Amos 7:10-13

Amos Confronts a Priest

7:10 Amaziah the priest of Bethel ¹  sent this message ²  to King Jeroboam of Israel: “Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! ³  The land cannot endure all his prophecies. ⁴  7:11 As a matter of fact, ⁵  Amos is saying this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile ⁶  away from its land.’”

7:12 Amaziah then said to Amos, “Leave, you visionary! ⁷  Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living ⁸  and prophesy there! 7:13 Don’t prophesy at Bethel ⁹  any longer, for a royal temple and palace are here!” ¹⁰ 

Amos 7:16

7:16 So now listen to the Lord’s message! You say, ‘Don’t prophesy against Israel! Don’t preach ¹¹  against the family of Isaac!’

[7:10]  ¹ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[7:10]  ² tn The direct object of the verb translated “sent” is elided in the Hebrew text. The words “this message” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[7:10]  ³ tn Heb “in the middle of the house of Israel.”

[7:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “words.”

[7:11]  ⁵ tn Or “for.”

[7:11]  ⁶ tn See the note on the word “exile” in 5:5.

[7:12]  ⁷ tn Traditionally, “seer.” The word is a synonym for “prophet,” though it may carry a derogatory tone on the lips of Amaziah.

[7:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “Eat bread there.”

[7:13]  ⁹ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[7:13]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “for it is a temple of a king and it is a royal house.” It is possible that the phrase “royal house” refers to a temple rather than a palace. See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), 243.

[7:16]  ¹¹ tn The verb, which literally means “to drip,” appears to be a synonym of “to prophesy,” but it might carry a derogatory tone here, perhaps alluding to the impassioned, frenzied way in which prophets sometimes delivered their messages. If so, one could translate, “to drivel; to foam at the mouth” (see HALOT 694 s.v. נטף).