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James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Amos 7:8

"And Jehovah said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumb-line. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumb-line in the midst of my people Israel; I will not again pass by them any more."The direct conversation which Amos here mentions as occurring between himself and the Lord was probably for the purpose of emphasizing the truth that Amaziah later ignored in his message to the king, namely, that the words of denunciation uttered by the prophet were not his words at all, but the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Amos 7:7

Amos 7:7. Upon a wall made by a plumb-line— Literally, Upon a wall of a plumb-line; or, erected by a plumb-line, in order to be perpendicular and firm. God is exhibited in this vision, as erecting, or as repairing Israel, like a wall, that it might not fall into ruin. For the kingdom of Israel had stood hitherto by the providence of God alone, though given to idolatry; and had been repaired under the reign of Jeroboam the second. Afterwards, in the next verse, the Lord denounces that he would... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Amos 7:8

8. plumb-line in . . . midst of . . . Israel—No longer are the symbols, as in the former two, stated generally; this one is expressly applied to Israel. God's long-suffering is worn out by Israel's perversity: so Amos ceases to intercede (compare Genesis 18:33). The plummet line was used not only in building, but in destroying houses (2 Kings 21:13; Isaiah 28:17; Isaiah 34:11; Lamentations 2:8). It denotes that God's judgments are measured out by the most exact rules of justice. Here it is... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Amos 7:1-9

A. Three short visions of impending judgment 7:1-9The three visions in this section are similar and may have followed one another in quick succession. The first two describe methods of divine judgment from which Amos persuaded God to turn aside, and the last one the method He would not abandon to judge Israel. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Amos 7:7

Amos saw a third vision. The Lord was standing beside a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. The wall was probably a city wall rather than the wall of a house. [Note: George Adam Smith, The Book of the Twelve Prophets Commonly Called the Minor, 1:114; Ellison, p. 66.] Niehaus believed Amos saw a wall of tin, symbolic of Assyria’s power, and the Lord standing above the wall judging it. [Note: Niehaus, p. 456. See also Chisholm, Handbook on . . ., pp. 397-98.] A plumb line was a string... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Amos 7:8

The Lord asked the prophet what he saw, and Amos replied that he saw a plumb line. Then the Lord explained that He was about to test Israel as a builder uses a plumb line. The true standard by which He would judge Israel was undoubtedly the Mosaic Law, the covenant that He had given her by which God measured her uprightness (cf. Exodus 19:6). The Lord further announced that He would not spare the Israelites from His judgment any longer; Amos’ prayers for Israel would not turn away His... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 7:1-17

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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Amos 7:7

(7) Wall made by a plumbline—i.e., a perpendicular wall, the stability of the kingdom being represented by the closely-fitting well-jointed stones of a lofty wall. Right in the heart of this strong-built city, the Lord Himself marks the extent of the desolation, the plumb-line being used in dismantling buildings, as well as erecting them (2 Kings 21:13; Isaiah 34:11). read more

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