The Vision of the Locusts. On one occasion the prophet saw (Amos 7:1) and behold, Yahweh formed locusts at the beginning of the coming up of the late spring grass (lekesh, RV latter growth), the grass brought on by the late spring rain (malkosh, cf. Joel 2:23), and further described here as coming up after the king's shearing or after the king's mowings. The king's mowings may mean (cf. Driver) that the mowings were taken as tribute by the king. (Ehrlich takes it to mean national mowings.) The locusts were beginning to work havoc (Amos 7:2). Then, when they would have wholly devoured the herbage of the land, the prophet interceded with Yahweh, who relented (Amos 7:3). Thus Amos 7:1-3 seems to refer to a physical calamity, a plague of locusts (cf. Amos 7:4).
Amos 7:1. he formed locusts: read perhaps (cf. LXX), and behold, a brood of locusts (or, of a locust-swarm, cf. Nahum 3:17). and, lo, it was the latter growth: apparently a gloss. If original, read yelek (LXX) for lekesh: and behold, there were mature young locusts.
Amos 7:2. when they. land: translated as above. But read probably, and when they were making an end of devouring (wa-yehi hu-' mekalleh lל-'ל kô l).