John Calvin Commentary Amos 4:8

"So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah." — Amos 4:8 (ASV)

Marking the difference, the Prophet relates that two or three cities had come to one city to seek drink, and they were not satisfied because the waters failed due to such a large number. For though the fountains could have supplied the inhabitants, yet when such a multitude poured in from every direction, the very fountains became exhausted. The Prophet thus emphasizes the severity of the punishment brought by God on the Israelites, for so great was the thirst that whole cities resorted to fountains where they heard there was any water.

It was indeed an unusual thing for inhabitants to leave their own city and run to another to seek water, like wild beasts who, when satisfied with prey, run far for water. But it is an unusual thing for humans to undertake a long journey for the sake of finding drink, for they usually dig wells for themselves and seek water by their own industry when rivers do not flow or when fountains do not supply them with drink. Therefore, when people are forced to leave their own homes to seek water at a distance, and when they exhaust the fountains, it is a portent that ought to be observed.

But how was it that the Israelites took no notice of God’s hand, which was then, so to speak, visible? Therefore, since they did not repent, their obstinate blindness became quite evident.

They were no doubt terrified with fear and harassed by grief, but all this produced no effect, for they continued in their sins, took delight in their own superstitions, and pursued the same life as before.

Since then they did not divest themselves of their own character, nor ceased to provoke continually the wrath of God, their hopeless and incorrigible obstinacy is here manifestly proven. This was the Prophet’s design.