AMOS 7:1 TO AMOS 9:8. VISIONS OF THE PROPHET AMOS. This section contains a series of visions, interrupted by a historical passage (Amos 7:10). The visions are described and then interpreted as symbolical illustrations of apostate Israel's fate.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VISION OF THE BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT. The account of the visions is now resumed. This time the prophet sees a basket of summer fruit (Amos 8:1), and Yahweh explains (Amos 8:2) that the summer fruit (_kayiṣ?)_ symbolises the end (_kçṣ?)_ of the people of Israel. Thus we have a play upon words (as... [ Continue Reading ]
DEVELOPMENT OF THE THEME OF AMOS 3. This section, which re-echoes Amos 2:6, has been regarded as a conglomeration of rather loosely-connected fragments (_cf._ G. A. Smith). The prophet addresses himself to those who persecute and destroy the needy and humble (Amos 8:4), the ruthless and godless rich... [ Continue Reading ]