Amos 4:7

7 "I also 1withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; 2I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would have rain, and the field on which it did not rain would wither;

Amos 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 4:7

And also I have withholden the rain from you
As he did for the space of three years successively in the days of Ahab, as predicted by Elijah, ( 1 Kings 17:1 ) ( 18:1 ) ; the consequences of which are very bad to men and beast, and bring on a scarcity of food for both, and a famine if long withheld: when [there were] yet three months to the harvest;
that is, three months before the harvest, as Jarchi; when, as Kimchi observes, there was need of rain: this was the latter rain which was usually given and expected about this time, and on which the goodness of the crop, and so of the harvest, greatly depended; these three months before barley harvest were December, January, and February, that being in March; and before the wheat harvest, February, March, and April, that being in May usually: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon
another city;
so that it might appear to be not by the course of nature, or through the influence of the planets, or by chance; but was according to the direction of divine Providence, the hand of God was manifestly in it: yea, one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not
withered;
one piece of ground or field had a plentiful shower on it, whereby it became fruitful; and another field or close on the other side of the hedge or partition had none, whereby what did spring up withered away and came to nothing: or "one inheritance" F21, or farm, as some render it; one man's estate was well watered with rain from heaven, and brought forth much fruit; and another man's estate, for want of it, was barren, and brought forth nothing: thus God was pleased to do in his providence, to show his sovereignty, and to chastise men for their sins; and in such a manner as that they might, if not blind easily perceive his hand in it.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 (hqlx) "fundus", Mercerus, Vatablus; "hereditas", Targum.

Amos 4:7 In-Context

5 offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel!" declares the Lord GOD.
6 "I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me," declares the LORD.
7 "I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would have rain, and the field on which it did not rain would wither;
8 so two or three cities would wander to another city to drink water, and would not be satisfied; yet you did not return to me," declares the LORD.
9 "I struck you with blight and mildew; your many gardens and your vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured; yet you did not return to me," declares the LORD.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Jeremiah 3:3; [Joel 2:23]
  • 2. [Exodus 9:26]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.