10 And Amaziah priest of Beth-El sendeth unto 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 said Amos: By sword die doth Jeroboam, And Israel certainly removeth from off its land.' 12 And Amaziah saith unto Amos, 'Seer, go flee for thee unto the land of Judah, and eat there bread, and there thou dost prophesy; 13 and 'at' Beth-El do not add to prophesy any more, for it 'is' the king's sanctuary, and it 'is' the royal house.' 14 And Amos answereth and saith unto Amaziah, 'I 'am' no prophet, nor a prophet's son 'am' I, but a herdsman I 'am', and a cultivator of sycamores, 15 and Jehovah taketh me from after the flock, and Jehovah saith unto me, Go, prophesy unto My people Israel. 16 And now, hear a word of Jehovah: thou art saying, Do not prophesy against Israel, nor drop 'any thing' against the house of Isaac, 17 therefore thus said Jehovah: Thy wife in the city doth go a-whoring, And thy sons and thy daughters by sword do fall, And thy land by line is apportioned, And thou on an unclean land diest, And Israel certainly removeth from off its land.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Amos 7:10-17
Commentary on Amos 7:10-17
(Read Amos 7:10-17)
It is no new thing for the accusers of the brethren, to misrepresent them as enemies to the king and kingdom, as traitors to their prince, and troublers of the land, when they are the best friends to both. Those who make gain their godliness, and are governed by the hopes of wealth and preferment, are ready to think these the most powerful motives with others also. But those who have a warrant from God, like Amos, ought not to fear the face of man. If God, that sent him, had not strengthened him, he could not thus have set his face as a flint. The Lord often chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to confound the wise and mighty. But no fervent prayers, or self-denying labours, can bring proud sinners to bear faithful reproofs and warnings. And all who oppose or despise the Divine word, must expect fatal effects to their souls, unless they repent.