourself shall die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.'"
- (i) In this way God used to approve the authority of his Prophets, by his plagues and judgments against those who were malicious enemies as in (Jeremiah 28:12-17) See , as this day he does against those that persecute the ministers of his Gospel.
