Amos 8:1-3

THE BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT, Amos 8:1-3.

Under the figure of a basket filled with ripe fruit Jehovah shows the prophet that Israel is ripe for judgment. The picture is chosen (1) because of the similarity in sound between the words translated “summer fruit” Hebrews kayis and “end” Hebrews kes; (2) because of the similarity in the ideas of the two words. The opening formula is the same as in Amos 7:1; Amos 7:4.

Basket The word occurs again only in Jeremiah 5:27 “cage”; it is a general term for any receptacle.

Summer fruit Ripe fruit, ready to be gathered in. On the question see remarks on Amos 7:8. The prophet having replied, Jehovah explains the vision.

The end is come It is close at hand; the time of mercy is past (Amos 7:8).

Amos 8:3 gives a brief and forceful description of the end. Slaughter and mourning will be everywhere. Harper, without sufficient reason, places Amos 8:3 after Amos 8:9.

Songs Expressions of joy and happiness (Amos 8:10; Amos 5:23; Amos 6:5).

Temple If this is the correct rendering the reference must be to the rejoicing accompanying the religious feasts (Amos 5:23). The word may also mean “palace” (so margin R.V.), and the context favors this rendering. If so, comparison should be made with Amos 6:4-5. The above is the common translation of the Hebrew. However, the original presents two peculiarities: (1) A literal translation is, “And the songs of the palace shall howl,” or, wail songs being the subject; but this is a strange construction. The sense is improved but little if songs is made the object, “They shall howl songs of the palace.” (2) The feminine plural ending with the word song is unusual; ordinarily it has the masculine ending. To remove these peculiarities a slight emendation has been suggested, “The female singers of the palace shall howl” (Amos 5:16), that is, for the dead.

In that day The day of the end.

Amos 8:3 b is rendered more accurately in R.V., “The dead bodies shall be many; in every place shall they cast them forth with silence.” The original is even more forceful: “Many the corpses! In every place they are cast forth! Hush!” The tenses in 3b are prophetic perfects; the prophet represents the calamity of the future as already present.

Dead bodies The avenger will do his worst; death and despair will be everywhere (Amos 6:9-10).

They shall cast them forth Literally, he shall cast them forth that is, Jehovah. He strikes the blow through the human agent, and dead bodies are scattered everywhere. The construction may be intended, however, to be understood as impersonal, “one shall cast forth” they shall cast forth they shall be cast forth (G.-K., 144d) From streets and houses the dead bodies are gathered, but there is no time for honorable burial; they are thrown anywhere.

With silence Literally, hush. An interjection, as in Amos 6:10, “Hold thy peace.”