Amos 8

CHAPTER 8

A Basket of Ripe Fruit (8:1–14)

1–3 In a vision, the Lord showed Amos a basket of ripe fruit, which symbolized Israel: Israel was “ripe,” ready to be plucked, judged (verse 2). The joyful songs of the harvest would be replaced by wailing (verse 3).

4–7 In these verses, Amos again outlines some of Israel’s sins, especially the sins of injustice and oppression (see Amos 2:6–7; 4:1; 5:11). The wealthy were only interested in increasing their wealth, and they didn’t care how they did it. The Lord swore by the Pride of Jacob²⁹ that He would not forget anything the people had done (verse 7).

8–10 Here the Lord announces His judgment on Israel. The land will tremble (verse 8); this may indicate either an actual earthquake or a metaphorical one whereby the nation of Israel is “shaken” and destroyed. In that day the sun will go down at noon (verse 9); this too may indicate an actual eclipse of the sun or a metaphorical “eclipse” of the nation—or both. God’s judgment is often accompanied by striking phenomena in the earth and sky (see Joel 2:10,31).

11–14 In the coming days of judgment, God will send a (spiritual) famine through the land (verse 11); the Israelites will seek a word from the Lord in the same way that starving people seek food and water. In this time of distress the people will cry out for a word of hope and guidance, but there will be none. God will not speak to those who persistently reject His word.

Without God’s guidance, the people will stagger and wander (verse 12). Even the young and the strong will faint because of thirst (verse 13)—thirst both physical and spiritual. And all those who have put their trust in the false gods of Samaria, Dan and Beersheba³⁰ will fall, never to rise again (verse 14).