Глава 7

“The Lord God showed me the seed, and behold, the spring crop appeared when the late grass appeared” (Am. 7:1). Such were the Israelites to the people who attacked them in the days of Tulbeloch (meaning Thula here (2 Kings 15:19), which is clearly evident from the subsequent words of the interpreter), the king of Assyria, that is, the same as the late grass is to the locusts. And the late grass was “after the king’s mowing” (Am. 7:1), that is, after, by order of the king, the grass was mowed in the meadows, and new grass began to grow on them. The prophet calls the Assyrians locusts, because they walked through the lands of Israel, plundering more of their property than of themselves, which is why this disaster was averted by a tribute of a thousand talents. For the locusts do not destroy people, but grass and plants. “And behold, the Lord God has called me into the fires” (Amos 7:4). The prophet says that, through his prayer, God averted the previous disaster, because it was unbearable for the small people, and now He is holding back the fire that was devastating the land of Israel, He is holding back Tiglath-pileser, the king of Assyria, who came with a large army and was likened to an all-consuming fire. “And behold, the Lord (Man) stand on the fence of Adamant, and in His hand is Adamant” (Am. 7:7). Stand, that is, He stands for the truth, defines and proclaims the truth. Adamant is Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, who led the Israelites into captivity and devastated Samaria. “And there will be demands for laughter and demands.” Tiglathpileser and Shalmaneser, kings of Assyria, will destroy the churches of Israel, destroy the sacrifices and the ridiculous services to idols. “And I will rise up against the house of Jeroboaml with weapons” (Amos 7:9). The throne of the kingdom of Israel is called by the prophet Jeroboaml, because Jeroboam laid the foundation for this kingdom, which continued under his successors. “And Amos answered and spoke to Amaziah” (Amos 7:14). Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, seeing that the king had postponed his intention to kill Amos, said to the prophet: “Go you to Judea (Am. 7:12), there, as a reward for your prophecy, they will give bread to your lips.” For Amaziah knew that prophets are respected in Judea. Amos answers Amaziah: “I am not... a prophet... but a shepherd, fleeing and robbing the buttocks” ( Am.7:14) This is what the prophet, who honors his God, says to the priest who is plundering the churches of his gods: “I did not learn this, because “the shepherd was robbing the buttocks” in order to eat them, and I was accustomed to the food that everyone easily finds.” “Your wife will commit adultery in the city” (Amos 7:17), that is, before the eyes of all your people. For you are the reason that the synagogue abandoned its Creator and committed harlotry before Him. “But your sons... will fall by the sword,” because, having distracted the sons of God to your idols, you handed them over to the sword of foreign nations. “And your land will already be measured (with a boundary line)” because you created division among your people by introducing alien worship of God. “And you will die in the unclean land” because you put to death those who were alive through vile idolatry (Am. 7:17). You might be interested in: