The Four Visions (Amos 7:1 to Amos 8:14).
In a similar way to the seven judgments in Amos 1:2 to Amos 2:5, followed by the expanded judgment on Israel, which all initially followed a similar pattern, so here Amos now recounts three visions threatening judgment on Israel, followed by a fourth which again expands into a judgment on Israel, and all four initially follow a similar pattern. All commence with ‘thus YHWH (He) showed me, and behold --' (Amos 7:1; Amos 7:4; Amos 7: Amos 8:1), but they then divide into two distinct patterns as in the first two Amos appeals to YHWH to show mercy, and YHWH grants it and promises that He will not carry out the judgment, whereas in the remaining two YHWH asks Amos what he sees, and when Amos replies, declares what action He is going to take. These remaining two then expand into a wider application resulting from the action.
The patterns may be seen as follows:
Visions 1 & 2. The Locust Swarm and the Devouring Fire.
a YHWH shows Amos the essence of the judgment.
b Amos sees the judgment carried out in vision.
c The judgment comes to its completion.
b Amos intercedes on the grounds of how puny Israel is.
a YHWH repents and promises that it will not be.
Visions 3 & 4 The Plumbline and The Basket Of Summer Fruit.
a YHWH shows Amos the essence of the judgment.
b YHWH asks Amos what he sees.
c Amos replies by describing what he sees.
b YHWH declares what He is going to do and that He will not pass by Israel any more.
a YHWH declares doom on their sanctuaries accompanied by death.
· In both cases this is then followed by an application related to what has been said.
Thus in the first two visions we have an indication of YHWH's compassion and unwillingness totally to destroy His people, and in the second two we have an indication of the inevitability of YHWH's determined judgments and the effects that they will have on the sanctuaries and the people.