Amos 4:7

7 I also withheld the rain from you^[a] while there were still three months until harvest. I sent rain on one city but no rain on another. One field received rain while a field with no rain withered.^[b]

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Amos 4:7 In-Context

5 Offer leavened bread as a thank offering, and loudly proclaim your freewill offerings, for that is what you Israelites love [to do]! [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.

6 I gave you absolutely nothing to eat in all your cities, a shortage of food in all your communities, yet you did not return to Me- the Lord's declaration.

7 I also withheld the rain from you while there were still three months until harvest. I sent rain on one city but no rain on another. One field received rain while a field with no rain withered.

8 Two or three cities staggered to another city to drink water but were not satisfied, yet you did not return to Me- the Lord's declaration.

9 I struck you with blight and mildew; the locust devoured your many gardens and vineyards, your fig trees and olive trees, yet you did not return to Me- the Lord's declaration.

Footnotes

• [a] Jr 3:1-3; 5:23-25
• [b] Lv 26:18-19; Jl 1:10-12