the priest. The idolatrous priest. Beth-el. Compare Amos 3:14 ; Amos 4:4 ; Amos 5:5 , Amos 5:6 . conspired = formed a conspiracy; the calves being connected with Israel's state policy (1 Kings 12:26-33 ). in the midst, &c. : i.e. openly. Compare Amos 7:8 . bear = endure. read more
"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 his words. For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.""Amaziah ..." Nothing has been seen any more astounding than the argument from this pagan priests' name that he was a true priest of God! "His name (Yahweh is strong) is compounded with Yahweh and... read more
10. priest of Beth-el—chief priest of the royal sanctuary to the calves at Beth-el. These being a device of state policy to keep Israel separate from Judah. Amaziah construes Amos words against them as treason. So in the case of Elijah and Jeremiah (1 Kings 18:17; Jeremiah 37:13; Jeremiah 37:14). So the antitype Jesus was charged (Jeremiah 37:14- :); political expediency being made in all ages the pretext for dishonoring God and persecuting His servants (Jeremiah 37:14- :). So in the case of... read more
Amaziah, who was one of the apostate priests who served at the Bethel sanctuary (cf. 1 Kings 12:26-33), felt that Amos was being unpatriotic in what he was prophesying. So Amaziah sent a message to King Jeroboam II charging Amos with conspiring against the king within the land. He felt that Israel could not afford to endure Amos’ prophesying any longer. Previously internal revolt against a king had sometimes followed a prophet’s pronouncements (cf. 1 Samuel 16:1-13; 1 Kings 11:29-39; 1 Kings... read more
1. The challenge 7:10-13 read more
B. An intervening incident 7:10-17The event described in this pericope evidently followed and grew out of the preceding visions that Amos announced (Amos 7:1-9). Certain key words occur in both sections of the book but not elsewhere in it: Isaac (Amos 7:9; Amos 7:16) and sanctuary (Amos 7:9-11). Also the historical incident is a concrete example of God’s plumb line in operation, but here it judged individuals. The prophet Amos passed the test, but one of the priests of Bethel, Amaziah, failed... read more
Three Visions and an Interruption1-9. The visions. 10-17. The interruption.There are two senses in which the word ’Vision’ may be used of one of the forms of Hebrew prophecy. In the first sense a state of mind closely akin to that of a dreamer is intended: ’I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, I will speak with him in a dream’ (Numbers 12:6). The prophet falls into a kind of ecstasy, and has no control over the pictures which pass before his mind. Every one will remember the... read more
(10) There follows a brief historical interlude of much interest. It shows that the effect of the preaching of the Judæan prophet had been felt in the sanctuary at Bethel and the palaces at Samaria. The chief priest of the Temple, with the characteristic exaggeration of fear and anger, accuses Amos of treason against the house of Jeroboam. read more
5. THE PROPHET AND HIS MINISTRYAmos 7:1-17 - Amos 8:1-4We have seen the preparation of the Man for the Word; we have sought to trace to its source the Word which came to the Man. It now remains for us to follow the Prophet, Man and Word combined, upon his Ministry to the people.For reasons given in a previous chapter, there must always be some doubt as to the actual course of the ministry of Amos before his appearance at Bethel. Most authorities, however, agree that the visions recounted in the... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Amos 7:10-17
Amos and Amaziah (7:10-17)Amaziah the priest heard Amos’s preaching at Bethel, and was furious that he so boldly denounced Israel’s religious practices. He planned to get rid of the unwelcome prophet by accusing him of treason because of his announcements of judgment on the royal house (10-11; see also v. 9).The king apparently took no interest in the priest’s accusations. Amaziah therefore tried to persuade Amos to return to Judah, where people would welcome his prophecies against Israel and... read more