Bible Commentaries

Am. 7:1-9.

The seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters contain VISIONS, WITH THEIR EXPLANATIONS. The seventh chapter consists of two parts. First

(Am 7:1-9):

PROPHECIES ILLUSTRATED BY THREE SYMBOLS: (1) A vision of grasshoppers or young locusts, which devour the grass, but are removed at Amos' entreaty; (2) Fire drying up even the deep, and withering part of the land, but removed at Amos' entreaty; (3) A plumb-line to mark the buildings for destruction. Secondly

(Am 7:10-17):

NARRATIVE OF AMAZIAH'S INTERRUPTION OF AMOS IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE FOREGOING PROPHECIES, AND PREDICTION OF HIS DOOM.

1. showed . . . me; and, behold--The same formula prefaces the three visions in this chapter, and the fourth in

Am 8:1.

grasshoppers--rather, "locusts" in the caterpillar state, from a Hebrew root, "to creep forth." In the autumn the eggs are deposited in the earth; in the spring the young come forth [MAURER].

the latter growth--namely, of grass, which comes up after the mowing. They do not in the East mow their grass and make hay of it, but cut it off the ground as they require it.

the king's mowings--the first-fruits of the mown grass, tyrannically exacted by the king from the people. The literal locusts, as in Joel, are probably symbols of human foes: thus the "growth" of grass "after the king's mowings" will mean the political revival of Israel under Jeroboam II

(2Ki 14:25),

after it had been mown down, as it were, by Hazael and Ben-hadad of Syria

(2Ki 13:3),

[GROTIUS].

2. by whom shall Jacob arise?--If Thou, O God, dost not spare, how can Jacob maintain his ground, reduced as he is by repeated attacks of the Assyrians, and erelong about to be invaded by the Assyrian Pul

(2Ki 15:19, 20)?

Compare

Isa 51:19.

The mention of "Jacob" is a plea that God should "remember for them His covenant" with their forefather, the patriarch

(Ps 106:45).

he is small--reduced in numbers and in strength.

3. repented for this--that is, of this. The change was not in the mind of God

(Nu 2:19; Jas 1:17),

but in the effect outwardly. God unchangeably does what is just; it is just that He should hear intercessory prayer

(Jas 5:16-18),

as it would have been just for Him to have let judgment take its course at once on the guilty nation, but for the prayer of one or two righteous men in it (compare

Ge 18:23-33; 1Sa 15:11; Jer 42:10).

The repentance of the sinner, and God's regard to His own attributes of mercy and covenanted love, also cause God outwardly to deal with him as if he repented

(Jon 3:10),

whereas the change in outward dealing is in strictest harmony with God's own unchangeableness.

It shall not be--Israel's utter overthrow now. Pul was influenced by God to accept money and withdraw from Israel.

4. called to contend--that is, with Israel judicially

(Job 9:3; Isa 66:16; Eze 38:22).

He ordered to come at His call the infliction of punishment by "fire" on Israel, that is, drought (compare

Am 4:6-11),

[MAURER]. Rather, war

(Nu 21:28),

namely, Tiglath-pileser [GROTIUS].

devoured the . . . deep--that is, a great part of Israel, whom he carried away. Waters are the symbol for many people

(Re 17:15).

did eat up a part--namely, all the land (compare

Am 4:7)

of Israel east of Jordan

(1Ch 5:26; Isa 9:1).

This was a worse judgment than the previous one: the locusts ate up the grass: the fire not only affects the surface of the ground, but burns up the very roots and reaches even to the deep.

7. wall made by a plumb-line--namely, perpendicular.

8. plumb-line in . . . midst of . . . Israel--No longer are the symbols, as in the former two, stated generally; this one is expressly applied to Israel. God's long-suffering is worn out by Israel's perversity: so Amos ceases to intercede (compare

Ge 18:33).

The plummet line was used not only in building, but in destroying houses

(2Ki 21:13; Isa 28:17; 34:11; La 2:8).

It denotes that God's judgments are measured out by the most exact rules of justice. Here it is placed "in the midst" of Israel, that is, the judgment is not to be confined to an outer part of Israel, as by Tiglath-pileser; it is to reach the very center. This was fulfilled when Shalmaneser, after a three years' siege of Samaria, took it and carried away Israel captive finally to Assyria

(2Ki 17:3, 5, 6, 23).

not . . . pass by . . . any more--not forgive them any more

(Am 8:2; Pr 19:11; Mic 7:18).

9. high places--dedicated to idols.

of Isaac--They boasted of their following the example of their forefather Isaac, in erecting high places at Beer-sheba

(Am 5:5;

compare

Ge 26:23, 24; 46:1);

but he and Abraham erected them before the temple was appointed at Jerusalem--and to God; whereas they did so, after the temple had been fixed as the only place for sacrifices--and to idols. In the Hebrew here "Isaac" is written with s, instead of the usual ts; both forms mean "laughter"; the change of spelling perhaps expresses that their "high places of Isaac" may be well so called, but not as they meant by the name; for they are only fit to be laughed at in scorn. Probably, however, the mention of "Isaac" and "Israel" simply expresses that these names, which their degenerate posterity boasted in as if ensuring their safety, will not save them and their idolatrous "sanctuaries" on which they depended from ruin (compare

Am 8:14).

house of Jeroboam with . . . sword--fulfilled in the extinction of Zachariah, son of Jeroboam II, the last of the descendants of Jeroboam I, who had originated the idolatry of the calves

(2Ki 15:8-10).

Am. 7:10-17.

AMAZIAH'S CHARGE AGAINST AMOS: HIS DOOM FORETOLD.

10. priest of Beth-el--chief priest of the royal sanctuary to the calves at Beth-el. These being a device of state policy to keep Israel separate from Judah. Amaziah construes Amos words against them as treason. So in the case of Elijah and Jeremiah

(1Ki 18:17; Jer 37:13, 14).

So the antitype Jesus was charged

(Joh 19:12);

political expediency being made in all ages the pretext for dishonoring God and persecuting His servants

(Joh 11:48-50).

So in the case of Paul

(Ac 17:6, 7; 24:5).

in the midst of . . . Israel--probably alluding to Amos' own words, "in the midst of . . . Israel"

(Am 7:8),

foretelling the state's overthrow to the very center. Not secretly, or in a corner, but openly, in the very center of the state, so as to upset the whole utterly.

land is not able to bear all his words--They are so many and so intolerable. A sedition will be the result. The mention of his being "priest of Beth-el" implies that it was for his own priestly gain, not for the king or state, he was so keen.