This is another post in my series, Reader’s Guide to Amos. It works(or at least, I’d like it to) as something between a commentary and a Bible Study. Go read the text. Keep that window open. Read through it once to get a broad view of what is happening. Then come back and read through my notes. I’d suggest going back to the text one more time, read through it and when you get to a word or idea you are unsure of, come back and see if there is something in my Reader’s Guide that helps. You can read my original series introduction and the original posts that cover the text up to this point.

Chapter 7

In these sections we have five judgment visions against Israel, as well as Amos’ conflict with Amaziah and Amaziah’s subsequent report to Jeroboam, and a woe oracle of future destruction of Israel and finally the actual destruction mixed in. The book finishes on a positive note of the future restoration of Israel.

1-6 – We have the first two judgements, they follow the same outline: Vision, Amos’ intercession, and Yahweh’s response. Amos sees a coming agent of destruction, cries out that they will not survive, Yahweh relents.

7-9 Most translation use plumb line. A plumb line is used to measure, meaning they cannot meet Yahweh’s standard. The word translated here can mean either lead or tin, which would be used to anchor the plum line. However, WBC and others take the (minority) position of translating just to ‘tin’ and not inferring the plumb-line.

“I will not pass by” I will not spare them (as in Exodus).

7:10-17 gives us a break from the judgment visions. Amaziah, which is the head priest in the center of worship for the kingdom sends word to the king about Amos and his prophecies. Amaziah then accuses Amos of basically being in it for the money. ‘Eat your bread’ meaning make money or get money for food.

Amos response, saying he was not a professional prophet and worked as a cattle breeder and an attendant to trees before God called him. Then he responds with a prophecy of what will happen is Amaziah in the coming judgment. It is mostly tied to separation and loss of land in the exile. His wife will be forced to support herself in the city, his children will die, his land will be given to others, we will be sent off and die in a foreign land.

Commentary Sources:
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (The New American Commentary)
Joel and Amos (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries)
Hosea-Jonah, Volume 31 (Word Biblical Commentary)

This is another post in my series, Reader’s Guide to Amos. It works(or at least, I’d like it to) as something between a commentary and a Bible Study. Go read the text. Keep that window open. Read through it once to get a broad view of what is happening. Then come back and read through my notes. I’d suggest going back to the text one more time, read through it and when you get to a word or idea you are unsure of, come back and see if there is something in my Reader’s Guide that helps. You can read my original series introduction and the original posts that cover the text up to this point.

Chapter 6
This chapter is very similar to the prior section. It is another woe oracle split into two parts. First, those whom are complacent, secure, at ease and comfortable. Second, a ‘divine oath’ of judgment to a doomed nation.

1-7 – “passage is entirely poetic” WBC
Zion is Jerusalem
Trusting in the Mount is literal. “Samaria’s topography made it a natural fortress” – NAC.
Calneh and Hamath were Syrian city-states under the influence of Israel. Gath was a Philistine city-state under Judean influence. This is a rhetorical question to point out that the leaders of Israel were wrong to think they were bigger or better than surrounding areas.
Tyndale notes that Amos is sarcastic here, pointing out that the leaders who deny a coming day of disaster are inviting a sooner than expected ‘reign of terror.
Those whom are first in luxury, will be first to be exiled. Eating meat was rare, possibly only three times a year for the average Israelite, only on feast days (WBC). Bowls are used instead of cups, which would be smaller; additionally the word connotes the bowls used in ritual temple practices. So, those living in extreme and excess luxury will be the first to be taken capture. This likely ended up happening when taken by Assyria, as the kings, nobility, etc. would have been taken and sent out first.

8-14 – Deliver up – selling into captivity or giving up prisoners. The idea being, every single person, who feels comforted in the fortress of Mount Samaria, will be delivered over to those who God will use for judgement. Verses 9-11 point of the totality of the destruction to come.
Rhetorical questions, horses do not fun on rocks and you cannot plow rocks with oxen (alternative understanding of the Hebrew may ask the question, do you use Oxen to plow the sea. I tend to favor the rock, “there”, interpretation over saying the sea, but the point remains either way).
Lo Debar means ‘not a thing’ – this was a deliberate misspelling of an actual city conquered by Jeroboam II
Karnaim means ‘a pair of horns’ – horns were a symbol of power or authority in OT. The name evokes power, but it was an insignificant and small city.
So, what we have in 13 is a pun with sarcasm, as Israel boast in taking nothing (not a thing) and powerfully named but ultimate unimportant city.
Lebo Hamath was Israel’s northern most board
Valley, brook, or wadi of Arabah was the southernmost boundary.
So a nation will be brought up and will conquer/oppress/subjugate Israel in its entirety, from northern board to the southern border.

Commentary Sources:
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (The New American Commentary)
Joel and Amos (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries)
Hosea-Jonah, Volume 31 (Word Biblical Commentary)