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.
the Lord GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 .
behold . . . lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
formed = was forming.
grasshoppers = locusts. Compare Nahum 3:17 .
the king's mowings. Exacted by the king from the People (1 Kings 4:7 ; 1 Kings 18:1 ). These are the symbols of the army of Amos 6:14 .
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.
by whom shall Jacob arise? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate, read "who shall raise up Jacob'? "
Jacob. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Subject), App-6 , for the whole nation
3.
The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.
The LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
repented. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:36 ). App-92 . Compare Jonah 3:10 .
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.
called, &c. = was calling for fire, to contend [with Israel].
did eat up a part . would have eaten up the land.
a part. Hebrew. hahelek, with 'eth = the very portion [of the earth given to Israel). Compare Micah 2:4 .
5.
Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
6.
The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.
7.
Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
the LORD. One of the 134 passages in which the Sopherim say they altered Jehovah of the primitive text to Adonai ( App-32 ).
made, &c.: i. e [made perpendicular] by a plummet.
plumbline = plummet. Occurs only here.
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. Note this personal touch.
set, &c. i.e. measure [the doings of Israel] with the plummet of righteousness
and judgment. Compare 2 Kings 21:12 .Isaiah 28:17 ; Isaiah 34:11 .Lamentations 2:8 , &c.
pass by them = forgive them.
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.
high places. Used for idolatrous altars, &c.
Isaac . . . Israel. Used only by Amos in this sense. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the nation of Israel. Compare Pe. Psalms 105:9 , Psalms 105:10 . Jeremiah 33:26 , &c.
I will rise against, &c. Fulfilled in 2 Kings 15:10 . Jeroboam. Compare Hosea 1:4 .
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.
11.
For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
Jeroboam shall die, &c. This charge was not true. Compare Acts 17:6-7 ; Acts 24:5 . Note what Amaziah omitted to repeat.
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:
into. Judah. Though belonging to Judah (Amos 1:1 ) Amos was a prophet to Israel.
13.
But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.
chapel = sanctuary, court: or, palace.
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:
a prophet's son. Prophets were not hereditary as priests were. Compare Hebrews 1:1 .
herdman. See notes on Amos 1:1 ,
gatherer = preparer.
15.
And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
took me: i.e., called me Prophets were called by Jehovah; not born prophets, or made prophets by man. See notes on 1 Samuel 10:5 .Hebrews 1:1 .
as I followed, &c. Compare Psalms 78:70 , Psalms 78:71 .
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.
drop not, the. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:2 ). App-92 . Compare Ezekiel 20:46 ; Ezekiel 20:21 , Ezekiel 20:2 .Micah 2:6 , margin
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.
thus saith the LORD. See note on Amos 1:3 ,
be an harlot : i.e. become a victim to the lust of the invader.
land = soil. Hebrew adamah.
divided , &c.: i e. partitioned.
in a polluted land = on polluted (i e. heathen) soil,
forth of = from upon.