Albert Barnes Commentary Amos 7:14

"Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet`s son; but I was a herdsman, and a dresser of sycomore-trees:" — Amos 7:14 (ASV)

I was no prophet - The order of the words is emphatic. “No prophet am I, and no prophet’s son am I; for a herdsman am I, and a dresser of sycamores.” It may be that Amos, for the people’s sake, intended to counter Amaziah’s taunt. He had a living, simple indeed, yet that of the prophets was just as simple. But chiefly, he tells them of the unusual character of his mission. He did not belong to the order of the prophets, nor had he been educated in the schools of the prophets, nor did he have any human training. He was not considering such a role at all; he was doing the works of his calling, until “God took him from following the flock,” and gave him his commission.

Rup.: “He humbly declares what he had been, and what he had been made, not by merits but by grace, that he had not assumed the prophetic office by hereditary right, nor had he begun to prophesy of his own accord, but, being compelled to obey, he had fulfilled the grace and the command of God who inspired and sent Him.” Twice Amos repeats, “The Lord took me; the Lord said to me;” emphasizing that what Amaziah forbade, God commanded. All was from God. “He” had only obeyed.

Jerome: “Just as the Apostles, when the Scribes and Pharisees forbade them to teach in the Name of Jesus, answered, ‘We must obey God rather than man’ (Acts 5:29), so Amos, when forbidden by the idol-priests to prophesy, not only prophesies—showing that he feared God’s command more than their prohibition—but he also boldly and freely denounces the punishment of the one who endeavored to forbid and hinder the word of God.” Rup.: “heaven thundered and commanded him to prophesy; the frog croaked in answer out of his marsh, ‘prophesy no more.’”