The intercession is the same as in Amos 7:2 , except that the prophet says cease instead of "forgive;" and in effect the tide of war was rolled back from Israel, and Samaria itself was spared for the time. read more
God called to contend by fire - that is, He “called” His people to maintain their cause with Him “by fire,” as He says, “I will plead” in judgment “with him” (Gog) “with” (that is,” by”) pestilence and blood” Ezekiel 38:22; and, “by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh” Isaiah 66:16; and, “The Lord standeth up to plead and standeth to judge the people” Isaiah 3:13. Man, by rebellion, challenges God’s Omnipotence. He will have none of Him; he will find his own happiness for... read more
As our Lord repeated the same words in the Garden, so Amos interceded with God with words, all but one, the same, and with the same plea, that, if God did not help, Israel was indeed helpless. Yet a second time God spared Israel. To human sight, what so strange and unexpected, as that the Assyrian and his army, having utterly destroyed the kingdom of Damascus, and carried away its people, and having devoured, like fire, more than half of Israel, rolled back like an ebb-tide, swept away to... read more
Amos 7:4-6. The Lord God called to contend by fire, &c. This represented a sorer judgment than the former, and, in the opinion of some expositors, denoted the invasion of Tiglath-pileser, who carried a great part of Israel away captive, 2 Kings 15:29, and so was properly represented by a raging fire, which consumed the sea by turning it into vapours, and then devoured a great part of the land. Then said I, O Lord God, cease, I beseech thee, &c. Here the prophet observes, that upon... read more
7:1-9:10 VISIONS OF JUDGMENTGod’s patience before judgment (7:1-9)Farmers paid their taxes by giving the king the first reaping of their harvest. After this a second crop grew up, which provided the main harvest for the people. It was this second crop that Amos, in his vision, saw threatened with destruction from a plague of locusts. If God judged Israel in this way, it might never recover. When Amos pleaded on Israel’s behalf for God’s mercy, God answered his prayer (7:1-3). God later answered... read more
called, &c. = was calling for fire, to contend [with Israel]. did eat up a part . would have eaten up the land. a part. Hebrew. hahelek, with 'eth = the very portion [of the earth given to Israel). Compare Micah 2:4 . read more
"Thus the Lord Jehovah showed me: and, behold, the Lord Jehovah called to contend by fire; and it devoured the great deep, and would have eaten up the land. Then said I, O Lord Jehovah, cease, I beseech thee: how shall Jacob stand? for he is small. Jehovah repented concerning this: This shall not be, saith the Lord Jehovah."No matter how this vision is understood, the meaning of it is exactly that of the preceding vision, namely, great disasters threatening Israel, and yet being averted through... read more
Amos 7:4. The Lord God called to contend by fire— In many places of Scripture war is denoted by fire. We observed, that after the death of Jeroboam the kingdom of Israel was laid waste by civil, and perhaps by foreign wars; for we are not well acquainted with the history of that time. The fire here spoken of was to have dried up the sea, and consumed a great part of the earth, figuratively speaking, had it not been for the prophet, who interposes, and arrests the effect, Amos 7:5-6. The wars... read more
4. called to contend—that is, with Israel judicially (Job 9:3; Isaiah 66:16; Ezekiel 38:22). He ordered to come at His call the infliction of punishment by "fire" on Israel, that is, drought (compare Ezekiel 38:22- :), [MAURER]. Rather, war (Numbers 21:28), namely, Tiglath-pileser [GROTIUS]. devoured the . . . deep—that is, a great part of Israel, whom he carried away. Waters are the symbol for many people (Numbers 21:28- :). did eat up a part—namely, all the land (compare Amos 4:7) of Israel... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 7:4-6
The vision of consuming fire. The prophet's vision goes on, and the situation in it becomes more critical. One woe is averted only for a worse to take its place. The Divine avenging hosts remain in battleline. They return to the attack with renewed vigour. For the fusillade is substituted the booming of the great guns. Escaping as by the skin of their teeth from the wasting locust, incorrigible Israel are met in the prophet's eye by the devouring fire. In connection with this second scene... read more