Amos 7:7-17

The Old Testament > Amos > Chapters 7-9 > Verses 7:7-17

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Next page: Verses 8:1-14

Outline and brief summary

The relationship of verses 7:7-17 to the rest of chapters 7-9 is discussed at Amos 7-9. Verses 7:7-17 can be outlined as follows:

• Vision #3 of plumbline: Israel no longer spared, priests (7:7-17)

a. vision of the plumbline: Israel no longer spared (7-9)

b. Amaziah tries to stop Amos prophesying (10-13)

c. Amos prophesies more woe on Amaziah and Israel (14-17)

This is the third of five visions in chapters 7-9. Beginning with this third vision, the Lord says “I will not pass by them [Israel] any more,” (7:8) but will instead pass through them (5:17).

Plumblines were used for construction and surveying to measure out lines on land (see 7:17). Israel’s land will be divided up by a conqueror, its sanctuaries will be laid waste, and the house of the current king Jeroboam II will be smitten with the sword (7:8-9).

Bethel was the principal religious sanctuary in the Northern Kingdom of Israel and was “the king’s chapel.” The resident priest at Bethel, Amaziah, dislikes Amos' prophecy of doom. He sends a report to King Jeroboam II that Amos is preaching against both king and country (7:10-11). He also personally tells Amos not to prophesy against the country, the king and the king’s chapel - at the king’s chapel. He tells Amos to go back home to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and earn his living as a prophet there (7:12-13).

Amos responds that he is not a professional prophet, he earns his living in agriculture, and he preaches only because the Lord called him (7:14-15). Further, in response to this request by the official priest that he not prophesy the word given to him by the Lord, he prophesies yet more: not only will Israel go into captivity, but Amaziah’s his children will die by the sword and his wife will become a harlot (7:16-17).

Detailed discussion

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Questions for further thought and study

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Footnotes

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Additional sources and links

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The Old Testament > Amos > Chapters 7-9 > Verses 7:7-17

Previous page: Verses 7:1-3, 4-6

Next page: Verses 8:1-14