Amos 8

Chap. VIII. Ver. 1—14. A fourth vision representing the near approach of Israel’s ruin.—A basket of ripe “summer fruits,” here represents, in one view, Israel’s ripeness for ruin, and the near approach of God’s vindictive judgments. The Prophet then proceeds to reprove them for their oppression and injustice, which appears to have been their ruling sin, and to have eaten up the vitals of their religion; so that, even while they were engaged in public worship, they were anxious for it to be over; and were ready to take every advantage of the poor to enrich and aggrandize themselves. The Prophet then foretels, that in the time of one of their solemn festivals, the sky should be darkened by a solar eclipse, (in those days thought ominous,) which should turn their joy into mourning, and be a sign of the calamities here predicted.

He concludes with threatening a famine of the word of God, which they now made so light of, as to persecute the Prophet by whom it was delivered. Abp. Usher states that there was, about eleven years after Amos prophesied, a great eclipse of the sun, at the feast of tabernacles, which may be here alluded to; but the passage appears to us chiefly to refer to Israel’s political decline as a nation, while Judah still subsisted for full 150 years longer, and a great part of that time with much glory, particularly during the reigns of Hezekiah and Josiah.

Notes on the verses

Chap. VIII. Ver. 1. A basket of summer fruit.—Newcome, * Of late summer fruits;” by which we understand, such as had remained to nearly the end of the season, and were full ripe, and fast approaching to decay; an apt representation of Israel at this period. F Ver. 2. End is come.—(There is here not only an allusion to the nature of the summer fruit, which must be eaten as soon as gathered, but also a paronomasia upon the words kayitz, “summer fruit,” and ketz, “an end.” )|—B. Ver. 3. There shall be many dead, &c.—We should rather read, (“So) many dead bodies…. (that) they shall be cast forth with silence.” Compare (Amos 6:10). resi Ver. 5. Set forth to heat—That is, exhibit it for sale on the new moon, or sabbath.

• Ver. 6. The poor for silver.—See (Amos 2:6).; 7 Ver. 8. It is supposed that an earthquake is here intended; the rising and falling of the ground with a wave-like motion, and its leaving its proper place and bounds, in consequence of an earthquake, being justly and beautifully compared to the swelling, overflowing, and subsiding of the Nile. ]}——Rise up as a flood—That is, like the inundation of the Nile.——Be cast down and drowned.—Newcome, ‘Sink down as the river of Egypt.’ Ver. 9. The sun to go down at noon.—{This is soon to refer to an eclipse; and Archbishop Usher has shown that about eleven years after Amos prophesied, there were two great eclipses of the sun, one at the feast of tabernacles, and the other some time before the passover.]—Bagster.

Ver. 11. Famine not of bread, &c.—A spiritual famine. Either the written word or the word of prophecy. Though now they despise it, they shall yet hunt for prophets to tell them when their troubles shall end. How truly desolate and wretched is any nation where the means of moral and religious instruction are inadequate for the population; as the soul is more precious than the body, as eternity is of greater consequence than time, how to be dreaded is a spiritual famine. Ver. 14. The manner of Beer-sheba.—Heb. *‘Way;’’ i.e. of worship. Compare (Acts 24:14).