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Amos 8 Commentary

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Amos 8:1-3

In his fourth vision, Amos sees a basket of summer fruit, the ripening of which suggests that its end has come.

Amos addresses Israel’s lack of concern for the poor. He specifically directs his message to the Israelite merchants who cheat in the marketplace by using dishonest scales in their commercial transactions while hypocritically retaining an outward façade of devotion to the Suzerain God.

Amos 8:7-10

Amos now warns the Israelite merchants and businessmen of God’s impending judgment, which will result in widespread lamentation. Israel’s joyous festivals and songs will be replaced by mourning, and there will be sorrow, grief, and pain as when a family mourns for an only son.

Amos 8:11-14

Amos predicts a widespread famine and drought that will plague the nation Israel. It will not be a famine of food or thirst for water, but rather a starvation for hearing the words of the LORD.

Additional Resources

Book Theme

The Bible Says Commentary on the Book of Amos

Chapter Context

In chapter eight, Amos envisions a basket of summer fruit, the ripening of which suggests that its end has come. This vision symbolizes that the end of the northern kingdom of Israel has come and that the LORD will spare them no longer.

Amos then turns his attention to the Israelite merchants who cheat in the marketplace by using dishonest scales in their transactions while hypocritically retaining an outward façade of devotion to God. Amos tells the merchants that God’s judgment on them will result in widespread lamentation, causing their joyous festivals and songs to turn into mourning, sorrow, and grief.

Finally, Amos predicts a widespread famine and drought that will plague the kingdom of Israel. This famine will not be a famine of food or water, but rather a starvation for hearing the words of the LORD. The chapter’s outline is as follows:

Amos sees a basket of summer fruit, the ripening of which suggests that its end has come. Through this vision, the LORD tells Amos that the end of the northern kingdom of Israel has come (vv. 1-3).

Amos addresses the Israelite merchants who cheat in the marketplace by using dishonest scales in their transactions while hypocritically retaining an outward façade of devotion to God (vv. 4-6).

Amos warns the Israelite merchants and businessmen of God’s impending judgment, which will result in widespread lamentation. Israel’s joyous festivals and songs will be replaced by mourning, and there will be sorrow, grief, and pain as when a family mourns for an only son (vv. 7-10).

Amos predicts a widespread famine and drought that will plague the nation Israel. It will not be a famine of food or a thirst for water, but rather a starvation for hearing the words of the LORD (vv. 11-14).