Charles Ellicott Commentary Amos 7

Each of the visions is introduced with closely resembling words. For “grasshopper,” read locusts. The phrase “king’s mowings” suggests that the king tyrannically claimed the first-fruits of the hay harvest, which was ordinarily followed by the early “rain upon the mown grass” (Compare to 1 Kings 18:5).

The grass of the land.— The same word is used in the original in Genesis 1:11, signifying herbs and vegetables. Amos saw the first wave of disaster in the destruction of the food of the people, and he interceded for respite and forgiveness. The cry takes the form, Who is Jacob that he should stand? (The English Version, “by whom,” is incorrect) for he is small.

The Lord repented.— The judgment is withheld. On the anthropomorphism of Jehovah repenting, compare Genesis 6:5 and other passages.

Fire. —The poetical description of a yet more terrible calamity. God announces His intention of judging, i.e., punishing by fire (the word in E.V., “contend,” is to be understood in this sense). For “a portion” read the portion. The image is that of a prairie fire that should eat up the later grass spared by the locusts.

The consuming of the “great deep” is a strong hyperbole, and can scarcely refer to the “heathen world,” as Keil maintains. The meaning rather appears to be that not only the solitary remnant of pasture, but also the deepest springs of moisture, will be scorched up in the blaze. The same word for “deep” (tehôm) is used in Genesis 1:2; Genesis 7:11; Genesis 8:2. (Compare the Assyrian tihamtu.)

Instead of “forgive,” the prophet now only ventures to say “cease,” a cry for arrest of judgment. Yet the same plea for pity is urged as before. Jeroboam II and his house are spared for a while. But another awful vision comes to the prophet.