Amos 7:10-17

Amos 7:10-17

[10] Then Amaziah  the priest  of Bethel  sent  to Jeroboam  king  of Israel,  saying,  Amos  hath conspired  against thee in the midst  of the house  of Israel:  the land  is not able  to bear  all his words.  [11] For thus Amos  saith,  Jeroboam  shall die  by the sword,  and Israel  shall surely  out of their own land.  [12] Also Amaziah  said  unto Amos,  O thou seer,  flee thee away  into the land  of Judah,  and there eat  bread,  and prophesy  there: [13] But prophesy  not again  any more at Bethel:  for it is the king's  chapel,  and it is the king's  court.  [14] Then answered  Amos,  and said  to Amaziah,  I was no prophet,  son;  but I was an herdman,  and a gatherer  of sycomore fruit:  [15] And the LORD  took  me as I followed  the flock,  and the LORD  said  prophesy  unto my people  Israel.  [16] Now therefore hear  thou the word  of the LORD:  Thou sayest,  Prophesy  not against Israel,  and drop  not thy word against the house  of Isaac.  [17] Therefore thus saith  the LORD;  Thy wife  shall be an harlot  in the city,  and thy sons  and thy daughters  shall fall  by the sword,  and thy land  shall be divided  by line;  and thou shalt die  in  a polluted  land:  and Israel  shall surely  forth of his land. 

What does Amos 7:10-17 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The event described in this pericope evidently followed and grew out of the preceding visions that Amos announced ( Amos 7:1-9). Certain key words occur in both sections of the book but not elsewhere in it: Isaac ( Amos 7:9; Amos 7:16) and sanctuary ( Amos 7:9-11). Also the historical incident is a concrete example of God"s plumb line in operation, but here it judged individuals. The prophet Amos passed the test, but one of the priests of Bethel, Amaziah, failed the test.