SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:2
Y acaeció que como acabó de comer la hierba de la tierra, yo dije: Señor DIOS, perdona ahora; ¿quién levantará a Jacob? Porque es pequeño.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Amos 7:2
Verse 2. By whom shall Jacob arise?] The locusts, the symbols of the many enemies that had impoverished Jerusalem, having devoured much of the produce of the land, were proceeding, till, at the intercession of the prophet, they were removed. Then, seeing in the light of prophecy the nation in every sense brought low, he cries, "By whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small." Calmet justly remarks: "After the death of Jeroboam the second, the kingdom, so flourishing and powerful before, was reduced to such weakness that it was obliged to have recourse to strangers for support. Menahem applied to Pul, king of Assyria, whence arose the final misery of the state.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. And it came to pass, [that] when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land , etc.] That is, the grasshoppers or locusts; when in the vision it seemed to the prophet that almost all the grass of the land was eaten up, and they were going to seize upon the corn, and other fruits of the earth: this signifies not Sennacherib’s invasion of the land of Judea, but Pul’s invasion of the land of Israel, whose army seemed like these locusts; and spreading themselves over the land, threatened it with desolation, as these locusts seemed to have wholly consumed all the grass of the land; then the prophet said what follows: then I said, O Lord God, forgive, I beseech thee ; the sins of the people, as the Targum, which were the cause of these locusts coming, or of the Assyrian army invading the land; and the prophet prays that God would avert this judgment, signified in this vision, or remove it, which is often in Scripture meant by the forgiveness of sin, ( Exodus 32:31,32 Numbers 14:19 1 Kings 8:33,34,36,37,39); this is the business of the prophets and ministers of the Lord, to intercede for a people when ruin is near; and happy is that people, when they have such to stand up in the breach for them. The argument the prophet uses is, by whom shall Jacob arise? for he [is] small ; or “little” f193 ; like the first shooting up of the grass, after it has been own: or, as Noldius renders it, “how [otherwise] should Jacob stand?” and so Kimchi, how should there be a standing for him? that is, unless God forgives his sin, and turns away his wrath, how shall he stand up under the weight of his sins, which must lie upon him, unless forgiven? and how shall he bear the wrath and indignation of God for them? and so if any sinner is not forgiven, how shall he stand before God to serve and worship him now? or at his tribunal with confidence hereafter? or sustain his wrath and displeasure to all eternity? (see <19D003> Psalm 130:3,4); or, “who of” or “in Jacob shall stand” f195 ? not one will be left; all must be cut off, if God forgive not; for all are sinners, there are none without sin: or, “who shall stand for Jacob?” or intercede for him? it will be to no purpose, if God is inexorable: so the Targum, “who will stand and ask “pardon” for their sins?” or, “who will raise up Jacob?” from that low condition in which he is, or likely to be in, if God forgive not, and does not avert the judgment threatened, to a high and glorious state of prosperity and happiness; for, if all are cut off, there will be none left to be instruments of such a work: “for he [is] small”; few in number, and greatly weakened by one calamity or another; and, if this should take place, would be fewer and weaker still. So the church of Christ, which is often signified by Jacob, is sometimes in a very low estate; the number of converts few; has but a little strength to bear afflictions, perform duty, and withstand enemies; it is a day of small things with it, with respect to light and knowledge, and the exercise of grace, especially faith; when some like the prophet are concerned for it, by whom it shall arise; the God of Jacob can cause it to arise, and can raise up instruments for such service, and make his ministers, and the ministry of the word and ordinances, means of increasing the number, stature, spiritual light, knowledge, grace, and strength of his people.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - God bears long, but he will not bear always with a provoking people The remembrance of the mercies we formerly received, like the produc of the earth of the former growth, should make us submissive to the will of God, when we meet with disappointments in the latter growth The Lord has many ways of humbling a sinful nation. Whatever trouble we are under, we should be most earnest with God for the forgiveness of sin. Sin will soon make a great people small. What will become of Israel, if the hand that should raise him be stretched out against him See the power of prayer. See what a blessing praying people are to land. See how ready, how swift God is to show mercy; how he waits to be gracious. Israel was a wall, a strong wall, which God himself reared a a defence to his sanctuary. The Lord now seems to stand upon this wall He measures it; it appears to be a bowing, bulging wall. Thus God woul bring the people of Israel to the trial, would discover their wickedness; and the time will come, when those who have been spare often, shall be spared no longer. But the Lord still calls Israel his people. The repeated prayer and success of the prophet should lead u to seek the Saviour.
Original Hebrew
והיה 1961 אם 518 כלה 3615 לאכול 398 את 853 עשׂב 6212 הארץ 776 ואמר 559 אדני 136 יהוה 3068 סלח 5545 נא 4994 מי 4310 יקום 6965 יעקב 3290 כי 3588 קטן 6996 הוא׃ 1931
