Amos 7:1-3

Amos 7:1-Leviticus : . The Vision of the Locusts.— On one occasion the prophet saw ( Amos 7:1) and behold, Yahweh formed locusts at the beginning of the coming up of the “ late spring grass” ( lekesh, RV “ latter growth” ), the grass brought on by the late spring rain ( malkosh, cf. Joel 2:23), and further described here as coming up “ after the king’ s shearing” or “ after the king’ s mowings.” The king’ s mowings may mean ( cf. Driver) that the mowings were taken as tribute by the king. (Ehrlich takes it to mean “ national mowings.” ) The locusts were beginning to work havoc ( Amos 7:2). Then, “ when they would have wholly devoured the herbage of the land,” the prophet interceded with Yahweh, who relented ( Amos 7:3). Thus Amos 7:1-Leviticus : seems to refer to a physical calamity, a plague of locusts ( cf. Amos 7:4).

Amos 7:1 . he formed locusts: read perhaps ( cf. LXX), “ and behold, a brood of locusts” (or, “ of a locust-swarm,” cf. Nahum 3:17).— and, lo, it was the latter growth: apparently a gloss. If original, read yelek (LXX) for lekesh: “ and behold, there were mature young locusts.”

Amos 7:2 . when they . . . land: translated as above. But read probably, “ and when they were making an end of devouring” ( wa-yehi hu’ mekalleh lל’ל kô l) .