Lesson12-AmosChapter7
1/14
THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson12,Chapter7
The2mainrolesofabiblicalProphetwere1)tobeanintercessorwhoistospeak
foranddefendthepeopleofIsrael,and2)amessengerfromYehovehwhoisto
announceawarningoracomingjudgment.InAmoschapter7wefindour
Prophetdoingboth.OpenyourBiblestoAmoschapter7.
READAMOSCHAPTER7all
Thefirstthingtoknowaboutchapter7isthatitreallyoughtnotendatverse17
(whereittypicallydoes).Thethoughtprocessofthenarrativethatincludesa
seriesofvisionsthatformsthebasicstructureofchapter7,flowsintowhatour
Biblessayischapter8verses1-3.I’llremindyouthatitwaswellmorethan
1000yearsaftertheBiblewascompletedthatchaptersandversenumberswere
firstaddedtothetext(theyhadneverbeforeexisted),andinfactthefirstof
severalattemptsatdoingthisarenothowwetypicallyseeitorderedinour
Biblestoday.ThestandardwayourEnglishBiblebooksaredividedintochapters
andversestodaydidn’thappenuntilaboutthe16
th
centuryuponthecreationof
theGenevaBible.Therefore,sincemanyarbitrarydecisionsnecessarilywere
madeaboutwheretobeginandendchapterswithinanyBiblebook,andhowto
definethelengthofaverseandtoalsonumberit,wefindthatthecurrent
systemcanattimesconfuseandmislead,withtheresultthatonetimean
ongoingthoughtpatternisprematurelyinterrupted,andanothertimeanew
thoughtpatterngetsaddedtoasectionoftheBiblewhereitdoesn’tbelong.
Amoschapter7,asitisstructuredinmoderntimes,isoneofthesecases.
Nonethelesswe’llstudythischapterjustthewayourBibleshaveitinorderto
maintaincontinuity,andwhenwegettochapter8I’llremindyouthatthefirst3
versesarereallybetterplacedasthefinal3versesofchapter7.
Chapter7amountstoaseriesofvisionsaboutwhatGodintendstodotoIsrael
aspunishmentsfortheirrebellionagainstHim.Amosrespondstothefirst2
visionsofdoombyintercedingforIsraelandGodrelenting.Inthenext2visions
GodinterrogatesAmos,Amosanswers,butGodrespondsthatHewillnotrelent.
ThebottomlineisthatwhileGodindeedwillnotvisituponIsraelsomeofthe
horrorsHeshowsAmosinthese4visions,ontheotherhandIsraelwillstillbe

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
2/14
devastatedbyanenemyandthesurvivorsexiledtoaforeignland.Thechapter
opensimmediatelywithjustsuchavisionofaGod-ordainedcatastrophe.
Thefirstvisionisaboutaninvasionoflocusts.Iwanttopointoutanissuethat
we’llfindwithpracticallyalltranslationsofverse1:itisthatintheoriginal
HebrewGod’sformalname(Yehoveh)iswritten,butitisnotusedinEnglishor
modernHebrewBibles.TheCJB,forinstance,insteadofsayingYehovehsays
AdonaiElohim.Adonai(meaninglord)isaccurate.ButthewordElohimdoesn’t
appearintheoriginalHebrewmanuscripts.MoreusualinEnglishBiblesarethe
words“LordGod”.But,theHebrewwordforGod,whichisYah,alsoisn’tinthe
originalHebrew.Thecorrecttranslation,then,is“LordYehoveh”.
LocustsaretheMiddleEasternversionoftheBlackPlague.Theyareactually
grasshoppersthatcomefromeggshatchedinthespringandthensoonswarmin
giganticnumbersandwereanunstoppableforceofcompletedestructionofthe
foodcropstheyinvaded.Thisverseseemstoimplythattherewere2cuttingsor
cropsinvolved;thefirstcroporcuttinggoingtotheking(Jeroboam)moreorless
asatax.So,itwasthe2
nd
cuttingorcropthatthecommonpeoplerelieduponas
theirownfoodsourceorfromwhichtotrade,barter,orsell.
AccordingtotheHebrewCalendarthislocustinvasionwouldhavebeeninthe
monthsofShebatandAdarandthereforeconsistedmoreofanattackonthe
vegetablecropsratherthangraincrops.ThevisionAmossawofthegrasshopper
invasionseemstooccur,then,atthetimejustAFTERthefirstcropwasalready
safelyharvestedandgiventothekingandjustbeforethesecondwasreadyfor
thepicking.Thistimingwouldhavemeantstarvation(oratleastgreathunger)
formanypeople,andsincesomeoftheirlivestockwerefedbythosehaycuttings,
itwouldhaveincludedalossofthoselivestockthatweredependentonthatfood
source.Inotherwords,sofarasitdirectlyaffectedthecommoncitizen,the
envisionedlocustplagueiscarefullytimedbyYehovehsoastoprovide
maximumdamage.ThislocustdisasterisaGod-directedcurseforIsrael’s
rebellionasspecificallycalledforinTheLawofMoses.
JPS
Deuteronomy28:42Allthytreesandthefruitofthylandshallthelocust
possess.

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
3/14
AmoswouldhaveunderstoodthisvisionascallingfortheNorthernKingdomto
becomeutterlydenudedofvegetation,makingthelivesofhumansandanimals
essentiallyimpossible.Somehowinthisvisionit’sasthoughAmoshasbeen
transportedacrosstimeanddimensionstostandintheverypresenceofGod
suchthatheseesapotentialfuturescenariounfolding.Iunderlinetheterm
potentialbecauseclearlyitwasafutureeventnotyetwritteninstone.In
response,AmospleadsfortheLordtonotbringthiscalamityoflocustsupon
Israel.HispetitionisinterestingbecauseinitaveryspecificHebrewwordisused
todescribewhatheasksofGod:salach.Whilesalachisoftentranslatedas
“forgive”inEnglishBibles,itisbetternuancedtomean“pardon”.Thereareafew
Hebrewwordstranslatedas“forgive”,suchasnasaandkaphar.Butinbiblical
Hebrewsalachiscarriesalittledifferentmeaningbyextendingtheideaof
forgivenesstothepointofcompleteabsolutionofthecrime;apardonso
thoroughthatitwouldbeasthoughtheoffenseneverhappened.Thus,there
wouldbenoneedeithertopunishortoforgive.
Inwhatseemstometobeaknee-jerk,emotionally-chargedplea,Amosblurts
out“howcouldJacob(Israel)survive?”…shouldGodbringthislocustplague
upontheminsuchaferocityashe(apparently)sawinhisvision.Itsostunned
Amosthatherespondsbytakingontheroleofalovingandconcernedmediator
whostandsbetweenGodandHispeople.WhileIcan’tbecertainofit,Ithinkthe
reasonAmosspeaksofIsraelas“Jacob”inthisinstanceistomakeitmore
personal;itismeanttohumanizeIsraelasacollectionoflivingindividualsrather
thanmerelyasapoliticalentity…anationalcollective…calledIsrael.And,since
JacobissuchareveredPatriarchperhapsitisAmosalsocallingonGodto
rememberfromwhencethenationofIsraelcameandthegreatfavorHehas
showntheIsraelitesoverthecenturiesonaccountofJacob’sfaithfulness.
ThereisoneotherpointthatIwanttomake,andperhapsthisisthemost
importantone;despitechapterafterchapterofreadingaboutAmoswarning
Israelabouttheirrapidlyapproachingexileandthedestructionoftheirnation,
clearlytoAmosthewordshespokedidn’tmeanadestructionsototalthatitwas
theendofIsraelasapeoplegroupnordidheseethatasGod’saim.Thatis,
Amoscertainlysawseverepunishmentthat,inreality,wouldperhapsmeanas
muchas90%ofallEphraim/Israelitesbeingkilled.But,eveninexile,atleasta
smallremnantwouldcontinueon,likeseedssavedfromafiretobeusedto
replantatalatertime.Inthelocustinvasionvision,apparentlyAmossaw

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
4/14
somethingsoterriblethathetookittomeanthe100%annihilationofIsraeland
itshockedhimenoughtospontaneouslyspeakouttoYehovehaboutit.Toputit
anotherway:thevisionhesawseemedtoindicatetohimthatIsrael(Jacob)
couldnotpossiblysurvivesuchathing.Thus,hesaystoGod:
JPS
Amos7:2OLordGOD,forgive,IbeseechThee;howshallJacobstand?for
heissmall.
Inverse3,Yehovehrespondsinmercythatitwon’thappenbecauseHehas
essentiallychangedHismind…Hehas“repented”…oratleastthat’sthestandard
waywefinditinourBibles.TheHebrewwordusedtodescribeGod’sreactionto
Amos’spleaisnacham,whichisusuallytranslatedas“repent”.However,
nachammoreleanstowardstheideaofbeingcomfortedasopposedtothe
Christianviewofthetermrepent,whichistochangeone’sattitudeandbehavior
frombadtogood.TheideaofGodrepenting(again,inthesamewayChristians
usethewordrepent)isnotsomethingthatoughttoeverbeappliedtoHim.Itis
myopinionthechallengeliesinthatthisHebrewconceptofnachamisdifficultto
preciselybringacrossfromtheHebrewintoanotherlanguageandcultureandso
somethinggetslostinthetranslation.Weassumethewrongmentalpictureofa
Godwhofirstdecidestodoonething,butthenre-thinksit,andbeingflexibleis
sorryforwhatHeatfirstdeterminedtodo,andsodecidestodosomethingelse
lessdrastic.Rather,IseethedialogueasGodrespondingtoAmosbyreassuring
him…comfortinghim…thatthevisionhesawdidnotmeanthatalocustinvasion
wasgoingtocompletelywipeoutIsraeldowntothelastman…essentially
makingEphraim/Israelextinct.Thus,itisrecordedthatGodsaystoAmos:“It
won’thappen”,withtheideabeingthatIsraelwillnotbecompletelyerasedfrom
theplanetbymeansofaplagueoflocusts(whichiswhatadeeplyshakenAmos
incorrectlythoughtthevisionwastellinghim).
Verse4presentsasecondvision.Itisadifferentvision(fireinsteadoflocusts)
butyettheysharethecommondevastatingresultofdevouringandconsuming
Israelintotality.ThisfirespokenofisGod’swrathandissointensethatitcan
consumeeverythingitcomesintocontactwith.Invokingfireasacurseagainst
IsraelnaturallydrawsfromacursefoundintheLawofMoses.

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
5/14
CJB
Deuteronomy32:22"'Formyangerhasbeenfiredup.Itburnstothedepths
ofSh'ol,devouringtheearthanditscrops,kindlingtheveryrootsofthehills.
NoticehowthisfireburnstothedepthofSheol,inDeuteronomy.HereinAmos,
theparallelterm“Abyss”isused;theymeanessentiallythesamething.The
thingtoalwaysrememberaboutfire(especiallydivinelydirectedfire)asitis
usedintheBible,isthatiteither1)completelypurifies,or2)itcompletely
destroys.Itinherentlymeansacompletepurification(neverpartial)ora
completedestruction(nothingremains).Keepinginmindwhatwejustdiscussed
aboutthelocustinvasionvisionasmeaningtoAmosatotaldestructionofIsrael
downtothelastman,sodidthisvisionoffiremeanthesamething.Yet,wehave
adifficultythattranslatorshaveknownaboutforcenturies.Sincefiremeans
100%destruction(orpurification),andsinceclearlyIsraelisnotgoingtobe
100%wipedout,thenhowarewetounderstandthesenseofthevision?We
readinIsaiah66asimilarthought:
JPS
Isaiah66:15For,behold,theLORDwillcomeinfire,andHischariotsshallbe
likethewhirlwind;torenderHisangerwithfury,andHisrebukewithflamesof
fire.
Becausethecontextofthisversedoesn’tmeantoindicate100%annihilation,
andneitherdoesGodspeakof100%annihilationofIsraelintheBookofAmos,
thenwehavetoseekasolutiontobestexplainwhatwe’rebeingtold.Inmy
opinion,ofthefewchoicesavailabletous,thebestthatsolvesthemost
problemsisthatAmos’svisionisofascorchingheat…aburningheat…that
devoursthelandandthesea(theAbyssisalwaysassociatedwiththesea).We
findthissameconceptinJoelchapter1.Therefore,Ithinkthisverse(when
translatedtoEnglish)oughttoreadsomethinglike“Amos7:4ThustheLord
GODshowedme;and,behold,theLordGODcalledtocontendbyafieryheat;
anditdevouredthegreatdeep,andwouldhaveeatenuptheland.”
Amosrespondsinverse5byaskingGodtostoportocease(dependingonthe
Bibleversion).TheHebrewwordischadal,anditincludestheideaofrefraining
orforegoingofanaction.IthinkthemuchbetterEnglishwordchoiceconsidering
thecontextis“refrain”.So,wehaveAmossayingtoGod:"Oh,LordGOD,refrain!
HowwillJacobsurvive?Heissosmall."InthefirstvisionAmosaskedGodto

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
6/14
pardonIsrael;inthesecondvisionAmosaskedGodtorefrainfrombringinga
fieryheatuponIsrael.PleasecontinuetonoticethatAmosisinterpretingthe
visionasafieryheatthatissowidespreadandseverethatJacob’s(Israel’s)
survival…downtothelastman…becomesimpossible.Godrespondsinverse6to
Amos’sintercessionbysaying:"Thisalsoshallnotbe”.Thewordsimmediately
beforethoseare“TheLORDrepentedconcerningthis”,againusingtheword
nacham,whichIcontendoughttobetranslatedascomfortedorperhaps
consoledanddefinitelynotrepented.Thus,inthissecondvisionthatinvolves
fieryheat,justaswiththefirstvisionoflocusts,Godcomfortsorconsoles
Amos’sterriblefearbyassuringhimthatwhathe’sbeingshowndoesn’tmean
thatnotevenasinglepersonofEphraim/Israelwillbeleftalive.
Verses7and8areamostdifficulttasktounderstand,andtranslatorshave
struggledwiththesewords.Foronereason,theHebrewtexttheyhavetowork
fromisclearlycorrupt.Andsecond,weareverylikelydealingwithsomearcane
Hebrewwordsthathadmeaningsinancienttimesthatwe’rejustnotcertain
about.But,athirdreasonisthatthenexttwovisionsofAmosaresymbolicand
notliteral,andsoitseemsthatAmosisn’tevensureofwhattheyaresymbolic
of.
ThethirdvisionbeginswithYehovehstandingbyawallmadeusingaplumbline.
Atleast,“plumbline”isthemosttypicaltranslation.Theproblemisthatthe
HebrewwordbeingtranslatedintoEnglishasplumblineisanakandtechnicallyit
doesn’tmeanplumbline.I’mgoingtogetabittechnicalforaminuteforthe
benefitofthoseofyouthatliketodelveintothenuancesofbiblicalHebrew.
Whatanakmeansisplummet.Sometimesitreferstoametalweight.Sincea
metalweightisusedatthebottomofaplumblinethentranslatorshaveguessed
thatanakasusedhereindicatesaplumbline.However,therealreadyexisteda
knownHebrewwordforplumblineanditisqav.Wehavediscussedhowsomeof
theancientandobscureHebrewwordshavebecomebetterunderstoodrecently
becauseoftheoutstandingresearchdoneonlanguagecognates;thatis,similar
wordsfromotherancientlanguagestowhichourtargetlanguageisrelated.
Oftenwehaveabetterunderstandingofthosewords’meaningsandsowecan
transferthatsamemeaningtotheHebrewword.SinceHebrewandAkkadianare
cousinlanguages,andthereisanAkkadianwordanakuthatmeanstinorlead,
thenitislikelyHebrewanakandAkkadiananakumeanthesamething:tinor

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
7/14
lead(probablytin).Andthatislikelywhatismeanthereinverse7.Therefore,if
thatisthecasewiththeHebrewanak,thenourversewouldread:“Thisiswhat
Yehovehshowedme.HewasstandingonatinwallandHehadsometininHis
hand…”.So,whatwefindisthatwhilevisionsoneandtwocalloutspecific
punishments(locustsandfieryheat),thisthirdvisionchangesformandis
symbolicbasedonaplayonwords.AsDouglasStuartpointsout:“Thus,what
Amosseesisinonesenseridiculous.Itishardtoimaginewhatatinwallwould
looklikeandwhatshapethetininYahweh’shandwouldtake”.
Here’sthething:weoccasionallyfindinancientNearandMiddleEastdocuments
referencestowallsofmetal;eachtimethisreferenceismeantmetaphoricallyor
assymbolismandnotliteral.So,forinstance,inEgyptSeti1islikenedtoawall
ofbronze,andagreatwallofcopper.RamesesIIissaidtobelikeawallofiron.
Whilewallsofbronzeandironwouldsymbolizeverystrongwalls,thenawallof
tinwouldrepresenttheopposite…averyweakwall.But,there’smore.
Verse8continuesthevision,andGodasksAmoswhathesees.Amosanswers
“tin”.Nowthatthiswordanak(tin)hasbeenused3times(andtothispointit
reallymakeslittlesense),we(thereadersorhearers)arereadyfortheplayon
words(thepun,ifyouwould)toshowitself.TheHebrewwordforgroaningor
moaningwhenspokensoundsnearlyidenticaltoanak:itisanaq.Althoughnot
certain,itisbelievedthatthewaythewordformoanwasvocalizedwasnaq.So,
whensomeonereadandspokethesewordsitwouldhavebeennaqandanak,
andnowwehaveourwordplay.Moaningisoftenassociatedinthewritingsof
theProphetswithcomingpunishments.Citywallsmadeoftininsteadofstone
(somethingfoolishthatwouldneverhavehappened)wouldhavebeensoft,
useless,andeasilybreechedbytheenemy.Thus,theideaisthatverses7and8
aresymbolicofthemoaningandgroaningofIsraelastheycomeface-to-face
withtheconsequencesoftheirrebellionagainstGod,andthedefensesoftheir
citywallsagainstinvadersthattheyweresurewereaswallsofironareactually
asthoughtheyweremadeoftin.
Unlikeinthefirst2visionswhenGodconsoledorcomfortedAmos,hereinthe
thirdvisionGodoffersnocomforttoAmos.Whathasbeensymbolically
representedinthevisionwillcomeabout.Whatissymbolizedistheeasy
breechingofEphraim/Israel’scitywallsbyaninvadingarmy,andtheresultant

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
8/14
moaningandgroaningbythecityresidentsastheyareputtothesword.God
saysthat“Iwillneveragainoverlooktheiroffenses(Amos7:8CJB)”.The
Hebrewwordthatisusedheretospeakof“overlooking”offenseisabar,andit
moremeanstopassbyortopassover.Godhas,foralongtime,passedoveror
byIsrael’soffensesagainstHim…thatis,Hehaskickedthecanofpunishment
downtheroad,hopingforIsraeltocometotheirsensesandchange…butno
more.Thedayofreckoningisabouttoarriveanditwillnotbedelayednorwill
theblowbesoftened.
Ihavelittledoubtthatwe’veonlyscratchedthesurfaceonallthat’stakingplace
inthisthirdvision,andthatthereismoremeaningoriginallyintendedherethan
whatwehavebeendiscussing;althoughIdon’tknowwhatitis.Yet,that’sthe
natureofmorethanafewchallengingbiblicalpassagesthatwerewrittenforan
ancientpeoplewhoDIDunderstandtheintent.
Verse9openssomewhatcuriously;itemploysthenameofIsaac.Isaac,Jacob’s
father,getsmentionedIthinkmoreforpoeticvaluethanforanysubstantial
reason.“ThehighplacesofIsaac…thesanctuariesofIsrael”representatypical
Hebrewpoeticcouplet.Themessagebeinggivenisthatregardlessofthegreat
andloftyplacethatthePatriarchsIsaacandJacobholdbeforeGodandbefore
Israel,nonethelesstheentirereligiousestablishmentofIsraelwillbebrought
down.And,alongwithit,theroyallineofKingJeroboam…hisdynasty…willbe
broughttoanend.So,everythingthatrepresentstheleadershipof
Ephraim/Israel…theirreligionandtheirhistoricalmonarchy…willbenomore.
GodsaysHewillattackJeroboambymeansofthesword.Nearlyalwaysinthe
OldTestament,whenpunishmentissaidtobebroughtbythesworditisdueto
aseriousviolationagainsttheCovenantofMoses.Thisisemphasizedwhenthe
Lordsays“Iwillrise”againstthehouseofJeroboam.Yehoveh,personally,will
punishthemonarchyofIsraelfortheirrebellionagainstHim.Israel’skingswere
torulerighteously,asGod’sappointedrepresentativesonearth.Israel’skings
areoftencalledintheBible“sonsofGod”,soclosewastheirrelationship
supposedtobe.Jeroboam,however,wastheepitomeofaking’sunfaithfulness
asheruledashispaganneighborsruled,andworshippedashispaganneighbors
worshipped,ratherthanastheTorahsaidheshouldrule.

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
9/14
Atverse10apauseinthevisionsoccurs.Here,aconfrontationofsortshappens
betweentherecognizedheadofthereligiousestablishmentofIsrael(Amaziah)
andthecurrentrepresentativeofGodonearth(Amos).Veryquicklythe
confrontationturnspoliticalinnature.Amaziah,nodoubtthechiefpriestof
Israel’sreligiouscult,sendsalettertothecurrentreigningkingJeroboamII.In
thisletterheexploitsaveryexplosiveaccusatorywordthatanykinginanyera
wouldhavetogiveearto:conspiracy.Amosisaccusedofconspiringagainst
KingJeroboam,inherentlymeaningtofomentarebellionforthepurposeofa
changeofgovernmentleadership.
ThesewordswouldbeespeciallysensitivetoKingJeroboamsincehisown
dynastythatbeganwithhisancestorKingJehuwastheresultofaprophetof
God(Elisha)incitingaconspiracytooverthrowthedynastyofOmri.Itmight
soundstrangetoimagineoneoftheBible’sgreatProphetstogetsoinvolvedin
Israel’spoliticsastofomentarebellionagainstthesittingIsraeliteking,butit
didhappenandithappenedatGod’scommand.So,precedentforithadbeen
established.ProphetswieldedseriouspowerinancientIsrael.Here’sthestoryof
Elishaincitingrebellionasfoundin2
nd
Kings.
CJB
2Kings9:1-10Elishatheprophetsummonedoneoftheguildprophetsand
saidtohim,"Preparefortraveling,takethisflaskofoilinyourhandandgoto
Ramot-Gil'ad.
2
Whenyougetthere,lookforYehuthesonofY'hoshafat,theson
ofNimshi.Enter,havehimstepawayfromhiscompanions,andtakehimtoan
insideroom.
3
Thentaketheflaskofoil,pouritonhishead,andsay,'Thisiswhat
ADONAIsays:"IhaveanointedyoukingoverIsra'el."'Afterthat,openthedoor;
andgetawayfromthereasfastasyoucan."
4
Sotheyoungprophetleftfor
Ramot-Gil'ad.
5
Whenhearrived,hefoundtheseniorarmyofficerssittingthere.
Hesaid,"Ihaveamessageforyou,commander."Yehuasked,"Forwhichoneof
us?""Foryou,commander,"hesaid.
6
Yehugotupandwentintothehouse.Then
theprophetpouredtheoilonhisheadandsaidtohim,"ThisiswhatADONAIthe
GodofIsra'elsays:'IhaveanointedyoukingoverthepeopleofADONAI,over
Isra'el.
7
YouwillattackthehouseofAch'avyourmaster,sothatIcanavenge
thebloodofmyservantstheprophetsandofalltheservantsofADONAI,blood
shedbyIzevel.
8
TheentirehouseofAch'avwillperish;IwillcutofffromAch'av
everymale,whetheraslaveorfreeinIsra'el.
9
IwillmakethehouseofAch'av
likethehouseofYarov'amthesonofN'vatandlikethehouseofBa'shatheson

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
10/14
ofAchiyah.
10
Moreover,thedogswilleatIzevelinthedumping-groundof
Yizre'el,andtherewillbenoonetoburyher.'"Thenheopenedthedoorandfled.
AlthoughAmaziah’saccusationagainstAmoswasn’tentirelytrue(Amoswasnot
conspiringwithotherstooverthrowJeroboam),Jeroboamdidhaveeveryreason
tobelieveitmayhavebeentrue.Afterall,consideringthelongseriesofdiatribes
inAmos’spropheciesaboutthewickedgovernmentleadershipofIsraelthatwas
leadingthenationintocertaindestruction,andalsoabouttheblasphemous
leadershipofthestatereligionthatwasheadquarteredinBethelandledatthis
timebyAmaziahwho,inturn,letthepeopleintoidolatry,itisnowonderthat
boththePriestofBethelandKingJeroboamwouldbelievethataconspiracyto
rebelisexactlywhatAmoswasdoing.Amos,indeed,wasprophesyingthatboth
thePriestofBethelandKingJeroboamweregoingtobeoverthrown;butitwould
notbeanyIsraeliterivalorarebellionofthepeople,butratheritwouldbeat
God’shandthatitwouldhappenandthatthenewgovernmentwouldbeof
foreignenemies.
Althoughwe’renottold,verylikelyAmaziahknewaboutAmosfirsthand.Italso
isprobablethatAmosdidmuchofhisprophesyingatBethel.Itisequally
probablethatinverse12,whenAmaziahaddressesAmos,hedoesso
face-to-face.HetellsAmostostopprophesyinghere,andinsteadtogobackto
Judahtoearnhismoneyfromprophesying.Indeed,inthateraprophets
(legitimateandillegitimate)werepaidbyapatrontoprophecy.I’msureitwas
especiallygallingtoAmaziahforaprophetfromtheSouthernKingdomofJudah
tohavethenervetocomenorthandprophecyterriblethingsagainst
Ephraim/Israelrightinthemiddleoftheirreligiouscenternoless!
Verse13makesitclearthatBethelwastheroyallyauthorizedplaceofreligious
practicefortheNorthernKingdom;itwasJeroboam’sreplacementofJerusalem.
Thereisalsoanotherfactoratplay.Atthistimeinhistory,Ephraim/Israelwas
wealthyandinternationallyadmired,andseenasaplaceofsophisticationand
progressivethinking.Judah,ontheotherhand,wasviewedasaplacepopulated
bysimplecountryhicks,wheretheancientreligionoftheHebrewswasstill
practicedinaconservativewayasithadbeenforcenturies.Itisastrange
phenomenonthathasexistedformillennia,Isuppose,thatitisgenerally
believedamongasociety’selitesthatonlytheprimitiveandunintelligent

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
11/14
worshipandobeyGodaccordingtothelongexistingwaysandcommandsHe
establishedineraspast.Itseemsthatwiththeriseinwealthandworldly
knowledge,theaccumulationofopulentmaterialpossessionsasagoal,the
desireoftheelitestobeinternationallyconnectedandacceptedandadmired,
andabeliefthatourhumanintelligenceisnowsogreatthatitdictatesthatwe
havetheright(ifnottheduty)tocontinuallyre-makeourmorals,ethics,and
faithtoreflecttheever-changingwantsandpleasuresofouradvancingsocieties.
Therefore,thosewhoembracesuchadvancesatthesametimetendto
automaticallyshunthosewhocontinuetobelieveinandpracticethemorals,
ethics,andfaithasoriginallyestablished.Weseethissortofattitudeinliving
colorinourmodernworld,today,asthroughouttheWestabattleforthesoulsof
nationsheatsup.Therefore,itoughtnotbetoohardforustounderstandhow
progressiveEphraim/IsraelviewedconservativeJudah(andwhenIspeakof
progressiveandconservativeImeanthatinanacademicwayandnotinpolitical
terms).ThisworldviewmadeitallthemorechafingforAmaziahtohaveto
listentotheprophetfrombackwardJudahcondemntheprogressivewaysof
Ephraim/Israel,andespeciallywhenitwashappeningrightthereatthecenterof
Israel’sreligiouselitewherethekinghimselfwouldworship.
AmosrespondstoAmaziahinverse14bytellinghimthatheisnotatrainedguild
prophet.Thatis,beingaprophetisn’thisprofession.Ratherhisidentityisasa
sheepbreederandgroweroffigs.Thereismuchcontroversyaboutthisverse
andthenext.Thewording,whenreadinHebrew,isactuallyratherambiguous.
MostmodernEnglishversionsglossoverthisambiguityandinsteadtakethe
standardstanceandmoveon.Theissueisthis:thewordingcouldsaythatAmos
deniesthatheisaprophet…butthenthatcontradictswhathesaysnext.Orit
couldsayheisaprophet,butnotaclassicallytrainedone.Orthatalthoughhe
wassenttoprophesyhedoesn’tactuallycomeasanofficialprophet.Whatwe
canknowforcertainisthatAmosmakesitcleartoAmaziahthathedoesn’tmake
hislivingbymeansofdeliveringmessagesfromGodandgettingpaidforit.
Ratherthanspendagreatdealoftimewiththisconundrum,eventhoughI
wantedyoutoknowthatthisdifficultylegitimatelyexists,Ifeelprettyconfident
inunderstandingthispassagetosaysomethinglikethis:“Yes,Iamaprophet,
butI’mnotamemberofaprophetguild”.Or,“Iamaprophet,justnota
professionallytrainedprophet”.Ibelievethatmyassertionisbacked-upbywhat
followsinverse15.

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
12/14
Inverse15AmosexplainsthatYehovehtookhimawayfromhisoccupationof
sheepbreedingandfigcultivating,andsenthimtoprophesytothepeopleof
Ephraim/Israel.Thatis,hiswasasuddenandunexpecteddivinecallingandnot
anoccupationofchoice.ThisisverymuchinthemoldofwhatGodsaidwhenhe
chosetheshepherdDavidtobekingoverIsrael.
CJB
2Samuel7:8
8
"ThereforesaythistomyservantDavidthatthisiswhat
ADONAI-Tzva'otsays:'Itookyoufromthesheep-yards,fromfollowingthe
sheep,tomakeyouchiefovermypeople,overIsra'el.
Biblicallyspeaking,theofficesofkingandprophetweretobeaspecificcalling
fromGodandnotmerelyaprofessionalpositiononeseekstooccupy.Inthe
Torahwereadthis:
CJB
Deuteronomy17:14-15
14
"WhenyouhaveenteredthelandADONAIyour
Godisgivingyou,havetakenpossessionofitandarelivingthere,youmaysay,
'Iwanttohaveakingoverme,likealltheothernationsaroundme.'
15
Inthat
event,youmustappointaskingtheonewhomADONAIyourGodwillchoose.He
mustbeoneofyourkinsmen,thiskingyouappointoveryou-youareforbidden
toappointaforeigneroveryouwhoisnotyourkinsman.
AfewverseslaterinDeuteronomywealsoreadthis:
CJB
Deuteronomy18:15
15
"ADONAIwillraiseupforyouaprophetlikemefrom
amongyourselves,fromyourownkinsmen.Youaretopayattentiontohim,
SpeakingforGod,operatingonHisbehalf,wasalwaysmeanttobemoreofa
divinecallingcomingoutofHeaven…individualbyindividual…thanitwasa
trainedprofessionatanacademyorguild.Thatisnottosaythatastheworld’s
populationhasgrown,andastheHebrewfaithhasspreadtoallpartsofthe
world,thatprofessionaltrainingfornewfaithleadersisn’tneeded.Orthatto
makeitafull-timeoccupationissomehowwrong.Rather,thedefiningissueis
abouthowoneviewsitandonwhatbasisonemakesthedecisiontoserve.Isit
aboutseekingastablejobthatpayswellenough?Wantingacomfortable
workingenvironmentaroundnicepeople?Anaimtoearnalivingthatdoesn’t

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
13/14
requiretoomanyhoursortoomuchhardwork?Or(asitwasmuchmoresonot
longago),apersonoftheclothisgivenatitlethatisadmiredandrespectedand
givesoneauthorityandspecialstandinginhis/hercommunity?Alternatively,do
youfeelthatGodistuggingatyouandcallingyououttoserveHiminaspecial
way?AwaywhichmayNOTbringwithitsecurityorsteadyhours.Awaythatis
fardifferentfromanythingyouindeedhavebeentrainedtodo,orevery
experienced,andsoit’sabitofascarythought?Awayforwhichyouknowgoing
inthatyouaretotallyunqualified?Amosisofthelatterandnottheformer.Amos
wasn’tlookingtobeapaidprophet,andverylikelywasquitesuccessfuland
comfortableatsheepbreedingandtendinghisfigtrees.Iimagineitnever
occurredtohimthathewouldbecomeofprophetofYehoveh.Althoughwe’renot
told,itseemsthathissuddenchangeofdirectionhappenedwithouthimseeking
it,wantingit,orneedingit.Rather,AmoswasmerelyobedienttoGod’s
unexpectedcall.GodtoldAmostogoandprophesytoHispeople,andhedid.
Verses16and17putsAmosontheoffensive.He’slistenedtothepompous
Amaziahorderhimtostopprophesying,andnowAmostellsAmaziahthereality.
ThisrealityisexplainednotbyAmos’swords,butratherbyGod’soracle.Forthe
crimeofAmaziahattemptingtomuzzleYehoveh’sprophet,theLordsays:
CJB
Amos7:17'Yourwifewillbecomeawhoreinthecity,yoursonsand
daughterswilldiebythesword,yourlandwillbeparcelledoutwithameasuring
line,youyourselfwilldieinanuncleanland,andIsra'elwillcertainlybeexiled
fromtheirland.'"
Ithinkwecouldrightfullycallthis“beingreadtheriotact”.Amaziahhasproven
himselftobeasuppressorofGod’struth.Heprefershismanmadereligionand
allitsaccompanyingdoctrinestoGod’sWord.Therefore,5cursesareleveled
againstAmaziah.Thefirstisdirectedathiswifewhowillbeforcedintoshameful
prostitutioninordertosurvive.ThesecondaimsatAmaziah’schildren;theywill
dieviolently.Whilelosingachildisdevastating,therealityespeciallyinBible
timeswasthatlossofallofone’schildrenmeansthefamilybloodlinecomesto
anend.Third,Amaziah’slandwillbetakenfromhimanddividedup.Losingall
hispropertymeanshehasnoinheritancetopassalong.Fourth,Amaziahhimself
isgoingtodieinexileonuncleanforeignsoil.Uncleanlandmeansanyplace
whereGodisn’t.Recallthatthebeliefinthaterawasthatgodsoperatedonly

Lesson12-AmosChapter7
14/14
withinspecificterritorialboundariesandhadnopowerorinfluenceoutsideofit.
So,Amaziah’sgodwouldn’tbepresentwithhiminexile,andthereforethevery
landonwhichheresidedwouldberenderedunclean.Andfifth,Amaziahwillbe
deportedalongwiththesurvivingcommonfolksofIsrael.
StillatthispointinAmos’sprophesyinghehasyettoidentifytheforeigninvader,
theplacetowhichIsraelwillbeexiled,orexactlywhenthisisallgoingtocome
about.
We’llmoveintochapter8nextweek,beginningwithAmos’sfourthvision.