Bible Commentaries
Amos 7

Verses 1-9

Amo 7:1-9

Amos is showed Three Visions of God’s

Judgment against Israel (Amos 7:1-9):

“Thus the Lord Jehovah showed me: and, behold, he formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings. And it came to pass that, when they made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord Jehovah, forgive, I beseech thee: how shall Jacob stand? For he is small. Jehovah repented concerning this: it shall not be, saith Jehovah” (Amos 7:1-3).

The Lord had “showed” Amos through visions of divine revelation judgments that were to come upon Israel for her wickedness. The first vision indicated that God would punish the people of the land by taking away all the grass, by means of locusts, that the cattle and horses fed on. Amos petitions the Lord in prayer that this would not be done to Israel based upon their littleness in comparison with the power of God. Amos said, “O Lord Jehovah, forgive, I beseech thee:” God heard the prayer of Amos and it repented Him to perform such actions (i.e., he changed his mind).

“Thus the Lord Jehovah showed me: and, behold, the Lord Jehovah called to contend by fire; and it devoured the great deep, and would have eaten up the land. Then said I, O Lord Jehovah, cease, I beseech thee: how shall Jacob stand? For he is small. Jehovah repented concerning this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord Jehovah” (Amos 7:4-6).

Again, the Lord “showed” Amos a divine vision of Israel being destroyed by fire. The destruction of the fire would run “deep” within Israel. Amos, once again, petitions the Lord in prayer that this disaster upon the land and people of Israel would not take place. Amos explains that Israel is small in comparison to Jehovah’s mighty power. The Lord hears Amos’ prayer and it repents Him that he would do such a thing.

“Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand. And Jehovah said unto me. Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumb-line. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumb-line in the midst of my people Israel; I will not again pass by them anymore; 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” (Amos 7:7-9).

This is now the third vision that Amos has been showed. Amos beheld the Lord standing beside a wall that had been made perfectly vertical by use of a plumb-line. A plumb-line is a string with a weight attached at the end. The weight hangs suspended from a measuring device (such as a tripod) and is used to determine the absolute vertical over any given point. Such a device may be used to calculate elevations in surveying land. Amos sees the Lord standing next to a wall with a plumb-line in His hand.

The Lord then asks Amos what it is that he sees. Amos replies to the Lord by saying that he sees a plumb-line. God thereby answers Amos by saying that He will place a plumb-line in the midst of the people as if to check or measure the verticality of each person. Those who do not measure up to the vertical wall will be judged unworthy of His blessings.

The plumb-line, in this third vision, represents God’s laws. God had made Israel upright (i.e., vertical) by use of the law yet many had transgressed it. Israel is made to be measured by the vertical wall and what the Lord determines is that they are far off from the true standard that has been set in His laws. Like Daniel, who interpreted the hand writing on the wall to mean that God’s people had been weighed in the balance and found wanting, even so Amos has seen God’s measuring of His people (see Daniel 5:27).

Note that Amos does not pray to God on this occasion so that His judgments would not pass against Israel. What can one say when the standard of truth has exposed a people’s error? Amos knew that the standard never lies and thereby the people stand condemned. The Lord pronounced the punishing sword upon the wicked house of Jeroboam (king of Israel).

Verses 10-17

Amo 7:10-17

Amaziah’s conversation with Jeroboam and Amos
(Amos 7:10-17)

“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” (Amos 7:10).

Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, had gained intelligence of Amos’ words of prophecy against Jeroboam, i.e., Jeroboam’s house would die by the sword. The priest seems to urgently make his way to the king and reveal Amos’ “conspiracy” against the king of Israel. Amos’ words of divine revelation were words that stung the priest of Bethel and pronounced condemnation upon the king of Israel. Hatred for those who spoke truth and exposed error is now exemplified (cf. Amos 5:10).

“For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be let away captive out of his land. Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thou away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: but prophesy not again any more at Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a royal house” (Amos 7:11-13).

Amaziah tells Jeroboam all that Amos has said against the king and his house. Amos had prophesied that the king and his house would die by the sword and that the nation would be led captive by foreigners. These words of doom were more than the king or Amaziah the priest could bear. Rather than changing their unlawful works they request that Amos changes his location of doomsday prophecy. Amos had been prophesying in the city of Bethel (a center for idolatrous worship / cf. Amos 3:14). The prophet’s words not only affronted the king but the entire nation. Amos’ words were contrary to the lifestyle of all. Such a state indicates how far from the plumb-line of God’s law they had erred (both in mind and actions). The priest thereby speaks to Amos and asks that he leave. Why not go to Judah and annoy them? (see Amos 2:12)

“Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was a heardsman, and a dresser of sycamore-trees: and Jehovah took me from following the flock, and Jehovah said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel” (Amos 7:14-15).

Amos responds to Amaziah’s request that he go to Judah to prophecy. Amos reveals to Amaziah that his work in Israel is of divine instruction. Shall the prophet obey God or Amaziah’s request to leave? Amos was no prophet or a prophet’s son yet God called him to do the work of a prophet to the nation of Israel. When God authorizes a work no one may default in the service.

“Now therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac; therefore thus saith Jehovah: Thy wife shall be a 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 thyself shalt die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land” (Amos 7:16-17).

Amos, with a spirit of boldness, openly declares Amaziah’s folly. To tell one not to do something that God commands is the height of error. Note that God’s fury will be poured out not only upon the land and people of Israel but upon Amaziah. Due to the wicked advise Amaziah gave to Amos he would die in an unclean land. Amaziah’s sons and daughters would fall by sword. Lastly, Amos tells the erring priest that God would make his wife a harlot in the city. Note the bold spirit of Amos the man of God. We would do well to take such a firm stand against the wicked today who condemn us for following God’s laws. Let us rise up and address these men and women to their face rather than fearing them. If the wicked tell me that I do not have to be baptized to be saved let me pronounce woe unto their soul for so long as they hold such an erring view. If the wicked tell me that I do not have to call one a false teacher who teaches false doctrines then let me pronounce woe upon their soul as they hold to such erring views. If the wicked tell me that I will not be condemned even though I am disobedient then let me pronounce woe upon their soul as thy hold to such erring views. If the wicked tell me to do anything contrary to God’s laws let me proclaim that it is better to obey God than men (cf. Acts 5:29).