Amos 7:13

13 And thou shalt no more put to, that thou prophesy in Bethel, for it is the hallowing of the king, and is the house of the realm. (But no more shalt thou come forth here, so that thou prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's place of worship, and the house of the realm/for it is the sanctuary of the king, and a royal palace.)

Amos 7:13 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 7:13

But prophesy not again any more at Bethel
He might prophesy any where, if he did not there, for what the priest cared, that so his honour and interest were not hurt. The reasons he gave were, for it [is] the king's chapel;
or "sanctuary" F9; where a temple was built for the idol calf, and where the king worshipped it, and attended all other religious service: and it [is] the king's court;
or "the house of the kingdom" F11; the seat of it, where the king had a royal palace, and sometimes resided here, and kept his court, as well as at Samaria; often coming hither to worship, it being nearer to him than Dan, where the other calf was placed; intimating hereby that the king would never suffer such a troublesome man as he to be so near him; and by prophesying to interrupt him, either in his religious or civil affairs; and therefore advises him by all means to depart, if he had any regard to his life or peace.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (vdqm) "sanctuarium", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Mercerus, Junius & Tremellius. Piscator, Drusius, Cocceius.
F11 (awh hklmm tybw) "et domus regni est", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Cocceius; "domus regia", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Amos 7:13 In-Context

11 For Amos saith these things, Jeroboam shall die by sword, and Israel (taken) captive shall pass from his land. (For Amos saith these things; Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and the people of Israel shall be taken away captive from their own land.)
12 And Amaziah said to Amos, Thou that seest, go; flee thou into the land of Judah, and eat thou there thy bread; and there thou shalt prophesy. (And then Amaziah said to Amos, Go thou away, O seer/O prophet; flee thou into the land of Judah, and eat thy food there; and there thou shalt prophesy.)
13 And thou shalt no more put to, that thou prophesy in Bethel, for it is the hallowing of the king, and is the house of the realm. (But no more shalt thou come forth here, so that thou prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's place of worship, and the house of the realm/for it is the sanctuary of the king, and a royal palace.)
14 And Amos answered, and said to Amaziah, I am not a prophet, and I am not [the] son of a prophet; but an herder of neat I am, drawing up sycamores. (And Amos answered, and said to Amaziah, I am not a prophet, and I am not the son of a prophet; but I am a herdsman, and a gatherer of the figs of the sycamores.)
15 And the Lord took me, when I followed the flock; and the Lord said to me, Go, and prophesy thou to my people Israel.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.