Charles Ellicott Commentary Amos 7:12-13

"Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thou away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: but prophesy not again any more at Beth-el; for it is the king`s sanctuary, and it is a royal house." — Amos 7:12-13 (ASV)

Jeroboam treated the charge made by Amaziah with indifference, or perhaps with awe: at least, with silence. And so the priest of Bethel takes upon himself to dismiss the prophet from the kingdom. The word for “seer” is here chozeh, one who has visions, a word not used in a contemptuous sense here or in the Old Testament generally. The expression “there eat bread and prophecy” is a hendiadys for “there live on your profession as a prophet,” not here.

To this Amos replies that this was not his profession (Amos 7:14). Bethel is spoken of as the “holy place,” or sanctuary, and also as the “royal residence” (the “king’s court” in the English Version). Men blinded by prejudice, and bewildered by the light of our Lord’s holy presence, implored him to depart from them. The awful peril of imploring God’s messenger to withdraw is frequently referred to in Scripture .