Charles Ellicott Commentary Amos 8

The visions are resumed as though the priest at Bethel had trembled at the presence of Amos, and had ceased to persecute him. There is a remarkable play of words, qaits being the Hebrew for “summer fruit,” and qêts for “end.” It is harvest time, the end of the agricultural year. Israel is ripe for his final doom, that shall sweep down like a scythe. For “pass by” see on Amos 7:8.

Temple.— The word rendered this way (hêchal) also signifies “palace,” and this is probably the meaning in this passage. The “songs” have already been spoken of in Amos 6:5.

The construction of the following clauses in the original is somewhat doubtful. Some commentators would break up the sentence into abrupt ejaculations. Thus, Keil states: “corpses in multitude; in every place he has cast them forth: Hush!” For “he has cast,” some would read (with two Hebrew manuscripts) the imperative, “cast them forth.” However, it would be better, and more in keeping with the style of Amos, to connect the clauses together this way: There shall be many corpses in every place that one has cast away in hushed silence. These words describe the reign of death and doom, with none to bury or make lamentation—a full end.

You that swallow up ...—Better, you that pant (or are greedy) for the very ashes on their heads.

Make ... to fail.— Literally, make ... to cease: that is, destroy.

When ... gone.— They desired that the festivals of the New Moon and Sabbath would be over, so that they might not only return to their secular employments but also pursue their search for ill-gotten gains—a proof that these festivals were observed in the northern nation, even if they were disliked.

Set forth wheat.— The original signifies the opening of the sacks, or granaries, where the wheat was stored. The greedy mercantile class is referred to. The ephah, which was a dry measure (equal to three English pecks), was “made small,” so that a smaller quantity could be sold. The shekel was the weight against which the precious metal was weighed. If this were fraudulently augmented, more of the gold or silver than was due was demanded for the impoverished ephah.

Falsifying the balances ...—More accurately, falsifying the deceitful balances, so that the very symbol of justice became the implement for committing injustice. This is frequently condemned in the Law and Prophets (Leviticus 19:35–36; Deuteronomy 25:15; Proverbs 11:1; Micah 6:11).

On this perverse straining of the Law, compare to Amos 2:6. Their money-making propensity was carried to such unscrupulous lengths, that they even sold the refuse of corn, little better than mere chaff.