This want of rain produced great dearth of water to drink, and persons had to go long distances to procure supplies. Wandered ; literally trembled, staggered, as spent and exhausted by thirst. The word is used in Psalms 59:15 ; Psalms 109:10 . The supply thus used was soon exhausted, and brought no permanent relief. read more
And I, I too have withholden the rain - Jerome, dwelling in Palestine, says, that “this rain, when “three months yet remained until harvest,” was the “latter rain,” of the very greatest necessity for the fields of Palestine and the thirsty ground, lest, when the blade is swelling into the crop, and gendering the wheat, it should dry up through lack of moisture. The time intended is the spring, at the end of April, whence, to the wheat-harvest, there remain three months, May, June, July.” “God... read more
Two or three cities wandered into one city - Those then who were punished, were more than those who were reprieved. The word “wandered” literally, “trembled,” expresses the unsteady reeling gate of those exhausted, in quest of food . They staggered through weakness, and uncertain, amid the general drought, whither to betake themselves. This was done, not in punishment but to heal. God paused, in order to give them opportunity to repent; in deed, His long-suffering only showed to themselves and... read more
Amos 4:6-8. And I also have given you Or, for this cause I have given you, cleanness of teeth An expression signifying a scarcity of food, or a famine. The famine which we read of 2 Kings 8:1, seems to be that which is here referred to. Yet have ye not returned unto me Nevertheless ye have not been brought to a sense of your sins, to any sorrow for them, or to any sincere purpose of amendment. Also I have withholden the rain, when there were yet three months to the harvest At a season... read more
Religion without God (4:4-13)In words of cutting irony, Amos calls the people to the places of worship, encouraging them to continue their zealous but unspiritual religious exercises. The more they do so, the more they will increase their sin. They are corrupt, immoral, ungodly, greedy, lawless and violent, yet they love to make a show of their religious zeal. Amos mocks them by urging them to offer their sacrifices daily (normally, private citizens did this yearly), to offer their tithes every... read more
have withholden , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:22-24 ). piece = portion of land. it. Ginsburg thinks this should be "I". read more
"And I also have withholden, the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered."The disaster in view here is that of drought. The ultimate authority and power for sending either rain or drought is resident not in men but in God. Man finds it absolutely impossible to predict weather even for periods that lie immediately in... read more
"So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah."The efforts of scholars to reduce this chapter to the status of a poem are frustrated by Amos' inclusion here of material which defies such a classification; and, as should be expected, the liberal critics cry, "Interpolation!"[24] However, as many scholars have testified, the Hebrew text of Amos is one of the best preserved of all Old Testament texts; and... read more
Amos 4:7-8. And also I have withholden the rain— These verses apparently refer to the withholding of those rains which filled their reservoirs of water for drinking; and our translators should have used the term dried up, as they did in translating the same word, Job 14:11 instead of withered. It is not to be supposed that their wheat harvest was delayed to the close of July. At present at Aleppo, barley harvest commences about the beginning of May, and the wheat harvest, as well as that, is... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 4:7
The second punishment is drought, as predicted (Le 26:19, etc.; Deuteronomy 28:23 ). When there were yet three months to the harvest, and when rain was most necessary to swell the grain. The season meant is in February and March, when what was called "the latter rain" fell. In the south of Palestine the harvest commenced at the end of April, but in the northern parts it was some weeks later, so that it might be said in round numbers that it took place three months after the latter rain. I... read more