Amos 8:11-13 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 8:11-14

In these verses is threatened, I. A general judgment of spiritual famine coming upon the whole land, a famine of the word of God, the failing of oracles and the scarcity of good preaching. This is spoken of as a thing at some distance: The days come, they will come hereafter, when another kind of darkness shall come upon that land of light. When Amos prophesied, and for a considerable time after, they had great plenty of prophets, abundant opportunities of hearing the word of God, in season... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 8:11

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God ,.... Which Kimchi interprets of all the days of the second house or temple after Malachi, when prophecy ceased; but it rather has respect to the time of Shalmaneser's carrying captive the ten tribes, when they had no more prophets nor prophecy among them, or any to tell how long their captivity should last, or when it would be better times with them, Psalm 74:9 ; that I will send a famine in the land ; which, in a literal sense, is one of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 8:12

And they shall wander from sea to sea ,.... From the sea of Tiberias, or Galilee; or from the Dead sea, the lake Asphaltites; or from the Red sea, which was to the south of the land of Israel, to the great sea, which is to the west, as Aben Ezra: so the Targum, "from the sea to the west;' that is, to the Mediterranean sea: and from the north even to the east ; proceeding from the south to the west, they shall turn from thence to the north, and so to the east, which describes the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 8:13

In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. After the word, for want of that grain and wine, which make young men and maids cheerful, Zechariah 9:17 ; but, being destitute of them, should be covered with sorrow, overwhelmed with grief, and ready to sink and die away. These, according to some, design the congregation of Israel; who are like to beautiful virgins, as the Targum paraphrases it; and the principal men of it, the masters of the assemblies: or, as others,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:11

A famine in the land - The most grievous of all famines, a famine of the words of Jehovah; a time in which no prophet should appear, no spiritual counsellor, no faithful reprover, none any longer who would point out the way of salvation, or would assure them of the mercy of God on their repentance and return to him. This is the severest of God's judgments on this side the worm that never dieth, and the fire that is never quenched. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:12

They shall wander front sea to sea - From the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea or from west to east, and from north to south, to seek the word of the Lord; to find a prophet, or any person authorized by God to show them the end of their calamities. In this state they shall continue, because they have rejected Him who is the bread of life. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:11

Verse 11 Here now the Prophet fulminates, for he denounces not temporal punishments, but final destruction, and what proves to be an evidence of reprobation, and that is, that God would deprive the Israelites of every light of truth, so that they would wander as the blind in the dark. It is indeed certain, that they had been before this time bereaved of sound doctrine; for falsehoods and superstitions prevailed among them; and we have seen that in the land of Israel the true and faithful... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:12

Verse 12 But it may be here asked, Why does he say that they should be so famished as to run here and there, and wander from sea to sea, from the south even to the east, since this ought to be counted as one of God’s favors; for what more grievous thing can happen to us, than that the Lord should render us stupid and unconcerned? But when we are touched with some desire for sound doctrine, it evidently appears that there is some religion in us; we are not destitute of the Spirit of God, though... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:13

Verse 13 The Prophet, having threatened spiritual famine, now adds, that the people would in every respect be barren and destitute of every good: for I take not thirst here in the same sense as before; but that they should be dried up through the want of all things. It is indeed the worst deprivation when men are parched up with thirst; and this is what the Prophet threatens here. A country may suffer from want of provision, while there is water enough to drink; but when not even this remains,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:1-14

§ 5. In the fourth vision, the basket of summer fruit, the Lord shows that the people is ripe for judgment. Explaining this revelation, Amos denounces the oppression and greed of the chieftains (verses 4-10), and warns them that those who despise the Word of God shall some day suffer from a famine of the Word (verses 11-14). read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 8:11-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 8:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 8:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 8:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:1-14

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