SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:11
¶ He aquí vienen días, dijo el Señor DIOS, en los cuales enviaré hambre a la tierra, no hambre de pan, ni sed de agua, sino de oír la palabra del SEÑOR.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Amos 8:11
Verse 11. A famine in the land] The most grievous of all famines, a famine of the words of Jehovah; a time in which no prophet should appear, no spiritual counsellor, no faithful reprover, none any longer who would point out the way of salvation, or would assure them of the mercy of God on their repentance and return to him. This is the severest of God's judgments on this side the worm that never dieth, and the fire that is never quenched.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God , etc.] Which Kimchi interprets of all the days of the second house or temple after Malachi, when prophecy ceased; but it rather has respect to the time of Shalmaneser’s carrying captive the ten tribes, when they had no more prophets nor prophecy among them, or any to tell how long their captivity should last, or when it would be better times with them, ( Psalm 74:9); that I will send a famine in the land ; which, in a literal sense, is one of God’s arrows he has in his quiver, and sends out when he pleases; or one of his sore judgments, which he sometimes orders to come upon a people for their sins: but here is meant, not a famine of bread ; or through want of that, which is very dreadful; as was the famine of Samaria, when an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and a certain measure of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver, ( 2 Kings 6:25); and as were the famines of Jerusalem, when taken both by the Chaldeans and Romans, when delicate women boiled and ate their own children, ( Lamentations 4:8-10); nor a thirst for water ; which is more distressing and tormenting than hunger; and to be slain with thirst is to be destroyed in the most afflictive manner, ( Hosea 2:3). Lysimachus is said to part with his kingdom for a draught of water; and the torments of hell are set forth by a violent thirst for it, ( Luke 16:24); but something worse than either of these is here threatened: but of hearing the words of the Lord ; the word of prophecy, and the preaching of the word, or explaining the Scriptures. Of this blessing the ten tribes were deprived at their captivity, and have been ever since; and the Jews, upon their rejection of Christ, have had the kingdom of God, the Gospel of the kingdom, the word and ordinances of God, taken from them, and remain so to this day; the seven churches of Asia have had their candlestick removed out of its place, and this famine continues in those parts to this time; and, by the symptoms upon us, we may justly fear it, will be our case before long. “The words of the Lord” are the Scriptures, which cone from him, and are concerning him; the doctrines of grace contained in them, the wholesome words of Christ: hearing them signifies the preaching of them, ( Isaiah 53:1 Galatians 3:2); by which hearing comes, and is a great blessing, and should be attended to, as being the means of conversion, regenerations, the knowledge of Christ, faith in him, and the joy of it. Now, to be deprived of hearing the Gospel is a spiritual famine, for that is food, bread, meat, milk, honey, yea, a feast; it is food that is savoury, wholesome, nourishing, satisfying, strengthening, and comforting; and when this is took away a famine ensues, as when a church state is dissolved, ministers are ordered to preach no more in such a place, or are scattered by persecution, or removed by death, and none raised up in their stead; or when error prevails, to the suppressing of truth: all which is done, or suffered to be done, for indifference to the word of God, unfruitfulness under it, and contempt of it, and, opposition to it; which is a dreadful case, when such a famine is; for the glory, riches, and light of a nation, are gone; bread for their souls is no more; and the means of conversion, knowledge, comfort, etc. cease; and people in course must die, for lack of these things; (see Isaiah 3:1 Hosea 4:6).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-14 - Here was a token of God's highest displeasure. At any time, and most in a time of trouble, a famine of the word of God is the heavies judgment. To many this is no affliction, yet some will feel it very much, and will travel far to hear a good sermon; they feel the loss of the mercies others foolishly sin away. But when God visits backsliding church, their own plans and endeavours to find out a way of salvation, will stand them in no stead. And the most amiable an zealous would perish, for want of the water of life, which Christ onl can bestow. Let us value our advantages, seek to profit by them, an fear sinning them away __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
הנה 2009 ימים 3117 באים 935 נאם 5002 אדני 136 יהוה 3069 והשׁלחתי 7971 רעב 7458 בארץ 776 לא 3808 רעב 7458 ללחם 3899 ולא 3808 צמא 6772 למים 4325 כי 3588 אם 518 לשׁמע 8085 את 853 דברי 1697 יהוה׃ 3068
