Amos 7:10-17
Summary for Amos 7:10-17: 7:10-17 a This section graphically depicts the corruption of the priesthood, reinforcing the point of the visions on either side of it, that judgment is inescapable.7:11 b Amaziah misinterpreted Amos’s words as a threat on Jeroboam’s life. Amos was calling the people to repentance, not sedition.
7:12 c Go on back to ... Judah, and earn your living by prophesying: Amaziah assumed that the supposedly backward people of Judah would appreciate Amos’s words, and that Amos was looking to be paid for his preaching.
7:13 d king’s sanctuary: According to Amaziah, the urbane and sophisticated Israelites did not appreciate the prophet. Amaziah’s loyalties were clearly to the throne; he wanted to keep the king happy in order to keep his job.
7:14 e Amos was not a professional prophet or even a disciple in training. He had no financial incentive to leave his livelihood in order to prophesy.
• shepherd: The Hebrew word here is not the same as in 1:1 f and is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament. It is related to a word for cattle, suggesting that Amos may have raised cattle as a breeder or herder (see Amos Book Introduction, “The Prophet Amos”).
• The sycamore-fig was gathered for cattle feed.
7:15 g Amos was not motivated by financial gain. Instead, the Lord’s voice (see 1:2 h; 3:8 i) moved Amos to prophesy.
7:16 j against my people (literally against the house of Isaac): Isaac represents all Israel (see also study note on 7:9; cp. 5:6 k, 15 l; 6:6 m).
7:17 n Because Amaziah had tried to silence Amos (7:12-13 o), the Lord confronted Amaziah with a grim prophecy of what his life would be like after the Assyrian siege.
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