Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Amos is able to pacify Yahweh on two separate occasions, but Yahweh eventually decides to punish the Northern Israelites. Amaziah betrays Amos, and Amos tells him that he and the Israelites will die in exile.
II. Photo
Amaziah berates Amos: “Seer, off with you to the land of Judah! Eat your bread there, and do your prophesying there!” (v. 12b)
III. Important Verses
1-3: This is what my Lord GOD showed me: He was creating [a plague of] locusts at the time when the late-sown crops were beginning to sprout — the late-sown crops after the king’s reaping. When it had finished devouring the herbage in the land, I said, “O Lord GOD, pray forgive. How will Jacob survive? He is so small.” The LORD relented concerning this. “It shall not come to pass,” said the LORD.
6-8: The LORD relented concerning this. “That shall not come to pass, either,” said my Lord GOD. This is what He showed me: He was standing on a wall checked with a plumb line and He was holding a plumb line. And the LORD asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. And my Lord declared, “I am going to apply a plumb line to My people Israel; I will pardon them no more.
12-13: Amaziah also said to Amos, “Seer, off with you to the land of Judah! Earn your living there, and do your prophesying there. But don’t ever prophesy again at Bethel; for it is a king’s sanctuary and a royal palace.”
16-17: And so, hear the word of the LORD. You say I must not prophesy about the House of Israel or preach about the House of Isaac; but this, I swear, is what the LORD said: Your wife shall play the harlot in the town, your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line. And you yourself shall die on unclean soil; for Israel shall be exiled from its soil.”
IV. Outline
1-3. Vision #1: Locusts
1. Amos has a vision of locusts falling upon Israel
2-3. Amos convinces God to abstain from this act
4-6. Vision #2: Fire
1. Amos has a vision of fire consuming Israel
2-3. Amos convinces God to abstain from this act
7-9. Vision #3 and explanation: God will treat Israel like a plumb line
10-11. Amaziah tells Jereboam about Amos’ sedition
12-13. Amaziah tells Amos to return to Judah
14-17. Amos’ response
14-15. God called Amos to prophesy
16-17. Israel will be conquered; Amaziah and its people will die in exile
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Photo taken from http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1189/536844422_f37bd9f5e7_b.jpg
