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.

Thus — This is the first of five prophetic representations of what was coming upon this people.

The latter growth — The shooting up of the first growth being too luxuriant, they often eat it down with cattle; but if the second growth were eat up, it marred the whole harvest.

Mowed — It is supposed the first mowing of the corn in the blade was for the king's use; and after this the second springing grew up to the harvest.

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.

It came to pass — In the vision.

By whom — How shall any of Jacob escape, if thou dost cast him down?

Verse 3

The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.

Repented — This is spoken after the manner of men.

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 — In vision.

Called — Commanded fire from heaven.

A part — Of the land too.

Verse 7

Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.

By a plumb-line — Strongly and beautifully built.

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:

Set a plumb-line — I will exactly measure the whole ten tribes.

Pass by them — I will no more forbear, but will pull down all that is faulty.

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 places — The temples on high mountains built to idols.

Of Isaac — The seed of Isaac.

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.

In the midst — Openly, and publickly, endeavouring to stir up Israel to sedition or rebellion.

The land — The people cannot bear all his harsh predictions.

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.

Jeroboam shall die — He nowhere said so, but spake of his house distinguished from his person, as verse9.

Verse 13

But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.

The king's court — To which therefore thou oughtest to shew more respect, and not thus to affront the king in his own house.

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:

No prophet — Not originally, or by study, or by any human designation.

An herdman — By breeding and occupation I was and still am, an herdman.

Sycamore fruit — This fruit was good food for man, or cattle.

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.

The house of Isaac — The posterity of Isaac.

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.

In a polluted land — Among the Heathen.

Israel — The ten tribes.