This section contains four visions (locusts, 7:1–3; fire, 7:4–6; plumb line, 7:7–9; basket of summer fruit, 8:1–3). Between the third and fourth vision is a biographical unit describing a confrontation between ‘Amos and Amaziah, the chief priest of the Bethel shrine.

Vision of Locusts

7 ¹ Here is what Adonai Elohim showed me: he was forming a swarm of locusts as the late crop was starting to come up, the late crop after the hay had been cut to pay the king’s tribute. ² While they were finishing up eating all the vegetation in the land, I said, “Adonai Elohim, forgive – please! How will tiny Ya‘akov survive?” ³ So Adonai changed his mind about this. “It won’t happen,” Adonai said.

In spite of the severity of all that ‘Amos had said, there was no element of vindictiveness in him. Unlike Jonah, he did not want what he was predicting to happen. He pleaded earnestly for God’s mercy. Like ‘Amos, God does not desire to destroy His people. He is very patient (see Exodus 34:6). Unlike the capricious Gods, who may decide for no reason either to destroy or release, the Lord is utterly reliable: He has promised to relent in response to repentance (see Jeremiah 8:5–10; cf. Jonah 3:10 4:2). The Lord in mercy does not simply destroy, but refines his people. His mercy anticipates the mercy to be manifested in HaMashiach (Matthew 9:27).

Vision of Fire

⁴ Next, Adonai Elohim showed me this: Adonai Elohim was summoning a blazing fire to consume the great abyss, and it would have devoured the land too. ⁵ But I said, “Adonai Elohim, stop – please! How will tiny Ya‘akov survive?” ⁶ Adonai changed his mind about it. “This too won’t happen,” said Adonai Elohim.

The second vision may have been the invasion of Tiglath-Pileser, symbolized by a consuming fire. Prayer for little Ya’akov again prevented a catastrophe.

Vision of Plumb Line

⁷ Then He showed me this: Adonai was standing by a wall made with a plumbline, and he had a plumbline in his hand. ⁸ Adonai asked me, ‘Amos, what do you see?” I answered, “A plumbline.” ⁹ Then Adonai said, “I am going to put a plumbline in among my people Isra’el; I will never again overlook their offenses. The high places of Yitz’chak will be desolate, Isra’el’s sanctuaries will be destroyed, and I will attack the house of Yarov‘am with the sword.”

The third may refer to the destruction of Samaria by Shalmaneser. The plumb line speaks of the absolute uprightness of the judgment. God announced that He would never again overlook their offenses.

Vision of Plumb Line [1]

¹⁰ Then Amatzyah the priest of Beit-El sent this message to Yarov‘am king of Isra’el, “ ‘“‘‘Amos is conspiring against you there among the people of Isra’el, and the land can’t bear all that he’s saying. ¹¹ For ‘Amos says: ‘Yarov‘am will die by the sword, and Isra’el will be led away from their land into exile.’ ” ¹² Amatzyah (Amaziah)also said to ‘“‘‘Amos, “Go away, seer! Go back to the land of Y’hudah! Earn your living there; and prophesy there; ¹³ but don’t prophesy any more at Beit-El; for this is the king’s sanctuary, a royal temple.”

Amatzyah, an idolatrous priest of Bethel, forbade ‘Amos to prophesy against the king’s sanctuary of Bethel, telling him to go back to his home in Y’hudah and earn his living there.

‘Amos’s Answer

¹⁴ ‘Amos gave this answer to Amatzyah: “I am not trained as a prophet, and I’m not one of the guild prophets—I own sheep and grow figs. ¹⁵ But Adonai took me away from following the flock, and Adonai said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Isra’el.’ ¹⁶ So now, hear what Adonai says: ‘You say, “Don’t prophesy against Isra’el, don’t lecture the people of Yitz’chak.” ’ ¹⁷ Therefore Adonai says this: ‘Your wife will become a whore in the city, your sons and daughters will die by the sword, your land will be parcelled out with a measuring line, you yourself will die in an unclean land, and Isra’el will certainly be exiled from their land.’ ”

‘Amos answered that God had put him into the ministry and that he would not stop. He was not trained as a prophet in the technical sense, or the son of a prophet, but he must speak the word of the Lord. So, he told Amaziah of the fearful doom which would come upon him, his wife, his sons and daughters, and his land.

Vision of Ripe Fruit

8 ¹ Here is what Adonai Elohim showed me: there in front of me was a basket of summer fruit. ² He asked, “ ‘Amos, what do you see?” I answered, “A basket of summer [Hebrew: kayitz] fruit.” Then Adonai said to me, “The end [Hebrew: ketz] has come for my people, I will never again overlook their offenses. ³ When that time comes, the songs in the temple will be wailings,” says Adonai Elohim. ^[2]

The Hebrew word for summer fruit (Kayitz) sounds almost identical to the word translated as end (ketz) in verse 2. Just as the fruit in the basket had ripened, so also Isra’elwas ripe for judgment.

The visions of impending judgment in ‘Amos underscore the importance of accountability. If you’ve noticed a culture of blame shifting at your workplace, seek to cultivate a culture of responsibility. Lead by example by taking ownership of a recent mistake or oversight and encouraging others to do the same. Implement a ‘learning from failure’ session where staff can share what went wrong and how they can improve, fostering a spirit of resilience and growth, while aligning with God’s desire for truthfulness in our lives.

In our next post, we will continue to learn more about the Prophecy of ‘Amos.

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^[1] Many of you know that I am using F. LaGard Smith’s Narrated Bible in Chronological Order for the sequencing of the Books. It turns out that he places Amos 7:10-17 at the very end of Amos 9:15, but I decided to put it back in numerical order.

^[2] ‘Amos 7:1-8:3.