Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Amos 7

Introduction

1  The judgments of the grasshoppers,
4  and of the fire are diverted by the prayer of Amos.
7  By the wall of a plumbline is signified the rejection of Israel.
10  Amaziah complains of Amos.
14  Amos shews his calling;
16  and Amaziah's judgment.

Verse 1

Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.
shewed
4,7, 8:1, Jeremiah 1:11-16, 24:1, Ezekiel 11:25, Zechariah 1:20
he
4:9, Exodus 10:12-16, Isaiah 33:4, Joel 1:4, 2:25, Nahum 3:15-17
grasshoppers
or, green worms. Govai, in Arabic gabee, "locusts," probably in their caterpillar state, in which they are most destructive. This is supposed to have been an emblem of the first invasion of the Assyrians.
mowings
Or rather, feedings or grazings, as the people of the East make no hay. This was probably in the month of March, which is the only time of the year that the Arabs to this day feed their horses with grass.

Verse 2

And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
when
Exodus 10:15, Revelation 9:4
O Lord
5, Exodus 32:11,12, 34:9, Numbers 14:17-19, Jeremiah 14:7,20,21, Daniel 9:19, James 5:15,16
by whom shall Jacob arise
or, who of (or for) Jacob shall stand?
Isaiah 51:19, Ezekiel 9:8, 11:13
for
Psalms 12:1, 44:24-26, Isaiah 37:4, Jeremiah 42:2, Zechariah 4:10

Verse 3

The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.
6, Deuteronomy 32:36, 1 Chronicles 21:15, Psalms 106:45, Hosea 11:8, Joel 2:14, Jonah 3:10, James 5:16

Verse 4

Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.
shewed
1,7, Revelation 4:1
called
This is supposed to denote the invasion of Tiglathpileser, which threatened entire destruction.
1:4,7, 4:11, 5:6, Exodus 9:23,24, Leviticus 10:2, Numbers 16:35, Isaiah 27:4, 66:15,16, Jeremiah 4:4, 21:12, Joel 2:30, Micah 1:4, Nahum 1:6, Hebrews 1:7

Verse 5

Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
cease
2, Psalms 85:4, Isaiah 10:25
for
2,3, Isaiah 1:9, Jeremiah 30:19

Verse 6

The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.
Judges 2:18, 10:16, Psalms 90:13, 135:14, Jeremiah 26:19, Jonah 4:2

Verse 7

Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
a wall
2 Samuel 8:2, 2 Kings 21:13, Isaiah 28:17, 34:11, Lamentations 2:8, Ezekiel 40:3, Zechariah 2:1,2, Revelation 11:1, 21:15

Verse 8

And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:
Amos
Jeremiah 1:11-13, Zechariah 5:2
a plumbline
This was an emblem of strict justice; and intimated that God would now visit them according to their iniquities.
I will set
Lamentations 2:8
I will not
8:2, Jeremiah 15:6, Ezekiel 7:2-9, Micah 7:18, Nahum 1:8,9

Verse 9

And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
the high
3:14, 5:5, 8:14
Beer-sheba
Genesis 26:23-25, 46:1, Leviticus 26:30,31
I will
"Fulfilled,"
2 Kings 15:8-10

Verse 10

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.
the priest
1 Kings 12:31,32, 13:33, 2 Kings 14:23,24, 2 Chronicles 13:8,9, Jeremiah 20:1-3, Jeremiah 29:26,27, Matthew 21:23; This was truly a lying prophet; there was not one word of truth in his message to Jeroboam.
hath
1 Kings 18:17, Jeremiah 26:8-11, 37:13-15, 38:4, Luke 23:2, Acts 5:28, 24:5
not
Genesis 37:8, Jeremiah 18:18, Acts 7:54

Verse 11

For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
thus
Jeremiah 26:9, 28:10,11, Acts 6:14
Jeroboam
9, Psalms 56:5, Matthew 26:61
and Israel
6:7,8, 2 Kings 17:6

Verse 12

Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
O thou
1 Samuel 9:9, 2 Chronicles 16:10, Isaiah 30:10
go
2:12, Matthew 8:34, Luke 8:37,38, 13:31, Acts 16:39
eat
1 Samuel 2:36, Isaiah 56:11, Ezekiel 13:19, Malachi 1:10, Romans 16:18, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Peter 5:2

Verse 13

But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.
prophesy
2:12, Acts 4:17,18, 5:28,40
for
1 Kings 12:29,32, 13:1
chapel
or, sanctuary. king's court. Heb. house of the kingdom.

Verse 14

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
neither
1 Kings 20:35, 2 Kings 2:3,5,7, 4:38, 6:1, 2 Chronicles 16:7, 19:2, 20:34
an herdman
1:1, Zechariah 13:5, 1 Corinthians 1:27
a gatherer
Rather, as bolais is rendered by the LXX. and Vulgate, [knizon] vellicans, "a scraping," or a scraper of sycamores; for the fruit does not ripen till it is rubbed with iron combs.
sycamore fruit
or, wild figs.

Verse 15

And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
took
2 Samuel 7:8, Psalms 78:70-72, Matthew 4:18,19, 9:9
as I followed
Heb. from behind. Go.
Jeremiah 1:7, Ezekiel 2:3,4, Luke 24:46-48, Acts 1:8, 4:20, 5:20,29-32

Verse 16

Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
hear
1 Samuel 15:16, 1 Kings 22:19, Jeremiah 28:15-17
Prophesy
13, Isaiah 30:10, Micah 2:6
and drop
Deuteronomy 32:2, Ezekiel 20:46, 21:2

Verse 17

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.
Thy wife
Isaiah 13:16, Jeremiah 20:6, 28:12,16, 29:21,25,31,32, Lamentations 5:11, Hosea 4:13,14, Zechariah 14:2
thy land
Psalms 78:55
die
2 Kings 17:6, Ezekiel 4:13, Hosea 9:3
and Israel
11, Leviticus 26:33-39, Jeremiah 36:27-32

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