Amos 7:10-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 7:10-17

One would have expected, 1. That what we met with in the former part of the chapter would awaken the people to repentance, when they saw that they were reprieved in order that they might have space to repent and that they could not obtain a pardon unless the did repent. 2. That it would endear the prophet Amos to them, who had not only shown his good-will to them in praying against the judgments that invaded them, but had prevailed to turn away those judgments, which, if they had had any sense... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 7:10

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel ,.... The Targum calls him the prince or president of Bethel; and the word used signifies both a prince and a priest; and very probably this man had the care of the civil as well as religious matters in Bethel. Aben Ezra styles him the priest of Baal; he was one that succeeded the priests that Jeroboam the son of Nebat placed here, to offer sacrifices to the calf he set up in this place, 1 Kings 12:32 ; who hearing the above three visions of Amos... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 7:11

For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword ,.... Which was not saying truth; for Amos said not that Jeroboam should die by the sword, but that God would raise up the sword against his house or family; nor did Jeroboam die by the sword, but his son Zachariah did: and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land ; this was true; Amos did say this, and he afterwards confirms it. This is the amount of the charge brought against the prophet, which has some truth and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 7:12

Also Amaziah said unto Amos ,.... Either at the same time; or, it may be, after he had waited for the king's answer, and received none; or what did not come up to his expectations and wishes. We have no account of any answer the king returned; who either gave no heed to the representations of the priest, or had a better opinion of, he prophet, and did not credit the things imputed to him; which the priest observing, took another way to get rid of the prophet, and that by flattery: O thou... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 7:13

But prophesy not again any more at Bethel ,.... He might prophesy any where, if he did not there, for what the priest cared, that so his honour and interest were not hurt. The reasons he gave were, for it is the king's chapel ; or "sanctuary" F9 מקדש "sanctuarium", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Mercerus, Junius & Tremellius. Piscator, Drusius, Cocceius. ; where a temple was built for the idol calf, and where the king worshipped it, and attended all other religious service: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 7:14

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah ,.... With much freedom, boldness, and intrepidity, and yet with modesty and humility; not at all moved by his frowns or his flattery: I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son : he was not a prophet originally, or from his youth, as Kimchi; he was not born and bred one; neither his father was a prophet, by whom he could get any instructions in the mystery of prophesying; nor was he a disciple of any of the prophets, or brought up in any... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 7:15

And the Lord took me as I followed the flock ,.... Or "from behind" it F21 מאתרי צאן "de post pecus", Montanus; "de post gregem", Vatablus; "a post gregem", Liveleus. ; a description of a shepherd, such an one Amos was, and in this employ when the Lord called him, and took him to be a prophet; he did not seek after it, nor did he take this honour to himself; by which it appears that his mission was divine, and that he did not enter on this work with lucrative views: thus God took... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 7:16

Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord ,.... Which I have from him concerning thee, and which he has pronounced upon thee and thy family: thou sayest, prophesy not against Israel ; when God has bid me prophesy: and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac ; say nothing against it, though in ever so soft and gentle a manner: it designs the same thing as before, only in different words; and is a prohibition of the prophet to prophesy against the ten tribes that descended... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 7:17

Therefore thus saith the Lord ,.... For withstanding the prophet of the Lord, and forbidding him to speak in his name against the idolatry of Israel, as well as for his own idolatry: thy wife shall be an harlot in the city : either of Bethel or Samaria; either through force, being ravished by the soldiers upon taking and plundering the city; so Theodoret and others: or rather of choice; either, through poverty, to get bread, or through a vicious inclination, and that in a public manner:... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 7:10

Amaziah the priest of Beth-el - The idolatrous priest who had been established by the king to maintain the worship of the golden calves which Jeroboam the elder had set up at this place. Amos hath conspired against thee - This was truly a lying prophet; there is not one word of truth in this message which he sent to Jeroboam. Amos had not conspired against the king - had not said that Jeroboam should die by the sword - and had not said that Israel should be carried away captive, though... read more

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