2. No breaks; One complete paragraph

1. Begins a vision that Amos is having

2. The Lord shows Amos “a basket of summer fruit”

3. Summer fruit most likely has some type of historical or cultural significance

2. Amos replies that he sees a basket of summer fruit

3. The Lord tells Amos that the end has come for Israel and that he will no longer spare them

1. The Lord tells Amos that the songs of the palace will turn to wailing and that many will die and that the palace will be silent

2. The palace was most likely the palace of the king

Amos is the third of the Minor Prophets. His name means “burden” or “burden bearer,” a fitting name in the light of the grievous message which he had to deliver to Israel. Jewish tradition says that he was called Amos because he stammered or was slow of speech, but this is doubtful. He belonged to the Southern Kingdom, the Kingdom of Judah, although his prophetic ministry was carried out in the Kingdom of the North, the Kingdom of Israel. Amos was, as he himself says,

“By these words or by this vision the Prophet confirms what we have already observed - that paternal chastisements would no longer be exercised towards the people of Israel. God indeed, as it is well known, had so treated that people, that he ever spared them even in their greatest calamities. It was with a suspended hand that God ever struck that people, until after many trials they at length seemed so refractory, as not to be benefited by such remedies.”

In verse two the Lord addresses Amos and asks what he see. John Gill states that this question is because God wants to “To quicken his attention, who might disregard it as a common thing; and in order to lead him into the design of it, and show him what it was an emblem of.”5 The Lord next explains the vision. The afore mentioned play on words is evident here in the word choice of “end”.

The last section of this verse states “I will not again pass by them any more.” This phrase can be taken in two very distinct ways. The first is the more obvious one is that God will no longer ignore their sin and that he will punish them for it. The alternative understanding of this phrase is that God will take his presence from them and never associate with the anymore.6

Upon reflection of this passage it becomes clear that the punishment that God was about to give was much deserved. This is evident in the last part of the third verse where it is seen that the people that are in the midst of the punishment will recognize that God is just in his wrath. This vision also fits in nicely with the preceding three visions. The three visions, culminating with the vision of the plumb line, showed that judgment was very much deserved. The ripeness of the fruit also displays that not only was this impending punishment just but that it was time for it. Also the section that precedes this vision shows that even the priest Amaziah was corrupted and had ign

Some topics in this essay:
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